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Union County Sports Blog by JR
JR brings you an entertaining Union County Sports Blog covering all high school sports in Union County.
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Posted by: JR at 7:00PM EST on June 30, 2009
Matt Melody did well to graduate from NJIT on time in May with a marketing degree and also pitched four years for the Highlander baseball team, which became Division 1-A when he was a sophomore in 2007. The 6-3 left hander then took part in a Newark Bears’ tryout session earlier in June. Just when he was about to begin seriously looking for a job, he got a call from Newark Bears General Manager Mark Skeels last Wednesday. “Other than to tell me that he was interested, he didn’t really say much else,” said Melody by way of phone Tuesday afternoon. Melody turned 22 on May 28. “I definitely didn’t expect it," Melody said. "I was looking for a job. I said, ‘wow,’ this is a great opportunity and I want to give it a shot.”
Melody’s father John was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, while his cousins Ed and Pat Collins also played minor league ball.
Melody signed a contract with the independent minor league team last Thursday and was on the mound as the starting pitcher for Sunday’s home game against the Bridgeport Bluefish in Atlantic League professional action at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark.
“On the first pitch I had some butterflies, but after that everything was the same,” Melody said. “I played most of my home games there for NJIT, so the scenery was real similar.” Melody limited Bridgeport to one run through the first three innings of an eventual 12-5 Bluefish victory in which Melody received a no decision. He allowed the visitors to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a three-run homer hit by Bridgeport shortstop Rayner Bautista. NJIT coach Brian Callahan was a proud attendee at Sunday’s game, as were about a dozen former Highlander teammates and numerous members of Melody’s family and their friends. “Matt threw the ball very well,” Callahan said. “He made one bad pitch and that’s the ball that went for a home run. Otherwise, he looked very good.” See the home page of http://www.localsource.com/ for complete story.
Friday June 26, 2009
Posted by: JR at 2:28PM EST on June 26, 2009
WATCHUNG DIVISION (6 schools) Elizabeth, Linden, Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Union, Westfield MOUNTAIN DIVISION (6 schools) Johnson, Cranford, Governor Livingston, Hillside, Rahway, Summit VALLEY DIVISION (4 schools) Delaware Valley, North Plainfield, North Warren, Somerville Other Union County schools Roselle, Brearley, New Providence, Roselle Park, Dayton Complete conference alignment - including the rest of the Somerset County schools - to come. Thursday June 25, 2009
Posted by: JR at 5:10PM EST on June 25, 2009
According to the Asbury Park Press, which disclosed the new high school football reclassifications for the 2009 season on a blog on Wednesday, June 24 - listing the sections Central Jersey and South Jersey only - Rahway, Brearley and Roselle Park have moved to different sections. Rahway is back in Central Jersey, Group 2. Brearley and Roselle Park are back in Central Jersey, Group 1. Rahway was moved from North 2, Group 3 to Central Jersey, Group 2 during the first year of the NJSIAA's reclassification in 2003. The Indians were situated in CJ, G2 for five seasons in a row - 2003-2007 - before moving back to North 2, Group 3 last year. Rahway reached the CJ, G2 semifinals four seasons in a row from 2004-2007 and then reached the N2, G3 final last year for the first time since 1999. Brearley was previously in CJ, G1 for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons, reaching the quarterfinals in 2003, the semifinals in 2004 and the final in 2005. Brearley then captured North 2, Group 1 in 2006 for the first time since 1991. Brearley lost in the N2, G1 quarterfinals in 2007 and semifinals in 2008. Like Brearley, Roselle Park was in CJ, G1 for 2003, 2004 and 2005 and then went back to N2, G1 for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Roselle Park last made the state playoffs in 2001, falling in the N2, G1 quarterfinals. The Panthers last won a state playoff game in 1993 when they repeated as N2, G1 champions. As of Thursday, June 25, the football reclassification information for the 2009 season had not yet been posted on the NJSIAA's website. Here's a look at the complete Group 2 and Group 1 football sections in Central Jersey, with enrollment and northing figures:
Central Jersey, Group 2 (range: 815-566) (19 schools) Monmouth Regional (815), 530815 New Brunswick (811), 596122 Holmdel (810), 563496 Red Bank Regional (809), 552740 Cranford (801), 665391 Carteret (794), 636314 Rahway (791), 647189 Ewing (787), 516112 Long Branch (780), 530960 Raritan (777), 578099 Matawan (750), 574386 Manasquan (737), 471790 Delaware Valley (721), 629315 Rumson-Fair Haven (714), 556459 Johnson (628), 650819 North Plainfield (612), 650768 Bordentown (597), 472344 Roselle (589), 661782 Keyport/Hudson, Henry (566), 578057 NOTES: Cranford, Johnson and Roselle remain in Central Jersey, Group 2.
Central Jersey, Group 1 (range: 565-177) (19 schools) Spotswood (565), 573493 Shore (539), 527270 Middlesex (516), 628905 Metuchen (474), 625298 Robbinsville (474), 510781 Roselle Park (454), 665417 South River (451), 581571 Burlington City (434), 451023 New Egypt (412). 454057 Brearley (347), 669046 Bound Brook (335), 628906 Florence (332), 468777 Keansburg (329), 585419 Asbury Park (310), 505429 Point Pleasant Beach (287), 454374 Highland Park (280), 607058 Manville (275), 621632 Dunellen (212), 639836 South Hunterdon (177), 563562 Thursday June 18, 2009
Posted by: JR at 3:22PM EST on June 18, 2009
2009 H.S. FOOTBALL SCHEDULES AS OF JUNE 18: FARMERS Scrimmages Aug. 25 Aug. 29 Game-scrimmage Sept. 3 Regular season Sept. 11 Bridgewater-Raritan, Sept. 19 at Sept. 25 Ridge, Oct. 2 at Watchung Hills, Oct. 9 Hillsborough, Oct. 17 at Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 25 at 2008: (8-3) Head coach: Brian Sheridan, third year PANTHERS Scrimmages Aug. 25 at Pingry and vs. Aug. 29 at Dunellen, Game-scrimmage Sept. 3 Metuchen, Regular season Sept. 11 Sept. 17 at Sept. 25 Manville, Oct. 3 at Oct. 9 Brearley, Oct. 16 Bound Brook, Oct. 30 at Nov. 6 Bernards, Nov. 26 at 2008: (2-8) Head coach: James Foy, fourth year BREARLEY BEARS Scrimmage Aug. 25 Morris Catholic, Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Regular season Sept. 11 Sept. 17 Pingry, Sept. 26 at Governor Livingston, Oct. 2 Oct. 9 at Oct. 16 Bernards, Oct. 23 at Oct. 31 at Cardinal McCarrick, Nov. 7 at 2008: (9-1) Head coach: Scott Miller, eighth year BULLDOGS Regular season Sept. 11 at Sept. 17 Sept. 26 at Pingry, Oct. 3 Bernards, Oct. 9 at Oct. 17 Manville, Oct. 24 at Oct. 31 Bound Brook, Nov. 7 Brearley, 2008: (5-5) Head coach: Joe Goerge, fourth year GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON HIGHLANDERS Scrimmages Aug. 25 Aug. 28 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 3 at Regular season Sept. 11 at Johnson, Sept. 26 Brearley, Oct. 3 at Oct. 10 at Oct. 17 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 at Nov. 7 Nov. 26 2008: (7-5) Head coach: Terry Hanratty, sixth year HILLTOPPERS Scrimmages Aug 25 Aug. 29 Brearley, Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Regular season Sept. 12 Sept. 18 at Bernards, Setp. 26 Johnson, Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Governor Livingston, Oct. 16 at Oct. 24 at Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Pingry, 2008: (5-6) Head coach: John Liberato, third year MINUTEMEN Scrimmages Aug. 25 Aug. 28 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 at Regular season Sept. 12 at Sept. 18 at Hillsborough, Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 at Hunterdon Central, Oct. 16 at Oct. 23 Bridgewater-Raritan, Oct. 30 at Nov. 5 2008: (7-3) Head coach: Chet Parlavecchio, fourth year COMETS (Hillside will not play any home games at its Wood Field Stadium) Scrimmages Aug. 24 at Passaic County Tech, 10 a.m. Aug. 28 at North Bergen, 10 a.m. Aug. 31 at West Orange and also vs. West Essex and Ridge, 10 a.m. Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 at Pequannock, 1 p.m. Regular season Sept. 12 at Sept. 17 at Sept. 25 at Somerville, Oct. 3 Governor Livingston, Oct. 9 at Oct. 17 at Oct. 24 Johnson, Oct. 31 Nov. 7 2008: (8-3) Head coach: John Power, second year TIGERS Scrimmages Aug. 24 Aug. 29 Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Marlboro, Regular season Sept. 11 Sept. 17 Sept. 25 at Oct. 3 at Oct. 16 at Oct. 23 Hunterdon Central, Oct. 30 Nov. 6 at Immaculata, Nov. 25 2008: (5-5) Head coach: Deon Candia, second year INDIANS Scrimmage Aug. 25 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 at Regular season Sept. 11 at Sept. 26 at Immaculata, Oct. 3 Oct. 9 at Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 at Governor Livingston, Nov. 26 Johnson, 2008: (10-2) Head coach: Gary Mobley, sixth year RAMS Scrimmages Aug. 24 at Aug. 28 at Weequahic and vs. Aug. 31 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 5 at Regular season Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Manville, Sept. 25 at Bound Brook, Oct. 2 at Johnson, Oct. 17 at Oct. 23 at Governor Livingston, Oct. 31 Brearley, Nov. 7 at Nov. 26 2008: (5-4) Head coach: Kenneth Wiggins, third year JOHNSON CRUSADERS Scrimmages Aug. 25 at Rumson, Aug. 28 at Bridgewater-Raritan and vs. Ridge, Game-scrimmage Sept. 3 at Regular season Sept. 11 Governor Livingston, Sept. 26 at Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 at Oct. 24 at Oct. 31 at Bernards, Nov. 6 Nov. 26 at 2008: (8-4) Head coach: Nick Gregorio, first year COUGARS (Cranford will have field turf at Memorial Field for the first time.) Scrimmages Aug. 25 at Aug. 28 at Aug. 31 at Mendham, Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Regular season Sept. 12 Sept. 17 Sept. 25 Oct. 3 at Oct. 9 at Johnson, Oct. 16 Oct. 23 at Oct. 30 Governor Livingston, Nov. 6 at Voorhees, 2008: (3-7) Head coach: Erik Rosenmeier, fifth year CARDINALS Scrimmages Aug. Aug. 27 Game-scrimmage Sept. 3 at St. Peter’s Prep, Regular season Sept. 11 at Sept. 17 at Hunterdon Central, Sept. 26 Watchung Hills, Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Ridge, Oct. 17 Oct. 24 at Nov. 6 at Nov. 26 at 2008: (4-6) Head coach: Reggie Robinson, third year BLUE DEVILS Scrimmage Aug. 29 Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 at Regular season Sept. 12 Sept. 17 at Watchung Hills, Sept. 26 Bridgewater-Raritan, Oct. 9 at Oct. 17 at Oct. 24 Oct. 30 at Nov. 6 at Nov. 26 Plainfield, 2008: (7-3) Head coach: Jim DeSarno, fourth year SCOTCH PLAINS RAIDERS Scrimmages Aug. 25 Bishop Ahr, Aug. 29 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Regular season Sept. 12 at Sept. 17 at Sept. 26 Oct. 2 at Immaculata, Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 at Nov. 26 at 2008: (4-6) Head coach: Steve Ciccotelli, 19th year NEW PIONEERS Scrimmages Aug. 26 Sept. 1 at Game-scrimmage Sept. 4 Cedar Grove, Regular season Sept. 11 at Brearley, Sept. 20 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 at Pingry, Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 at Nov. 6 at Johnson, Nov. 26 at Governor Livingston, 2008: (8-2) Head coach: Frank Bottone, 45th year SCHEDULE DISCREPANCIES: Brearley’s schedule lists its Oct. 31 game at Cardinal McCarrick at Governor Livingston’s schedule lists its Thanksgiving Day home game against KEY DATES: Opening night: Sept. 11 Week Zero: Sept. 11-12 (All 17 Week One: Sept. 17-20 (Games are Thursday through Sunday because of the Rosh Hashanah holiday.) Rosh Hashanah: Sept. 18 (sundown) Yom Kippur: Sept. 28 SAT Saturdays: Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5 State playoff cutoff date weekend: Nov. 6-7 NJSIAA quarterfinals: Nov. 13-14 NJSIAA semifinals: Nov. 20-21 Thanksgiving: Nov. 26 NJSIAA finals: Dec. 4-6 Saturday June 13, 2009
Posted by: JR at 11:39AM EST on June 13, 2009
The Roselle Senior American Legion baseball team has scheduled a home game against Iselin on July 10. Iselin is looking to add other Union County teams to its schedule. Contact Iselin coach Frank Notaro at fnotaro37@yahoo.com.
Tuesday June 9, 2009
Posted by: JR at 2:58PM EST on June 9, 2009
Union County track and field athletes excelled at last Thursday’s Meet of Champions held at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.
Winners included Chris Whyte of Rahway capturing the boys’ 400-meter hurdles in 52.29 seconds and Ugonna Ndu of Union finishing first in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles in 14.17. Other winners on the boys’ side included Justin Amezquita of Governor Livingston first in the pole vault at 35-0 and the Plainfield quartet of Daniel Woods, Tristian Simms, Stephon Knox and Isaiah Gill first in the 1,600-meter relay in 3:16.35. Knox was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles in 53.48 and Rahway was second in the 1,600-meter relay in 3:17.01. Also placing in their events were Summit’s Ben Raskin sixth in the 400-meter dash in 48.96, Summit’s Mark Jones fourth in the high jump at 6-6 and Dayton’s Archil Matsaberidze fourth in the long jump at 22-3.25. Ndu, a four-year standout for UHS coach Dan White, also did well to place second in the 400-meter hurdles in 59.35. Ines Simoes of Roselle Catholic placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run in 10:39.86. Johnson’s Emily Vargas did well to place in three events. She was tied for fifth with Brittany Jackson of Columbia and TIffany Turner of Cherokee in the high jump at 5-4. Vargas was fifth in the long jump at 17-6.5 and fourth in the triple jump at 38-6.5. Cranford’s Kelly Burke did well to place fourth in the pole vault at 12-0. Monday June 8, 2009
Posted by: JR at 3:19PM EST on June 8, 2009
HERE ARE THE ROSTERS:
MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE ALL-STARS:
Adam Fanelli, Cranford: .416 batting average, 24 runs, 25 RBI, nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 15 stolen bases, 3-2 pitching record, 2.94 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.
Fanelli will attend St. Joseph's, Pa.
Mike Gaeta, Cranford: .408 batting average, 21 runs, 23 RBI, three doubles, one triple, 11 stolen bases.
Gaeta will attend Scranton University.
Jim Knight, Cranford: 4-1 pitching record, 3.95 ERA, 25 strikeouts in 30 innings.
Knight will attend Ramapo College.
Matt Canales, Union Catholic: .385 batting average, 10 doubles, 16 RBI.
Canales will attend Kean University.
Anthony Caravano, Union Catholic: .326 batting average, four doubles, eight RBI.
Caravano will attend Union County College.
Rob Smorol, Johnson: .547 batting average, 24 runs, 40 RBI, six stolen bases, 13 doubles,
two triples, two home runs, five walks, five strikeouts, 4-0 pitching record, 1.13 ERA, 53 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Smorol will attend Rutgers University.
Mark DiMaio, Johnson: .464 batting average, 25 runs, 15 RBI, 2 stolen bases, six doubles,
12 walks, three strikeouts.
DiMaio will attend Union County College.
Matt Matlosz, Johnson: .396 batting average, 15 runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles, one triple, one home run,
seven walks, five strikeouts.
Matlosz will attend Union County College.
Tom Bouck, Roselle Catholic: 21 games, 62 at-bats, 16 runs, 21 hits, five doubles, one triple,
four home runs, eight walks, five strikeouts, 22 RBI, .339 batting average.
Bouck will attend St. Peter's College.
John Kropa, Roselle Catholic: 20 games, 51 at-bats, 21 runs, 18 hits, four doubles, one triple, eight walks, seven hit-by-pitch, 10 strikeouts, 10 RBI, .411 batting average.
Kropa will attend Fairfield University.
Nick Drejaj, Roselle Catholic: 21 games, 68 at-bats, 17 runs, 30 hits, four doubles, one triple, five walks, eight strikeouts, 14 RBI, .441 batting average.
Drejaj will attend St. Peter's College.
Andrew Cunningham, Governor Livingston: .349 batting average, 8 home runs, 35 RBI.
Cunningham will attend Quinnipac University.
Steve Balboni, Governor Livingston: .389 batting average, four home runs, 28 RBI.
Balboni will attend Culinary Institute of America.
Jackson Hollowell, Governor Livingston: .381 batting average, three home runs, 25 RBI.
Hollowell will attend Bucknell University.
Chris Butler, Dayton: .300 batting average, five doubles, 15 runs, 12 RBI.
Butler will attend West Virginia University.
Tom Mannix, Brearley: 7-4 pitching record, including 2-1 in three complete state tournament games.
Mannix will attend Holy Cross.
Jim Stafford, Brearley: 5-2 pitching record, including 2-0 in two complete state tournament games.
Stafford will atttend the University of Delaware.
Roger Marques, Brearley: Marques hit game-winning home runs in consecutive state tournament triumphs, the last one a walk off that gave Brearley its first-ever sectional title. He is a four-year starter like Mannix and Stafford.
Marques will attend Roanoke College.
Angel Marte, St. Mary's of Elizabeth: .571 batting average, two home runs, four doubles, six triples,
17 runs, 15 RBI.
Marte will attend Keystone Junior College.
Max LaPlance, New Providence: LaPlance will attend St. Michael's College.
Greg Dinerman, New Providence: Dinerman will attend the University of Delaware.
NOTES: Brearley won its first sectional title - capturing Central Jersey, Group 1 - and reached its first state championship game.
WATCHUNG CONFERENCE ALL-STARS:
Jared Sumner, Union, outfielder: .328 batting average.
Sumner will attend Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Tom Becht, Union, third baseman: .483 batting average, five home runs.
Ryan Pascullo, Union, pitcher (RH): 3-3 pitching record, 2.39 ERA.
Pascullo will attend Rutgers-Newark.
Kevin Maroney, Scotch Plains, first baseman: Maroney will attend Monmouth University.
Nick Bonadies, Scotch Plains, third baseman: Bonadies will attend West Chester University.
Joshue Reyes, Plainfield, pitcher-shortstop: .450 batting average, two home runs.
Ed DelToro, Plainfield, pitcher-catcher.
AJ Ortiz, Linden, pitcher (LH): 4-1 pitching record, 2.25 ERA.
Ortiz will attend Keystone Junior College.
Richard Weber, Linden, pitcher (LH): 4-4 pitching record, 2.10 ERA.
Weber will attend Kean University.
Yilson Herrera, Elizabeth, pitcher (RH): .327 batting average, 48 strikeouts in 41 innings.
Herrera will attend Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Ken Russell, Elizabeth, third baseman: .419 batting average, 26 hits.
Russell will attend Clarkson University.
Alvin Valerio, Elizabeth, designated hitter-first baseman: .357 batting average.
Valerio will attend Union County College.
Anthony Montas, Elizabeth, catcher: .338 batting average, 24 RBI.
Montas will attend Union County College.
Alex Espinosa, Newark East Side, pitcher-infielder: 300 batting average.
Ramon Gotay, Newark East Side, catcher: .375 batting average.
Dashon Jones, Newark East Side, pitcher: 78 strikeouts in 42 innings.
Nick D'Errico, Kearny: .435 batting average, 21 RBI.
D'Errico will attend New Jersey City University.
Chris Jenkins, Westfield, pitcher (RH): 7-1 pitching record.
Jenkins will attend Stanford University.
Mike Lessner, Westfield, outfielder: .400 batting average.
Lessner will attend Syracuse University.
Mike Clark, Westfield, outfielder: .350 batting average.
Clark will attend West Virginia University.
Rob Grandstrand, Westfield, infielder: .375 batting average.
Grandstrand will attend Scranton University.
Watchung Conference coaches: Tom Baylock of Scotch Plains, Bob Brewster of Westfield, Pat Migliore of Linden and Scott Gleichenhaus of Plainfield.
NOTES: Scotch Plains won the Union County Tournament for the fourth time and first time since 2004.
UNION COUNTY FINAL RECORDS (to the best of my knowledge):
Scotch Plains (22-5)
Governor Livingston (20-8)
Cranford (18-6)
Westfield (16-6)
Brearley (16-7)
Johnson (16-7)
Elizabeth (16-8)
Roselle Catholic (14-8)
Linden (14-9)
Roselle Park (14-9)
Union (14-10)
St. Patrick (10-8)
Summit (10-14-1)
New Providence (9-10)
Hillside (8-11)
Oratory Prep (8-14)
Plainfield (8-19)
Rahway (7-10)
Union Catholic (7-11)
St. Mary's (3-10)
Dayton (2-16)
Roselle (0-10)
2009 MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS:
Mountain Division: Cranford, third year in a row, all three years in league.
Valley Division: Brearley, second year in a row.
JR'S FINAL
UNION COUNTY BASEBALL
TOP 10 FOR 2009:
1. Scotch Plains (22-5)
2. Westfield (16-6)
3. Cranford (18-6)
4. Elizabeth (16-8)
5. Johnson (16-7)
6. Governor Livingston (20-8)
7. Roselle Catholic (14-8)
8. Brearley (16-7)
9. Linden (14-9)
10. Union (14-10)
Next 5: Union Catholic (7-11), Roselle Park (14-9), Summit (10-14-1), New Providence (9-10), Plainfield (8-19).
The rest: Rahway (7-10), Oratory Prep (8-14), Hillside (8-11), St. Patrick (10-8), St. Mary's (3-10), Dayton (2-16), Roselle (0-10).
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