Hayes, Rusbarsky want a title at Colts Neck
Cougars looking for first baseball championship
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

TIM MORRIS Dom Hayes (l) and A.J. Rusbarsky have led the Colts Neck baseball team to a school-record 18 wins last spring. This year, they are looking to help the Cougars win their first championship.

Dominick Hayes and A.J. Rusbarsky have been the faces of Colts Neck baseball.

They stepped into the starting lineup as freshmen - Rusbarsky at shortstop, and Hayes in center field - and have been there ever since. Not coincidentally, they've led the Cougars to their finest years on the diamond. Last year, the duo led the Cougars to the Central Jersey Group III championship game for the first time in school history.

Now, seniors and already college bound (Rusbarsky to Seton Hall University and Hayes to the New Jersey Institute of Technology), the Cougar tandem are looking to bring a baseball championship to the school.

"As a team we'd like to hang a banner," said Rusbarsky.

What Rusbarsky and Hayes have done for Colts Neck has been no surprise to head coach Mike Yorke, he saw it from the start.

SCOTT PILLING staff Freehold Township is looking to experienced players, like Ian MacLean (above) to lead them back to another division title this spring.

"From day one, it was their work ethic that was the difference," he pointed out. "The two of them would stay after a two-and-a-half-hour practice and work on their own. Dom hitting grounders to A.J. and A.J. hitting flies to Dom.

"Every year we've broke the school record [for wins]," he added. "Their work ethic has been infectious."

Best friends on and off the field, both say the friendship has helped them on the diamond.

"I believe we make each other better," said Rusbarsky. "We both strive to be the best."

Hayes noted that their friendship has had a positive influence on their baseball playing and that they bring out the best in each other. And, that best has been nothing short of great.

Last year, batting leadoff, Hayes batted .485 with a school record 47 hits and scored 38 runs. He had seven doubles, five triples and three home runs.

Batting third in the order, Rusbarsky batted .400 with 27 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He led the Shore in triples with six and had eight doubles and two home runs.

Each will surpass 100 career hits in their careers.

Success has followed the pair. Hayes noted they have been playing with or against each other since their were 9 years old everywhere. They've been winning since Little League. Three years ago they were teammates on the Freehold Township Little League Senior League team that won the World Series in Bangor, Maine, and the next year repeated as Eastern Regional champions, making a return trip to the World Series. At Colts Neck, each year the Cougars have taken a big step forward.

"It feels like we're on top of a cloud," noted Hayes.

The next step would be a championship for Colts Neck.

Besides the team success, their hard work has gotten them to one of their goals, college - Rusbarsky at Seton Hall and Hayes to NJIT. Hayes noted that the two schools are only 10 minutes away (one exit on the parkway), which will allow them to stay in touch and catch a game if the other has a day off. Both admit it will be a little awkward not being teammates. It will seem strange, Rusbarsky said, to look out to center field and not see Hayes there, and the same for Hayes, who will not be seeing Rusbarsky in front of him at short.

Cougar head coach Mike Yorke believes that his team is ready to raise the first baseball banner in school history because of the leadership of his two stars, who bring something different to the ballfield.

"First, they're great kids to have around, but they are different" said Yorke. "A.J. is quieter and leads by example. Dom is more forward and says what is on his mind. He leads by example. They're both co-captains this year."

Hayes and Rusbarsky will have plenty of help as they look to end their scholastic careers on a winning note. Colts Neck returns several starters, including one of the very best starters in the Shore in junior Anthony DeSclafani. He is what an ace is all about. He was 5-2 last year with a stingy 1.01 earned-run average. With 76 strikeouts in 48.1 innings of work, college and pro scouts have taken notice of the hard-throwing righty. He also had two saves.

At his best, he can be unhittable. He gives the Cougars a chance to win every time he toes the rubber.

Hayes, who was used as a closer last year, will start this year. He and Ethan Jackson will be the No. 2 and No. 3 starters. Pete Salvati, Ken Potis and Chris Coutros all have promising arms themselves, adding depth to the rotation.

"We feel very good about our pitching," said Yorke.

Yorke could say the same about an offense sparked by Hayes and Rusbarsky. Salvati (.346) Frank Piazza (.33) and Jackson (.344 and 29 RBIs) are all proven hitters. The Cougars don't have to sit back and wait for the big inning, as Ashton Jackson can create havoc on the base paths with his speed.

The defense is set with Hayes in center, Rusbarsky at short and Salvati at second. Mike O'Reilly is the backstop.

The Cougars picked the right year to be deep in arms because they move up to the Shore Conference A North Division this spring, where they know there are no days off.

"Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we know that we're going to be in for a dogfight every day for seven innings," Yorke remarked. "We know that everyone is good."

One of the teams that Colts Neck will be facing up in A North is Freehold Township.

Frank Gualtieri's Patriots, 19-8 in 2006, are the defending champions and have won the division title two of the last three years. The Pats lost their ace Brett Brach (now pitching with his brother Brad Brach at Monmouth University) and the rest of the starting rotation (Jason Elo and Sean Stewart), 18 of the team's 19 wins, which will be hard to replace.

Rodger Wilmot is the only pitcher who had any experience at all (he was 1-0 pitching in relief). John Whitley, who came into his own during the summer, Matt Grajek, Matt Cadigan, Austin Henderson and Dan Klinsky round out the rotation. Klinsky and Cadigan are lefties.

While the rotation figures to take time to come into its own, the Pats will be looking for their offense to carry the load early, and they do have some of the offensive leaders from last year. Wilmot (outfield when not pitching) hit .373 with 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He had 31 hits, among them six doubles, two triples and two home runs. He was a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases. Even with the loss of Damian Csakai (22-for-22 in stolen bases), the Patriots still have good team speed and will use it to steal bases and take the extra base.

Brian Cooney (second base/outfield) batted .309 with 16 runs scored and 12 RBIs. Ian MacLean (first base) batted .313.

Chase Majewski also had a strong summer. He had 11 RBIs last year.

Cooney (nine), Majewski (three) and MacLean (six) are all capable base stealers.

If the Patriots can get through the first couple of weeks with their heads still above water, they'll be in the A North race to the end.

Bill Gallacher has five returning starters to build the 2007 Howell Rebels around. Although the Rebels may not be looked upon as a threat in the tough A North division, anyone overlooking them does so at their own expense.

Craig Kinmon could be one of the best pitchers in the division. Although he was just 2-5 last year, he showed his potential by no-hitting division champion Freehold Township and beating a very good Kearny team, 2-1. He lost two one-run games because of poor defense behind. He pitched to a 3.22 ERA.

Sean O'Reilly, last seen quarterbacking the Rebels to the Central Jersey Group IV championships game, is pretty good on the baseball diamond. In his first varsity season last year, the outfielder batted .333.

Frank Ozello (first base/pitcher), Brian Battaglia (shortstop/pitcher) and Mike Fiorillo (pitcher) are the other returners.

Howell's rotation is deep, and if the defense can come around, can be very effective.

Newcomers include Casey Brannigan (second base), Chance Carrick (outfield), Andrew Dans (outfield), Joe Labozzetta (pitcher), Joe Locasicio (third base), Tim Lamirande (catcher), Mike Pilot (catcher), Nick Riccio (catcher), Greg Weber (first base) Randy Stratton (outfield) and Drew Ryan (shortstop).

Howell should prove to be a very tough out this spring and if they can get any kind of offensive production, could be one of the division's surprise teams.

Freehold Borough will be a team, according to coach Steve Kochinski, that is "a totally different design" from the team that won the B North title in 2006 and was 17-8.

That team had the power hitting of Ryan Cuneo, Jason Nardi and John Marx, that could score runs in bunches. They have graduated. This year's Colonials, will be built around speed. The Colonials will be looking to put a different kind of pressure on teams - pressure on defenses to make plays rather than on pitchers to make the perfect pitch.

Returners Colton Ruggieri, who batted .346 last spring, and Neil Bolton and newcomers Joe Quinones, a switch-hitter, and Matt Whalen will be running at every opportunity.

The defense is very solid, led by center fielder Ruggieri, Ryan Kresky at shortstop and Bolton at second. Brian Prisk mans the hot corner at first. The Borough has two good defensive catchers in Franco Fabiano and Quinones. James Frost will start in left while right field will be a platoon between Whalen, Yuhas and Joe Freske.

The Colonials will need that offense and defense, because the pitching staff took a big hit. The good news is that transfer Matt Yuhas (5-4 at Colts Neck) is able to slide into the front of the rotation left vacant by the graduation of Nardi. The Colonials looked to have two strong hurlers in support of him in Kresky and Jeff Frost, but injuries have taken them out of the rotation. Kresky has a back injury that will limit him to playing the field, and Frost has a sore elbow. He could return late in the season.

With his second and third starters out, Kochinski noted that it is all arms on deck. He'll try and piecemeal a rotation between Prisk, Frank Richardson, Quinones, Bolton and Freske.

It's too early to tell how the pitching staff will do behind Yuhas, but the Colonials defense and offense should be able to keep them in the B North chase.

Manalapan will be looking to bounce back from a rare offseason (8-15). Coach Brian Boyce has four starters back led by junior Nick Turano, who banged out 28 hits last year and batted .383 for the Braves. Outfielder Shawn McGrane (.286, three home runs) and first baseman David Becker (.292) give the team a solid trio to build around. They are the team's tricaptains. The fourth returner is Jay Goldheimer, the shortstop.

Among the newcomers are Lucas Scollo (second base), Matt Cook (first base/catcher), Bryan Tamalone (third base), Jeff Lapollo (third base), Chris Lamboy (second base), Dan Ciprut (outfield), Ryan Harvey (shortstop), Anthony Bacigalupi (outfield), Joe Maritato (outfield), Pat Flanagan (outfield) and Mitchell Litt (infield).

Aces B.J. Martin and Chris Ernst have graduated, leaving a big void to fill. The Braves do have depth this year and will be relying on numbers. Mark Holmes, Matt Steinitz, Litt, Tamalone, Lapollo, Becker, Ciprut and Harvey will see time on the mound, either starting or in relief.

Marlboro (8-15) finished the season well and coach Chris Lemore will be looking for a carry-over affect in 2006.

Leading the returners is infielder Adam Helfgott, who jump-started the Mustang offense. He batted .360 and led the team with 20 runs scored. He was equally efficient at shortstop.

Adam Epstein (outfield), Don LaLima (outfield), Pat Morelli (outfield), Bobby Richardson (infield) Domenic Imperato (catcher) and Craig Brodziner (infield) are the other returners. Marlboro was a team that could score runs last year and should still be up to that this spring.

Mark Lichtenthal, Bodziner and LaLima make up the pitching rotation.

Among the newcomers in 2007 are Mike Dietrich (pitcher) Jason Taub (infield/pitcher), Jeff Zanardi (pitcher), Jeremey Paster (infield), Tony Roegiers (infield) and Jeff Paglio-Pizzi (outfield).

In the Mustangs can get steady pitching and back it up with good fielding, they could be a surprise team in A North.

Andrew Dans (outfield), Joe Labozzetta (pitcher), Joe Locasicio (third base), Tim Lamirande (catcher), Mike Pilot (catcher), Nick Riccio (catcher), Greg Weber (first base) Randy Stratton (outfield) and Drew Ryan (shortstop).

Howell should prove to be a very tough out this spring and if they can get any kind of offensive production, could be one of the division's surprise teams.

Freehold Borough will be a team, according to coach Steve Kochinski, that is "a totally different design" from the team that won the B North title in 2006 and was 17-8.

That team had the power hitting of Ryan Cuneo, Jason Nardi and John Marx, that could score runs in bunches. They have graduated. This year's Colonials, will be built around speed. The Colonials will be looking to put a different kind of pressure on teams - pressure on defenses to make plays rather than on pitchers to make the perfect pitch.

Returners Colton Ruggieri, who batted .346 last spring, and Neil Bolton and newcomers Joe Quinones, a switch-hitter, and Matt Whalen will be running at every opportunity.

The defense is very solid, led by center fielder Ruggieri, Ryan Kresky at shortstop and Bolton at second. Brian Prisk mans the hot corner at first. The Borough has two good defensive catchers in Franco Fabiano and Quinones. James Frost will start in left while right field will be a platoon between Whalen, Yuhas and Joe Freske.

The Colonials will need that offense and defense, because the pitching staff took a big hit. The good news is that transfer Matt Yuhas (5-4 at Colts Neck) is able to slide into the front of the rotation left vacant by the graduation of Nardi. The Colonials looked to have two strong hurlers in support of him in Kresky and Jeff Frost, but injuries have taken them out of the rotation. Kresky has a back injury that will limit him to playing the field, and Frost has a sore elbow. He could return late in the season.

With his second and third starters out, Kochinski noted that it is all arms on deck. He'll try and piecemeal a rotation between Prisk, Frank Richardson, Quinones, Bolton and Freske.

It's too early to tell how the pitching staff will do behind Yuhas, but the Colonials defense and offense should be able to keep them in the B North chase.

Manalapan will be looking to bounce back from a rare offseason (8-15). Coach Brian Boyce has four starters back led by junior Nick Turano, who banged out 28 hits last year and batted .383 for the Braves. Outfielder Shawn McGrane (.286, three home runs) and first baseman David Becker (.292) give the team a solid trio to build around. They are the team's tricaptains. The fourth returner is Jay Goldheimer, the shortstop.

Among the newcomers are Lucas Scollo (second base), Matt Cook (first base/catcher), Bryan Tamalone (third base), Jeff Lapollo (third base), Chris Lamboy (second base), Dan Ciprut (outfield), Ryan Harvey (shortstop), Anthony Bacigalupi (outfield), Joe Maritato (outfield), Pat Flanagan (outfield) and Mitchell Litt (infield).

Aces B.J. Martin and Chris Ernst have graduated, leaving a big void to fill. The Braves do have depth this year and will be relying on numbers. Mark Holmes, Matt Steinitz, Litt, Tamalone, Lapollo, Becker, Ciprut and Harvey will see time on the mound, either starting or in relief.

Marlboro (8-15) finished the season well and coach Chris Lemore will be looking for a carry-over affect in 2006.

Leading the returners is infielder Adam Helfgott, who jump-started the Mustang offense. He batted .360 and led the team with 20 runs scored. He was equally efficient at shortstop.

Adam Epstein (outfield), Don LaLima (outfield), Pat Morelli (outfield), Bobby Richardson (infield) Domenic Imperato (catcher) and Craig Brodziner (infield) are the other returners. Marlboro was a team that could score runs last year and should still be up to that this spring.

Mark Lichtenthal, Bodziner and LaLima make up the pitching rotation.

Among the newcomers in 2007 are Mike Dietrich (pitcher) Jason Taub (infield/pitcher), Jeff Zanardi (pitcher), Jeremey Paster (infield), Tony Roegiers (infield) and Jeff Paglio-Pizzi (outfield).

In the Mustangs can get steady pitching and back it up with good fielding, they could be a surprise team in A North.