Two seasons ago, Hopatcong's baseball team, under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Chris Buglovsky, won only six games out of 24. Last season, his team more than doubled its wins, finishing the season at 15-14. Losing one player to graduation from last year’s squad, the Chiefs baseball team is trying to downplay expectations for their 2011 season.
Buglovsky thinks the results of the last two years lay the groundwork for this season. In 2009, his team did not qualify for the state tournament. Last season they qualified but were eliminated by Glen Rock in the first round, 4-2.
Overview
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The Chiefs won’t rely on just two or three players to carry the team, Buglovsky said. The head coach believes there is enough talent in his line-up who can help the team on any given day. He said he likes it that way because at the high school level, there's less pressure on the players.
Last season's results
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Hopatcong's season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Glen Rock after a 15-14 regular season.
Keep your eye on
DJ Ross (Sr.) — The star catcher was big with the bat and strong behind the plate last year. Expect even more from Ross, a three-year starter and first-team all-conference selection, this season.
Joe LoBue (Sr.) — A first-team all-conference pick last year, LoBue will try his luck on the mound after four years as the Chiefs' starting center fielder. LoBue pitched a little his freshman year and is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery.
Rob Nadrowski (Sr.) — The designated hitter should feast on the Homer Dome's short porches this year.
They'll miss
Nick Caprio — A solid defensive second baseman, Caprio was a good contact hitter. He'll be replaced by basketball star Matt Tobin, playing his first year of varsity baseball.
Brian Schneider—Schneider played a big role in Hopatcong's bullpen last year while also playing right field. They'll miss this strike-thrower.
Coach's take
“I expect us to compete in every ball game we’re in. The past two seasons have laid the ground work to be better this season,” head coach Chris Buglovsky said. “We will concentrate on each game, one at a time, and over 25 games get the results that we want."
“When Matt Tobin gets his first varsity hit we’re going to stop the game and give him the ball—because he’s used to that. He’s got 2,350 high school points in basketball but no varsity hits,” Buglovsky said.
They said it
"I'm pumped!" — Joey LoBue
"We have a lot of people coming back from last year and we're bonding more." — DJ Ross
