Sports
Central Regional Boys Baseball Team Gears Up for Spring Season
Players may be switching positions this year, coach says
Coach John Scran and his Central Regional baseball team are eagerly preparing for an even better season than last year's 14-10 campaign that ended in the NJSIAA Group III Central Jersey semifinals.
"There's definitely potential," Scran said. " The conference has stepped up in talent."
The Shore Conference B South has added Brick Township and Lacey with Pinelands, Manchester and Barnegat. Central Regional finished second in the division last season and lost in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament to Monmouth Regional.
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The Golden Eagles want to regain the form when they won the conference for three straight years, a string that ended two seasons ago. Practices began on March 4.
"I feel really good about the season and worked harder than ever," said senior Patrick Sheldrick, who is headed to NCAA Division II Nyack this fall. He is one of six returning starters and will be moving from third base to the outfield.
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"I've played third base all my life, but Nyack wants me to play in the outfield, too." said Sheldrick, who plans on studying criminal justice in college. "I've been putting on a little more muscle and gaining 10 pounds and been running a lot and hitting indoors."
Sheldrick last season batted .382 with 21 RBI. He is not the only player who will be moving over.
Although Scran said that Steve Uhlak "is a very good defensive catcher," he may be doing some pitching this year with his biting fastball. Uhlak batted .362 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Uhlak is being recruited by Kutztown, Richard Stockton and the University of Sciences in Philadelphia.
"Actually, he can play a lot of positions,' Scran said. "He can play at the corners in the infield and outfield."
Senior David Diehl and junior James Canning also can catch, he said.
The team's strength is its defense up the middle and hitting, with five .300 hitters back from last season. Scran is looking to replace three solid starters who graduated last year, led by center fielder and pitcher Peter Imperiale, who set school records in walks for a season (35) and a career (53), career batting average at .422 and on base percentage for a season in 2009 at .618.
James DiPiazza was a pitcher with 14 winning decisions over the last two seasons and an infielder. Outfielder Sam Pepe also graduated. Scran said that area is "wide open" for this season.
Sophomore Evan Mahoney - still competing in the state swim championships - may be one of the regular outfielders this season. He stole eight bases last spring.
Middle infielders Mark Calleo - a senior shortstop being recruited by Drew, Stevens and The College of New Jersey - and senior second baseman Mickey Donnelly return.
Donnelly has drawn interest from Montclair State and the University of Sciences in Philadelphia. Calleo was 3-1 as a pitcher with one save and batted .343. Donnelly was solid defensively and batted .324 with 24 RBI.
First base is a showdown between senior Jared Norris, who sustained a season-ending injury in the third game of last season, and junior Julian Cimino.
Scran has not yet lined up an ace pitcher yet. Uhlak, Calleo and Canning are spot pitchers and Donnelly can go to the mound, but needs to develop off speed pitches to offset his fastball.
"The strength needs to be defense and pitching and our defense is solid, especially up the middle," Scran said. "We need to get clutch hits and hitting could be a strength."
The eight seniors on the team are very familiar with Scran's approach. He coached at Central Regional Middle School before getting the high school job four years ago and the seniors had played under him for six years.
Mike Casale joins the staff as freshman coach.
The Golden Eagles open their regular season April 1 at Toms River High School South and have a loaded scrimmage schedule with the first five dates are on the road, starting March 15 at Carteret.
It continues March 16 at Manalapan, the following day at Group IV finalist Jackson Memorial, March 22 at Middletown North and March 23 at Ocean. The Golden Eagles host a doubleheader on March 26 with St. Rose and Mater Dei and travel to Brick Memorial on March 28.