Sports
Baseball Starts Season Coming Off Best Record Since 1998
Opens season at home versus Parsippany Hills at 4 p.m. Friday.
Coming off its best record since 1998, baseball looks to its core of seniors to continue the team’s winning ways.
Summit (17-10) won eight of its last 11 games last season, but dropped its last two, including a 9-4 road loss to Governor Livingston in the sectional semifinals on May 25.
"We are looking forward to continuing our success from last season. It will be tough to replace seven starters, but I feel we have the guys to step up and get the job done," Head coach Kevin Zaleski said. "Our schedule plays to our strengths and I’m excited to see what the season will bring."
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Zaleski returns seven seniors including two offensive threats: outfielder Nick Oristanio and designated hitter Matt Dewald, both of which made first team All-Conference and second team All-Union County.
Oristanio belted six home runs with 28 RBI and 33 runs scored and an impressive .468 batting average. Dewald was even more impressive at the plate, batting .518 with 44 hits, including nine doubles and 39 RBI. In 27 games last season, Summit scored in double digits 11 times.
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Other seniors include: Travis Barr, Jamie Kennedy, Alex Newman, Curtis Slaght and Joe Weil.
"We should have some consistency in the middle of our lineup, but need to get runners on base for our big bats," Zaleski said.
2011 Summit Baseball Roster
Seniors (7): Travis Barr, Matt Dewald, Jamie Kennedy, Alex Newman, Nick Oristanio, Curtis Slaght, Joe Well.
Juniors (5): James Baumeister, Kyle Fries, Mike Nitzberg, Andrew Perry, Matt Scheer.
Sophomores (2): Nick Abbott, Andrew Oristanio.
Freshman (1): Tanner Fulton.
2011 Summit Baseball Season Schedule
April 1: vs. Dayton, 4 p.m.
April 5: at Rahway, 4 p.m.
April 7: at Johnson, 4 p.m.
April 8: vs. Brearley, 4 p.m.
April 11: vs. Plainfield, 4 p.m.
April 14: at Scotch Plains, 4 p.m.
April 16: at Cougar Invitational (Chatham, Bernards, Mountain Lakes), 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
April 19: vs. Roselle Catholic, 4 p.m.
April 21: vs. Union Catholic, 4 p.m.
April 22: at Dayton, 4 p.m.
April 26: vs. Rahway, 4 p.m.
April 27: vs. Parsippany, 7 p.m.
April 28: at UCT Preliminary Round, 4 p.m.
April 30: at UCT First Round, 4 p.m.
May 2: at Plainfield, 4 p.m.
May 4: vs. Roselle Park, 4 p.m.
May 6: vs. Oratory, 7 p.m.
May 7: at UCT Semifinals, TBA
May 9: at Governor Livingston, 4 p.m.
May 11: at Pingry, 4 p.m.
May 12: at Roselle Catholic, 4 p.m.
May 13: at North Plainfield, 4 p.m.
May 14: at UCT Finals, TBA
May 17: at Union Catholic, 4 p.m.
May 19: at Westfield, 4 p.m.
May 20: vs. Johnson, 4 p.m.
