Written byGreg Tufaro
@MyCJ_Sports
SOUTH PLAINFIELD — As Kyle Moroney continues to impress on the mound, an increasing number of observers are telling the senior right-hander he should consider playing college baseball.
Moroney, a Home News Tribune first-team All-Area selection at quarterback, has already made a nonbinding commitment to continue his football career at Rowan University.
But after raising his record to 6-0 and lowering his White Division-leading ERA to 0.38 in an 8-0 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament third-round victory over Colonia on Tuesday, Moroney is contemplating becoming a two-sport athlete at the next level.
“I always knew I had something with baseball but I never thought I would be this good,” said Moroney, who was used sparingly in relief last season.
“I was originally (committed for) just football. I didn’t think I was going to do this well this season. But seeing the people that are looking at me right now and seeing my talent unfold in front of me, I’m definitely going to have to weigh my options.”
Moroney, who hurled a complete-game three-hit shutout of Colonia in the season opener, blanked the Patriots over six innings on Tuesday, striking out seven and allowing just one hit – an infield single to Vinnie Ferrentino to lead off the game.
He faced just three batters over the minimum. C.J. Lehman walked as the only batter to whom Moroney pitched more than two balls and Mike Wilson reached on an infield error.
Pinch hitter Xavier Wilson’s clutch two-run single with two away in the seventh off reliever Lehman produced the final margin and helped the sixth-seeded Tigers advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals against third-seeded South Brunswick.
South Plainfield (15-6) parlayed a hit batsman, three infield hits and Aidan McDermott’s RBI single into a three-run rally in the second inning. The Tigers also scored runs in the game on a balk, a wild pitch and a swinging third strike in the dirt that would have been the third out of an inning.
Leadoff batter Kyle Dickerson went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while catcher Justin Marks singled, doubled, walked and scored a run. Reliever Rob Eggert struck out the side in the seventh to preserve the victory.
Moroney, whose fastball a college scout clocked at 88 mph earlier this season, threw 68 pitches, only 21 of which were out of the strike zone. Excluding a couple of 59-foot curveballs, he had excellent command of three pitches including his fastball and changeup.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Moroney, who just turned 17 in December, has tremendous upside due to his athletic build and youth.
“Every time he’s out there, we’ve got people who are noticing what he’s doing,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. “You would have to not know baseball to not understand what he doing out there. There hasn’t been much (discussion about pitching at the next level) because the word has been that he’s playing football, but his success now is making them think that maybe he’s going to play some baseball in college.
“He’s only going to get better. He’s got everything you need to pitch at the next level.”
Colonia coach Vinny Esposito, a former Rutgers University star who the Toronto Blue Jays drafted, said he believes Moroney could develop in college.
“I think he’s a big, strong kid, which from the college level, and more important, for the next level, they really look for,” Esposito said. “So he projects high. At this level (high school), the reason he’s so successful is he can throw two pretty good pitches for strikes (fastball and curve) on any count. He throws with a downward plane. As a high school hitter, it’s tough to get any plan against him.
“I definitely think he has potential. I was wondering where he is going. I think he’s got a shot. If I was his dad or I was his brother, I’d tell him to do both – go play football and baseball at a place like Rowan. Why make a decision now.”
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140513/NJSPORTS0130/305130054/Moroney-pitches-South-Plainfield-GMCT-baseball-win-over-Colonia?nclick_check=1
Kyle Moroney of South Plainfield pitched the Tigers to a third-round win over Colonia in the GMC baseball Tournament on Tuesday.
By
on May 13, 2014 8:23 p.m.
Kyle Moroney pitched six innings, allowing one hit, no runs and one walk with seven strikeouts to lead South Plainfield to an 8-0 victory over Colonia in the first round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament in South Plainfield.
Kyle Dickerson was 2-for-3 with two runs for South Plainfield and Adam McDermott and L.J. Scarpitto both had a hit and an RBI.
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2674561985737268823/colonia-0-at-south-plainfield-8-greater-middlesex-conference-tournament-first-round-baseball/
No comments:
Post a Comment