Bombers play their way into White Division race

BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer

Sayreville’s come-from-behind victory over Colonia tightened up the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division standings and also put the Bombers a game over .500, as they pursue a berth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III tourney.

Tom Posik had a pair of hits, scored twice, stole three bases, and his safety squeeze brought home the game-winning run. Catcher Rob Arvanites added a pair of hits, and Tim Ballard picked up his second win by shutting down a Colonia rally in the bottom of the seventh.

The victory improved the Bombers record to 8-7 and evened up Sayreville with Carteret and South Plainfield with three losses apiece at the top of the White Division standings.

“It’s been an exciting division this year,” Sayreville coach Mike Novak said. “All the teams are strong, and the division is wide open.”

Sayreville has put itself in contention thanks to some solid hitting. Center fielder Ed Goldmann leads the team with a .462 average and a pair of homers. Brandon Aich is right behind at .439, while Arvanites is hitting .422, and Ballard is at .419.

Third baseman David Donner is batting .364, second baseman Tom Klauder is at .319, and Posik, the left fielder, is batting .300.

Novak credited the improved batting to the work of assistant coach Rich Gluchowski, a former Bombers catcher who graduated in 1985, and now coaches the junior varsity.

“We’ve made big improvements over last year at the plate,” Novak said. “Right now we’re hitting .340 as a team and that’s given us a few more runs to work with.”

The Bombers are solid up the middle. Arvanites is a solid defensive backstop who has caught six would-be base thieves.

The double-play combo of Klauder and shortstop Brian Martinez has been impressive, and Goldmann has done the job in center. Donner has been outstanding at the hot corner.

Meanwhile, Brandon Aich has been the ace on the mound.

The senior hurler is 5-1 with 40 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. In his last outing, Aich pitched a two-hitter against Carteret, striking out 10 along the way. Ballard (2-3), Goldmann and Tom Berardi (1-0) also see plenty of action on the hill.

“Our defense is very strong, so the rest of the season will come down to pitching and hitting for us,” Novak said. “The pitching has been excellent and if our bats keep doing the job, we’ll be in good shape.”

Sayreville was scheduled to host Monroe yesterday and will visit North Brunswick on Friday. Both are divisional matchups.