Friday, April 1, 2022

Home News Tribune & NJ.COM /GMC South Plainfield preview capsule

 

Andy Mendlowitz
MyCentralJersey.com

SOUTH PLAINFIELD

Coach: Scott Gleichenhaus, 2nd season

Last Year: 20-5-1 overall, 12-1-1 White Division

Key Losses: Nick Loniewski (CF); Vincent Esposito (P-2B); Brandon Shine (SS); Kennedy Ferguson (LF-P); Austin Scott (RF-P); Mitch Dudak (P); Dan McLoud (P); Troy O Conner (1B)

Probable Lineup: Frank Flannery (Jr., INF-P); Luke Bickunas (Sr., C); Ashton Donovan (Jr., P-1B); Ty Dukoff (Sr., INF); Tyler Balent (Sr., P-OF); Matt Ciullo (Jr., OF); Zack Robinson (So., INF-OF-P)

Pitchers: Jack Massett (Sr., LH); Ashton Donovan (Jr., RH); Rob Krovatin (Jr., RH); Tyler Balent (Sr., RH); Julian Irizarry (Sr., RH); Frank Flannery (Jr,. RH); Zack Robinson (So., RH); Jayden Alvarez (So., RH); Aldo Pigna (So., LH); Chase Donovan (So. RH) 

Top Reserves: Jack Massett (Sr., P-1B); Jayden Alvarez (So., INF); Steve Zultowski (Sr., OF); Brandon Leinhard (Jr., OF); Julian Irizarry (Sr., INF); Joey Padavano (So., OF); Anthony Delisa (So., 1B)

Outlook: The Tigers will look to senior captain/catcher Luke Bickunas and the arms of fellow captain Jack Massett and junior Ashton Donovan in order to pick up where they left off after winning the White Division in 2021. Now, South Plainfield moves up to the Red Division, where they will be competing against many of the perennial top teams in the GMC. It will be a challenge for the Tigers, which graduated 10 seniors that included two All-GMC players in Brandon Shine (SS, team-high 31 RBI) and Vincent Esposito (2B-P, 40 Ks in 39.1 inn), their entire outfield and three-fourths of their infield. Returning from last year’s regular lineup are just Bickunas (Rowan commit, 21 RBI) and infielder Frank Flannery. Seniors Ty Dukoff (INF) and Tyler Balent (OF) saw some action in the 2021 campaign and both will be looked upon to help in the run production department. Juniors Ashton Donovan, Matt Ciullo and sophomore Zack Robinson have been productive in the preseason and look to establish themselves as mainstays in the lineup. The newcomers looking to breakout and compete for jobs include seniors Julian Irizarry and Steve Zultowski, juniors Brandon Leinhard and Rob Krovatin and sophomores Jayden Alvarez and Joey Padavano.

Baseball: Home News Tribune/GMC team preview capsules (mycentraljersey.com)



South Plainfield at Monroe Preview


These two rivals were in different divisions last spring, but both are in the GMC Red in 2022. South Plainfield was 20-5-1 last spring and won the White Division title.
 
South Plainfield graduated many of its statistical leaders from a season ago. The top offensive returner for the Tigers is veteran catcher Luke Bicknaus, who had 23 hits and 21 RBI. Monroe was 14-7 in 2021. Monroe closed the season by losing four of its final six games. Christopher Wisniewski returns after leading the Falcons with 20 runs scored.

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