The Sayreville War Memorial High School baseball team managed a 13-10 record and a trip to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV tourney a year ago thanks to a .305 team batting average and a strong one-two punch on the mound.
The good news for the blue and gray is the return of 10 seniors — many of them starters. The Bombers will again compete in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division, which has been expanded to include Woodbridge, moving in from the Red Division, and JFK, from the Blue Division. With 10 teams in all, that means 18 conference games, which could be a strain on the pitching staff.
Fortunately, coach Mike Novak can call upon Jake Campbell and Joe Bongiorno again this spring. Campbell went 5-4 a year ago, while Bongiorno also pitched well in winning four times. Seniors Bobby Stewart, 1-1 last season, and lefty Glenn Cannon along with junior Mark Johnson round out the staff.
“The keys for us will be pitching, pitching and pitching,” Novak said. “Campbell and Bongiorno are both going to be solid, but we need our other pitchers to get the job done, too. Defensively, we’re pretty experienced so that will be a help as well.”
PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Clockwise from top: The Sayreville Bombers’ Glen Cannon connects with a pitch during a scrimmage in Sayreville on Saturday. Joe Bongiorno of Sayreville War Memorial High School tries to put the tag on Bishop Ahr’s Joe Post. Sayreville’s Mike Greco tries to throw out a Bishop Ahr runner. Sayreville’s pitchers should have plenty of runs to work with. Bongiorno, who plays shortstop when he’s not pitching, topped the team with a .390 average to go with 15 RBIs and an on-base percentage above .500. Right fielder Mike McLafferty hammered four homers and 22 RBIs, while Cannon had a pair of homers at 15 RBIs. Both players hit over .350.
In addition, third baseman Mike Greco was well over the .300 mark with a homer and 12 RBIs, while Campbell, who patrols second base when not pitching, drove home 14 runs and was also comfortably above .300. Another key bat belongs to versatile sophomore Blake Cuomo, who will shuttle between second base and shortstop. He batted .313 a year ago.
The remainder of the Bombers lineup will include James Demild in left field, Brandon Cuomo behind the plate and Ryan Vincent and junior Brian Truchan in center field. Mark Niarooz and Eric Goitia, a sophomore who transferred from Bishop Ahr, will also see some time behind the plate.
“We have a lot of talent and experience, and we expect to contend in our conference, make our mark in the GMC and get back to the state tournament again,” Novak said. “If our pitching comes together the way I expect it will, I’m pretty confident in our bats—in fact I expect that they should hit even better this season.”
Sayreville is scheduled to open up at South Plainfield on April 1, before returning home April 3 to play JFK, with New Brunswick set to visit the following day.