Group IV tourney loss ends 'satisfying' year for Monroe

You can look at Monroe High School's 5-3 loss to Manalapan last weekend in the Central Jersey Group IV tournament and lament that a promising season is over. Or you can have the attitude of Falcons coach Greg Beyer and anticipate what next spring will bring.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Monroe Township's Victor Sorrento dives for the ball in shallow left field during the Falcons' game against Manalapan in the Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinals on May 22. "Unless you win it all," said Beyer, "you're going to end the season with a loss. But I can't let that deter from what has to be a very satisfying season. We had to overcome a lot of adversity coming into this season, and we pulled it off well."

What Beyer is referring to was a series of injuries to key personnel, including Angelo Trento, who missed a good portion of the campaign, and shortstop Alex Visciano, who was returning from knee surgery.

"We entered the season needing to move people around to fill some holes," Beyer said. "We sort of weathered the storm and the team came together."

Above: Monroe's Nick Dini dives to catch the ball in center field. Right: Zach Batchelor fields a grounder at first base. As impressive as this year was, Monroe has to view next year with even more excitement because of the experience coming back.

"We lose five seniors but return our entire pitching staff from a team that went 16-6-1," Beyer said. "That's the best winning percentage for a Monroe team since 1994. Add the offensive weapons, and we're looking at next spring with a lot of anticipation."

Pitching, perhaps the most important facet of high school baseball, will not only be deep but rich in talent. You can start with Andy Sullivan, who will enter his senior year with likely the best arm in the Greater Middlesex Conference. With a fastball clocked at over 90 mph, Sullivan was usually called on to pitch in the key games. He also played first base and batted over .380. Sullivan is courting numerous offers from Division I colleges but will spend this summer in North Carolina in a tryout camp that could ultimately lead to a berth on the Junior Pan American team.

Zach Batchelor, another junior, will be a valuable member of the mound staff and is already accomplished as a closer. He pitched only 17 innings but averaged two strikeouts an inning. As a first baseman and outfielder, Batchelor batted .380.

The third hurler is Keith Sanchez, a junior, who finished with a 3-1 record. As an outfielder, Sanchez batted .400. Junior Ted Moke was nicknamed the vulture because he pitched only 18 innings but finished with a 4-0 record.

"Ted came into games at the right times," said Beyer. "That's when we scored runs."

In addition to the offense provided by the pitchers, Monroe boasts some of the best at their positions in the GMC. While sophomore Nick Dini played the outfield this year and batted a hefty .427, his true position is at catcher, which is where he'll be next season. This year, senior Joe Williams started at backstop and did an outstanding job defensively, throwing out 14 of 28 base stealers.

Also expect help from some underclassmen

who saw extensive playing time. They included sophomores Sal Filiano, Mike Scarrone

and Corey Liebros in addition to juniors Kevin Conklin and Casey Richard. Freshman Victor Sorrento was also able to see action as a pitcher in four games and became more comfortable as the season progressed.

The departing seniors include Chris Pritzlaff, Andy Trento, Joey Haddad and James Domino.

"With some of the injuries coming into this season," said Beyer, "we were able to give some untested players an opportunity to get game action. We have an idea as to what everybody can do. That should put us in good position next year."