Baseball All-Star Game Features Three Cranford Players

After playing for one of the best baseball teams in Cranford history, three of the Cougars top underclassmen were selected to play in the first Union-Essex All-Star game this past Saturday at Kean University.

Juniors Eric Walano, Sean Trotter and Greg Matlosz received the honor to join other standouts from both counties in a game that finished in a 4-4 tie after nine innings.

"It was a great feeling," said Walano, who will take over the catching duties next season. "It was an honor to be there. It was a great opportunity to play with the best players in Union County and to go against the best in Essex County. Overall, it was a great experience."

"It was awesome," added Trotter. "All these kids I compete with my whole life, I got to play with them. It was a great game."

"I didn't expect it to be that much fun, but a lot of the guys are nice guys and you realize they're all like everyone else you play with during the season. It was a great experience and I'd do it again if I had the chance."

There was certainly respect for the Union County and state champs, as all three players saw their names in the starting lineup. Trotter was in the leadoff spot, Walano batted third, and Matlosz was next in the cleanup spot.

"I was a little surprised," said Matlosz of batting fourth. "I didn't think I was the best person to be in that position, but I felt that if they thought I deserved to be there, then I do deserve to be there."

"It was a great showing for Cranford having three starters in there," noted Walano.

"It's a good experience," said 12^th year head coach Dennis McCaffery. "They were able to play with other kids that they play against during the regular season, so I think they enjoyed it and the three of them had a good showing."

Although there was a friendly atmosphere, once umpire yelled "play ball" the participants were all business.

"It was a high intensity game and it was very good baseball," added Walano. "It was very crisp, clean baseball. I don't think there was an error all day. It was great to play at such a high level. The pitching was better. You're not gonna get a gift that's coming down the middle of the plate. You're gonna have to work at it. It was very exciting to play."

"It was two very good teams playing against each other. Great pitching, everyone fielded well, hit well and it was just a very evenly matched game."

As for the banner season they just completed, McCaffery is happy for his entire team for the accolades they earned during their impressive run.

"It was a very good season," noted McCaffery. "It's a credit to the three kids we had playing in the game as well as all the kids. It was a group of young men who worked extremely hard. Greg Matlosz was the first one to the weight room and the last one to leave during the winter season. Eric Walano is a very successful athlete who plays three sports. And we have Sean Trotter who fits the same mold and plays three sports as well. The three of them really give you everything they have every time they go on the baseball field, if it's practice or in a game. And quite honestly, I would say that about all the kids we had this past season."