Chris Judge was not happy at all about his freshman season at Kean University, in 2010. But the pitcher made a tweak -- switching form throwing over the top to a three-quareters angle -- and that has made all the difference.
After the southpaw pitcher moved to the bullpen, he notched a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings pitched and 16 strikeouts. "Everybody says it’s like a whiffle ball," said Judge, about how the ball goes from his new angle of his throw. "My coach (Neil Ioviero) said that it was hard to pick up."
For the 2011 spring season his best appearance came in grabbing a save against Rowan in the NJAC semi-finals, a 5-4 victory as Judge got the final three outs in the ninth inning.
"It was sick and it was awesome," said Judge about winning the game that sent them into the NJAC finals. "My coaches feel that if I face a lefty hitter that it is a guaranteed (out)," said Judge. "It looks like I am throwing at him."
Judge was part of a Cougars team that won the NJAC, made the NCAA Division III World Series and finished with a 42-11 record.
And the success continued for the local Belleville Rays in the Metropolitan League this summer where he started and threw three complete games. He pitched more than 30 innings while striking out 38 batters with a 2.31 ERA. "He's a good worker and has good stuff," said Rays manager David Caruso. "He's got movement with his change-up and slider. He knows where to throw his pitches and he's very focused."
One of his best-pitched games for the Rays came on July 13 when Judge fired a complete game, a 2-0 shutout over the New Jersey Spartans.
Along with a shutout, he fired a three hitter while walking only three and striking out seven. It felt even better considering that Judge played for the Spartans, another Belleville-based team a couple of years ago after he graduated from Belleville High School.
Judge did so well this past summer that he was asked by two of the other Met League teams to play in the regionals, including for Hackensack, which made it to the NABF World Series.
More importantly during the summer he started instead of coming in relief.
For his junior season at Kean, he knows it will be challenge to make the starting staff for a team that is coming off the appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series. "I don't know," said Judge about getting onto the starting staff. "We have a lot of good starters on the team, but I think I can crack it."
The key will be in the fall where the team has intersquad games which Judge likes to pitch against his own teammates.
