Hightstown High Baseball Looks to the Mound

While she isn't officially on the roster, Mother Nature could end up being a key player for the baseball team.

During Hightstown's 12-9 season last year, she certainly proved valuable.

"We got lucky with the rain and the scheduling last year," Hightstown Coach Jim Peto said. "We went with two starting pitchers for pretty much the whole season."

The way games are spread out in high school, it is possible to go with a two-man staff and just have some relievers ready in case of an emergency. It's when the games start to get rained out and the makeup days start to pile up on top of each other that a two-man staff becomes an impossibility.

Going into the season, Peto would love to be able to put either Jose Lopez or Javier Blanco, both seniors, out on the mound in every game.

"When the rain-outs come, we'll just have to piece something together," Peto said.

Lopez is the ace, an individual who represented Mercer County on the Carpenter's Cup team last year.

"He has two no-hitters in his career and a scholarship to play at Louisberg College in North Carolina," Peto said.

Blanco was Hightstown's top reliever last year, but Peto is confident he'll be a productive starter.

"He has great command," Peto said. "He pounds the strike zone with all four of his pitches. He threw thirty innings last year and only walked four guys."

In addition to the pitching, Hightstown returns two big bats in the middle of its lineup.

Kevin Monahan, a senior, will play center field. This is his fourth year on varsity.

"He's hit in the middle of the order since his sophomore year," Peto said.

 Tyler Schickner is a senior that will play first. According to Peto, Schickner is "clutch."

"He always seems to come up with a man in scoring position and drives him in," Peto said.

Alex Petak, a senior, will shift from second base to start at short.

Gus Vuolle, a senior who got some playing time last year as a designated hitter, is the team's catcher.

Kevin Lenart, a sophomore, will play left and bat lead-off.

 "He had eight steals last year," Peto noted. "Hopefully, he'll set the table and put some pressure on the fielders."

Eric Anders (third base), Austin Kurrey (right field) and Max Kutler (second base) are other sophomores that will probably start.

The team is counting on Dylan Malinosky and Matt Chipego, both sophomores, for relief on the mound. If needed, one of them might also have to step in for some starts. As the only lefty on the team, Chipego could also be a valuable situational pitcher.

Mike James and Wilson Hernandez are the assistant coaches.

Hightstown will open the season at home on today, Friday, against West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional High School South.

"We're not a deep team," Peto said. "We're starting several sophomores. We'll have to play well behind our pitching to be successful. In most cases, we'll have to win some one-run games."

And hope Mother Nature takes care of her boys in Hightstown.