BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EDISON — The Edison Post 435 Senior American Legion team finished the summer with an impressive 21-4 record.
The team fell just short of qualifying for the state tournament with a 7-5 loss to league rivals Milltown Post 25.
"We jumped out to a 3-0, but we couldn’t get the timely hit when we needed it," Edison Post 435 head coach Chris Banos said. "Despite having 10 hits in the game, we couldn’t drive anybody in during the last inning. He had the tying runs aboard with runners at first and third, but we bring them home."
Despite the tough loss, the team’s third to Milltown, Edison compiled some impressive numbers along the way. Among Middlesex County’s top teams, Edison went 19-1 in the regular season.
"Everyone played well," Banos said. "The kids played hard, and at times it was easy for the players to take things for granted, because we kept winning, and decide not to show up but they didn’t slack off. I think this really shows what they are made of."
Because of age restrictions, the roster will not include Lucas Cittone, Joe Augustine and Mark Blevins next summer. However, the majority of the team could come back for another run at the state championship.
"All the players on the team have an open invitation to come back," Banos said. "They are all good guys that play hard and have fun."
The three elder statesmen will certainly be missed. Augustine was the team’s ace on the hill, compiling a 5-0 record with a 1.27 ERA. He recorded 40 strikeouts in 33 innings. Augustine will return to Kean University for his sophomore season, along with Blevins. Blevins provided a lot of versatility to the team, playing most of the infield positions.
"Joe was our number one guy all summer," Banos said. "He dominated everybody he faced, but unfortunately he didn’t get to pitch in the tournaments. He had some tendonitis and we certainly missed him down the stretch."
Cittone led the team in nearly every offensive category. He batted .493 with 30 RBIs, eight homers, and eight doubles.
"I think Lucas had one bad game all season," Banos said. "He really set the table for us with his bat and he was a tough out for the opposition."
Cittone will return to Farleigh Dickinson for his sophomore season.
A handful of recent Edison High graduates will continue their careers at the next level. Designated hitter and left fielder Mike Manfre hit a pair of homers this summer and enjoyed a slugging percentage of .463. Manfre will travel with another recent graduate, Keith Lorfing, to join Augustine and Blevins at Kean.
"Keith came from out of nowhere this summer," Banos said. "He didn’t get a lot of playing time at Edison this year, but he really blossomed for us."
Lorfing batted .389 and was second on the team with five home runs.
The team’s No. 2 pitcher, Billy Alec is off to Lehigh University. Alec pitched a pair of one-hitters this summer and finished the season 4-1.
Kevin Dalton was also 4-1 and batted .296. Dalton will join Marist College’s team next spring. Ryan Klouser also picked up four wins this summer and is off to Rutgers, but he’s still debating whether or not to try out for the Scarlet Knights.
Shortstop Tim Ryan will play for Penn State, and catcher and center fielder Derek Gianakas will also join the Kean roster. Gianakas hit well over .300 this summer with 22 RBIs.
Luckily for Edison High, a nice group of talented players will return to the lineup in the spring. Mike Shymanski will be back for his senior year and was lights-out this summer. He batted .466 with seven homers and 20 RBIs. Nick Rieder and David Zavistoski are only juniors.
"Nick should have a big year," Banos said. "He threw the ball really well this summer."
Also back for another year at the high school ranks is Highland Park’s Robert Hrapsky. Hrapsky drove in 19 runs and batted .387.
Coach Banos will coach at JFK High School in the spring and plans to return to the Edison Post 435 dugout in the summer.