BY RICHARD JEROME
Staff Writer

When the Spotswood High School baseball team began this season, it was far from clear that the Chargers could match last year's 18-9 record.

Coach Glenn Fredricks' ballclub lost 10 seniors from the 2005 contingent, and as far as the infield, only outstanding second baseman Michael Hohman had seen varsity action. So it's an accomplishment, to say the least, that even with Tuesday's last-inning 7-6 loss to Old Bridge, SHS now holds a 15-2-1 record and boasts its fourth consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division title. The crown earned the Chargers a second seed in the GMC Tournament, which begins this week, as well as home team advantage for the upcoming state tourney.

"No one expected this, not even the coaches," Fredricks said of his team's performance. "The best thing about this group is that when we're deficient in one area, the others get stronger. If we're not pitching well, for example, the hitting and defense will step up. Balance is our strength."

Indeed, the Chargers have a 1.60 team earned run average on the mound, while at the plate they're clubbing at a .369 clip. Although they did suffer the Old Bridge loss, which came on a three-run Joe Layton homer in the seventh, they enjoyed an 8-4 victory over neighbor and arch rival Monroe, a team that had won the White Division championship, and is the fourth seed in the GMCT.

"That win sent a strong message," Fredrick's said.

As far as the pitchers are concerned, Spotswood puts much responsibility on the shoulders of all-state hurler Willie Beard, a junior who has a 6-0 record with 64 strikeouts in 40 innings.

"He's the heart and soul of the staff," the coach said. "As Willie goes, the team goes. This is a bounce-back season for him, and he's matured into one of the most feared pitchers around - he clocked 91 miles an hour on the radar gun. Willie's drawn a lot of interest from the service academies."

Hohman, who pitches when not playing second, is 4-1, while at the plate he's hitting a robust .510. One of the best all-around players in the county, he also flashes an exceptional glove.

"He's always working hard at getting better, and he's never satisfied," Fredricks said of his star.

A pleasant surprise has been Mark Fahy, who has a 4-0 mark and registered a dominating victory in the 13-3 triumph over JFK that gave the Chargers the Blue Division title.

At the plate, Spotswood is strong up and down the lineup, rich with power hitters and table setters. In the former category is junior shortstop John Michael Berner, who leads the county in home runs with seven. Right behind him is catcher Anthony Addone, another junior, who has a half-dozen circuit clouts to his credit. Sandwiched in between those two sluggers are third sacker Bryan May and left fielder Garrett Andren, both of whom have a knack for getting on base. Another huge contributor is a versatile freshman, Joey Petosa, who generally plays right field and has done no less than bat .475 with a pair of homers.

"He has the makings of a special player," said Fredricks. "He could be a great one some day."

It's a further measure of SHS's offensive balance that the No. 9 hitter, senior first baseman Rob Thuring, is batting at a .400 pace through 18 games.

As for the rest of the lineup, a pair of solid glovemen, Phiul Spina and Brian Curci, split center field. Spotswood also has a trio of sophomores with potential. Michael Collins is making contributions in the outfield, C.J. Mooney is developing fast at designated hitter, and T.J. Snook has impressed on the mound. He shut down Highland Park for the last four innings of a game in which SHS came from 9-7 behind to win 16-9.

"He's a viable fourth option in the playoffs," said Fredricks, who is assisted by his brother, Danny, as pitching coach; Matt Ardizzone, who spent five years as head coach at New Brunswick; junior varsity coach Dale Rubino; and frosh boss John Walsh.

Spotswood opens its GMC action tomorrow, playing the winner of the East Brunswick-Carteret matchup. Monroe will take on the winner of yesterday's South River-North Brunswick game. The Rams were the 20th seed in the tournament.

No. 14 seed Sayreville was also in action yesterday, taking on 19th-seeded Middlesex, with the winner to get third-seeded Edison tomorrow. Old Bridge, the 10th seed, hosted Woodbridge yesterday, with the winner to play at seventh-seeded JFK tomorrow.

Following tomorrow's action, the GMCT double-header quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday at Memorial Stadium in New Brunswick and Sondek Park in South Brunswick. The semifinal doubleheader will be held next Saturday (May 20) at Middlesex County College, with the finals set for June 3 at East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School.

As far as the GMC Softball Tournament, that will be seeded on Monday, with Bishop Ahr (20-0) the likely top seed. The second seed could go to Sayreville, who at 17-2 is also hoping to beat out South Brunswick (16-2) for the Red Division title.

State tourney cut-off tomorrow

Some GMC baseball teams playing tomorrow may have more than just their conference tournament futures at stake.

The state playoff deadline is tomorrow night (teams must be at or above the .500 mark at the end of the day to qualify) leaving many teams in must-win situations for both postseason tournaments.

That may be the case for the Sayreville Bombers, who fell to 9-10 with an 11-7 loss to J.P. Stevens on Tuesday. The Bombers had yesterday's game with Middlesex, and will also play Edison later today in a regular season tilt. With a loss yesterday, today's game will not have an effect on their state tournament hopes. However, a win yesterday and today would seal their berth, regardless of tomorrow's outcome against Edison in GMCT play.

Three other local baseball teams are locks in the state playoffs -Spotswood, Monroe (12-6) and Old Bridge (11-7).

In softball, Sayreville is in, while Monroe (10-9) Old Bridge (9-10) and East Brunswick (7-9) are on the bubble.

Monroe faced Cardinal McCarrick

yesterday, and gets Spotswood (6-11) later today (weather permitting), needing just one win to qualify. A win yesterday and a rain-out today would also work for the Falcons.

Old Bridge has a game scheduled against Middlesex today and a game against Carteret tomorrow. If both games are played, the Knights need to win both to qualify.

East Brunswick had just Colonia (yesterday) on the schedule for the rest of this week, and with a win, may try to get another game before Friday's cutoff in a last-ditch attempt to qualify.