2017 SP Tigers Baseball Preview

 

 

South Plainfield's Jean Sapini pitches in the 2015 NJSIAA Group III baseball semifinals against Mount Olive. (Photo: ~Mark R. Sullivan/Staff Photograp)

2017 SOUTH PLAINFIELD TIGERS

Coach: Anthony Guida, 9th season (156-75).

Last Year: 11-17 overall, 5-5 White Division.

2016 Scores: Click HERE.

2017 Schedule: Click HERE to view the schedule.

Twitter: Follow HERE.

 

Key Losses: Nick Polizzano (SS), Jake Alba (RHP), Jack Gillis (CF).

Probable Lineup: Jared Marks (Sr., C); Billy Keane (Jr., P-1B); Jean Sapini (Sr., P-1B); Chris Shine (So., P-INF); Roberto Gonzalez (So., P-INF); Michael Stanczak (Jr., INF); David Tavarez (Sr., P-INF-OF); Dylan O'Connor (Sr., P-OF); Ricky Pellegrino (Sr., OF); Kevin Soper (Sr. P-OF); Austin Feltham (Jr., P-INF); Donald Grabinsky (Jr., OF).

Pitchers: Jean Sapini (Sr., RH); Kevin Soper (Sr., RH); Billy Keane (Jr., LH); Chris Shine (So., RH); Roberto Gonzalez (So., RH); David Tavarez (Sr., RH); Dylan O'Connor (Sr., RH).

Top Reserves: Connor Adams (Jr., OF); TJ Massaro (So., OF); Niko Vasquez (Jr., C); Luke Tamburro (Jr., C); Mike Marrero (So., INF).

 

South Plainfield's Jean Sapini (left) and Jared Marks (Photo: ~file photo)

 

Outlook: A year after winning the Group III championship with a senior-laden club, the young and injury-plagued Tigers remained competitive and gained valuable experience. South Plainfield batted just .237 as a team and its 25 extra-base hits were all doubles.

 

Guida must replace leading hitters Polizzano (.384 with a team-high 16 RBI) and Gillis (.321 with a team-best 25 runs). The duo combined for 54 hits. Stanczak (16 hits) is the only returning starter to bat over .250 last season.

The Tigers will also miss Alba (3-4, 3.23 ERA, 43 IP), who is now at Stony Brook, on the mound. South Plainfield returns a veteran staff with 81 innings pitched. Injuries to Keane (broken cheekbone) and Sapini (meniscus) provided opportunities for underclassmen to get work at the varsity level. Sapini returned to regain his state championship form, compiling a 3-2 record with a 1.35 ERA including 28 K and just 9 BB over 26 IP. Keane finished 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA over 20 innings. The transfer of Gonzalez from Dickinson will bolster South Plainfield’s formidable staff. He cracked Dickinson’s starting lineup as a freshman at second base last season. O’Connor succeeds Gillis in centerfield. Pellegrino, Grabinsky, Soper, Adams and Massaro are competing for the two other outfield spots. Marks, a gifted defensive backstop who committed just one error in 173 chances last season, remains entrenched behind plate. He also is among the team’s top returning hitters with 13 singles and a double.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/03/28/gmc-baseball-2017-white-division-preview-package/99487734/