Surf’s Goldwater named Atlantic League all-star

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

It’s safe to say that Kyle Goldwater is enjoying the best year of his professional baseball career.

Comfortably settled in as a starter for the Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), Goldwater, the former Freehold Township High School star, has become one of the league’s best pitchers. The proof — he’s been named 2005 North Fork Bank ALPB All-Star Team.

The league’s all-star game will be played tonight at Sandcastle Stadium, the Surf’s home field in Atlantic City, an added bonus for Goldwater and his seven Surf teammates who were also named to the team.

“It’s great,” he said of the all-star honor. “I’ve been playing [professionally] for five years, and this is the first time I’ve made an all-star team. It’s nice to play in a league where they respect what you have done.”

Goldwater’s parents, Bernie and Karen Goldwater, will be among those in attendance tonight.

The Surf players will be on the South squad in this game that pits the North Division against the South Division. Starting time is 7:30 p.m. and the game is preceded by a home run derby at 6 p.m.

Goldwater leads the Surf in wins (six) as the season approaches the halfway point. He’s 6-5 with a 4.20 earned run average (ERA).

“I started the season strong,” he said. “I was staying ahead of batters, not walking batters and keeping the ball down.

“It’s a matter of concentration,” he added. “You have to go with what is working and keep the ball low. Some nights you hit the corners and others you don’t.”

For Goldwater, it’s keeping his fastball and splitter down in the strike zone and hitting the corners that is his key to success. He’s also been working on another pitch, a slider, and when it is on, it has made him an even more effective pitcher. It can be his out pitch.

“I’m working on my slider,” he said. “I have to make it better.”

It’s knowing what to do when you aren’t hitting the corners that has made Goldwater an all-star this year. Much of the success, he said, is from a year’s experience in the league.

“Last year, I was not sure what to expect,” he said. “Now, I have a good idea what works.”

Pitching every fifth day in the starting rotation has helped as well, Goldwater said. It allows him to get into a daily routine between starts. Goldwater believes that as a starter it’s his job to go deep into games, and he is not pleased if he doesn’t go seven innings.

Goldwater is a much more confident pitcher than he was a year ago and a good deal of that confidence comes from playing with the Surfs for a second straight year. It’s the first time that he has played with the same team for two straight years, and in his case, familiarity doesn’t breed contempt.

“When you are comfortable with the people you are around, that’s a big help,” Goldwater said. “Everyone here just loves the game.”

Tickets for the all-star game, which will also include a fireworks display, are available by calling (609) 344-7873 or ordering online at www.acsurf.com.