Legion baseball
By: Mike Molaro
The adage in baseball is that pitchers can’t hit.
You can take that saying and toss it in the garbage when talking about Lawrence High School’s Eric Weiner.
The Cardinal senior, who will attend Rider University in the fall, led Lawrence with a .392 batting average, ninth best in the Colonial Valley Conference, and tied for second in the league with five triples.
He also was among the most consistent Cardinal pitchers for rookie head coach Brian Carter.
After completing his third season of varsity scholastic baseball where he played left field when he wasn’t on the mound, Weiner shifts home fields to Notre Dame High School in his fourth year with Lawrence Post 414 of the Mercer County American Legion League.
In Legion ball, he’ll split time between pitching, left field, and third base.
“The combination of players from Lawrence and Notre Dame is the biggest difference with Legion ball,” said Weiner, who was honored with the Chris Carter Award at the LHS Annual Athletic Awards Banquet on June 6 at Rider. The Award is presented annually to a senior student athlete who demonstrates a high level of commitment and dedication to team membership.
“Everybody in Legion wants to be there,” Weiner continued. “The level of commitment is high. There are no slouches on Post 414. Everybody is confident and upbeat. Pitchers don’t get a chance to hit in Legion. In high school, you get a chance to make up for your mistakes quickly.
In addition to his favorite pitch, a split-finger fastball, the right-hander also throws a fastball, curve, and change up.
“During the Legion season, assistant coach Jack Elder calls the pitches while during the high school season, I call my own pitches along with the catcher,” Weiner noted. “I like to have someone call the pitches. That way I can focus more. Coach Elder has been calling the pitches for me for four years with Post 414. He’s the best.”
The Cardinals under Carter didn’t quite live up to their expectations this spring and fell short of qualifying for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Tournament.
“It took awhile to get used to Coach Carter,” Weiner added. “Everyone was taken back when (former LHS head coach) Jeff (Vitale) quit. When Brian came on board, there was a lot of pressure on kids to prove themselves to a new coach and we probably weren’t as loose as we should’ve been.
“We played well against the good teams and played down to the lower teams. We were capable of playing at a very high level and the next day come out and lose to a team we should beat. It was a disappointing season at LHS. We definitely were capable of making states. We didn’t come through under pressure with the big hit or the big out.
Meanwhile, the talent is there with Post 414 and Weiner hopes his luck changes this summer.
“With Post 414, I want to make the state tournament,” Weiner said. “We haven’t done that yet in my four years. I want to pitch as well as I can. It’s all about confidence. I know I can do it physically. I have to stay in the game mentally.”
Earning a partial baseball scholarship to Rider, Weiner plans on majoring in business administration.
All he needs with the Broncs is an opportunity to prove himself.
“Rider told me to be ready for anything and be ready to play anywhere,” said Weiner, who will learn from veteran head coach Sonny Pitaro. “Rider plays a 10- to 12-game fall season. There is a lot of weight training and running in the off season to get you ready for the spring season.
“In college, the pitching is at another level,” he continued. “The pitchers are consistently over the plate and have a lot more behind their pitches. The hitters are overall more aggressive and better hitters. It’ll be an adjustment for me both defensively and offensively. The competition is up a few notches. I just want a chance to play.”
Weiner, who bats lefty, recalls a game during his sophomore season when the Cardinals defeated Steinert, who went on to win the Group III championship. Among his 29 hits this year was a game-winning, bases-loaded double in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Princeton, 13-12, at Waterfront Park.
“That’s the place you want to do it,” he said.
Weiner proved he could get the job done at the high school level. Now he has to prove it again at Rider.
All he needs is an opportunity. All he wants is that chance to play.
He’ll do the rest.