Saturday, March 31, 2012

Baseball Preview - 2012

Bob Behre, March 31, 2012 12:01 a.m.
Players To Watch

Mark Tomei, South Plainfield, Sr.: The lefty-hitting All-State outfielder batted .496 with 34 extra-base hits, including nine home runs. He drove in 26 runs as a lead-off batter.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Staff Report, 11:33 PM, Mar. 29, 2012
SOUTH PLAINFIELD

Coach: Anthony Guida, fourth season (59-26).
Last year: 21-9 overall.

Projected lineup: Stephen Petriello (Sr., C); Robert Eggert (So., INF); Sal Esposito (Jr., INF); Ryan Marcoux (Sr., INF); A.J. Celentano (Jr., INF); Mark Tomei (Sr., OF); Quinn Cochrane (Jr., OF).

Pitchers: Tommy Bowden (Sr., RH); Nick DeMarco (Sr., RH); Ryan Hughes (Sr., RH); A.J. Celentano (Jr., LH); Pat Boyle (Jr., LH); Tim O’Leary (Jr., RH).

Key reserves: Chris Kukuch (Sr., INF); Nick Kukuch (Sr., OF); Nick Muglia (Jr., OF); Pat Boyle (Jr., INF-OF-P); Tim O’Leary (Jr., INF-P); Jeff Pellegrino (Jr., U); Taylor Born (Jr., INF).

Outlook: South Plainfield graduated two-time first-team All-Area selection Brandon Downes (.389, 5 HR, 23 RBI), who is playing at the University of Virginia, and three top pitchers. Charlie Huber (6-2, 3.16) and Ryan Hutchison (2-1, 2.60) departed, along with ace Dan Hansen (6-2, 3.91). The trio combined for 24 of the team’s 30 starts. Bowden (2-4, 3.13) will emerge as the team’s ace, while DeMarco (two saves, 1.52 ERA in 23 innings) could move from closer to a starting role. The Tigers boast two of the area’s best players in Tomei (.496, 9 HR, 26 RBI) and Petriello (.396, 4 HR, 31 RBI). Tomei moves from left to center to replace Downes. Expect another big year from Cochrane (.330, 3 HR, 24 RBI). A potent offense makes South Plainfield a contender to reach the conference tournament final for a second straight year.

RETURNING GMC WHITE DIVISION BATTING LEADERS

AVERAGE: Richard Vega (Perth Amboy) .500; Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) .496; Fernando Rosa (Perth Amboy) .446; Tilson Brito (Perth Amboy) .419; Waldo Diaz (New Brunswick) .417.

HITS: Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 58; Fernando Rosa (Perth Amboy) 41; Stephen Petriello (South Plainfield) 38; Jose Hernandez (Perth Amboy) 36.

DOUBLES: Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 20; Stephen Petriello (South Plainfield) 13; Andrew Niech (Colonia) 10; Frank D’Agostino (Monroe) 8; Fernando Rosa (Perth Amboy) 8; Quinn Cochrane (South Plainfield) 8; Dan Kacsmar (Woodbridge) 8.

TRIPLES: Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 5; Victor Sorrento (Monroe) 4.

HOME RUNS: Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 9; Frank D’Agostino (Monroe) 7; Andrew Niech (Colonia) 6; Adonis Hernandez (J.F. Kennedy) 6; Fernando Rosa (Perth Amboy) 4; Stephen Petriello (South Plainfield) 4.

RBI: Andrew Niech (Colonia) 35; Victor Sorrento (Monroe) 35; Ismael Paulino (Perth Amboy) 32; Stephen Petriello (South Plainfield) 31; Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 26; Frank D’Agostino (Monroe) 24; Quinn Cochrane (South Plainfield) 24.

RUNS: Mark Tomei (South Plainfield) 47; Adonis Hernandez (J.F. Kennedy) 27; Frank D’Agostino (Monroe) 23.

RETURNING GMC WHITE PITCHING LEADERS

WINS: Victor Sorrento (Monroe) 6; Danny Marsh (Monroe) 5; Jake Rickard (Monroe) 4; Placido Torres (North Brunswick) 4; Nick DeMarco (South Plainfield) 4.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Hansen Named NJCBA Rookie Pitcher of the Week

Jersey City, N.J. (3/26/12) Freshman Dan Hansen was selected as the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Rookie Pitcher of the Week as announced on Monday.

Hansen was selected after earning his first collegiate victory in relief in California. In Kean's 4-3 win at California Lutheran University, Hansen (1-0) tossed 5.1 innings of shutout relief, allowing just a lone single with three strikeouts and two walks.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Alumni Spotlight - Dan Hansen ('11)

Hansen Shuts Down Cal Lutheran

Thousand Oaks, Calif. (3/21/12) – Rookie reliever Dan Hansen tossed five and a third innings of shutout ball to earn his first collegiate win as he helped the #3/4 Kean University baseball team edge California Lutheran University, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon. Hansen (1-0) allowed just one hit and two walks with three strikeouts. With today's win, the Cougars improve to 12-4 this season.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Alumni Spotlight - Mark Benak ('10)

Rowan University 3rd baseamn Mark Benak is enjoying a solid start to his sophomore season. In 11 games played (7 started), Mark is hitting .321 with 9 hits, 8 runs scored, and 6 walks. Following up on a succesful freshman season where he received New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Division II/III All-Rookie Team honors, he is also a Rowan Scholar-Athlete.

Rowan is currently ranked 12th & 15th in two of the latest Division III polls.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Alumni Spotlight - Rob Pasternak ('10)

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson improved to 5-0 this season with a 10-6 baseball victory against visiting U.S. Merchant Marine (2-5) March 14. The Pioneers scored 4 runs in the bottom half of the sixth. Sophomore Rob Pasternak (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) lined a ball just over the shortstop's head to allow Scott Hansen to trot home.
William Paterson tacked on some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Pasternak's two-run single to left field, a Gibbons RBI-base hit and an A.J. Flores sacrifice fly handed WP some breathing room at 10-5 going into the ninth inning.
Pasternak was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in the victory.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Alumni Spotlight - Mike Muglia ('09)

Junior Michael Muglia threw his first career complete game, allowing one earned run and striking out 7 in 7.0 innings in ESU's 4-2 win over Minnesota-Crookston.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Junior left-hander Michael Muglia threw a complete game six-hitter in a 4-2 win in the opener, and the offense produced 11 hits, eight walks and nine stolen bases in a 9-4 win in the nightcap as East Stroudsburg University swept a doubleheader from Minnesota-Crookston on Sunday at Jack Russell Stadium.
Muglia, who didn't allow a run in 14.2 innings last season, struck out seven, walked one and only allowed one earned run in his first appearance of the season for the Warriors. He gave up his first run since April 19, 2010, when he was the starter in a 22-1 win at Chestnut Hill.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Good Luck 2012 Tiger Baseball!

Hi Tiger Fans,

I just wanted to take a moment to wish the 2012 South Plainfield Tiger Baseball Team good luck for the upcoming season. I also wanted to thank Mr. Marcoux for taking over the reins of the team blog here this year. He's doing a great job and I hope you will support his efforts just as you did mine.

I just learned that our "Team Photographer" Mr. Don Hunsinger, has officially retired and moved to Florida. Our best wishes go out to him and many thanks for all of the memories he has supplied us with over the years. Enjoy your retirement Don. Go catch some fish, or at least get some great photos of them!

Which brings me to an idea I have been kicking around in my head. I have created an album on my PhotoBucket site that can allow for anyone to post photos of this years team in action. Here is the link:

http://photobucket.com/2012-SPTIGERSBASEBALL

Anyone can post photos to share on this link. You have to create a logon and a username to upload your photos but that's it. It will allow everyone to have access to this years photos and have a central depository to draw from for the end of the season dinner.

I hope it works. If any problems develop, you can email me at:

driftwood22@hotmail.com

Also, if anything innappropriate or if there is something you do not want posted there, let me know, and I'll get it removed.
I am planning on attending as many Tiger games as possible this season. I hope to see you all there. I'll throw a post up here in the blog now and then, but Mr. Marcoux will handle the "Lion's Share" this season.

I hope this photo gizmo works, and again, good luck in the 2012 Tiger Baseball Season!

Chris Hansen