MKA's Barbetta Bursts Onto Baseball Scene

Montclair resident Lucas Barbetta has been a huge hit in his first extensive varsity action as the starting sophomore catcher for the Montclair Kimberley Academy baseball team which entered its Friday, April 25 game vs. Glen Ridge with a superb 9-1 record, including a perfect 5-0 for first place in the Super Essex Conference-Colonial Division.

The precocious Barbetta was hitting .382 with 12 runs and 10 RBI through the first 10 games including a team-leading 7 doubles to go along with a home run and also 7 stolen bases.

"Lucas has done a superb job catching, handling our pitching staff like a veteran and calling a great game," said MKA second-year head coach Mike Sasso. "He is very athletic and terrific baserunner which is why we bat him lead off. Plus, he has good power!"

Barbetta snapped a 1-1 tie at Cedar Grove in a key April 19 game against the strong Panthers when he hammered a solo home run over the 365-foot fence in left field in the fifth inning off Cedar Grove ace left-hander Xavier Andujar which proved to be the winning run in a 2-1 Cougars victory.

"I have great confidence in Lucas being behind the plate and he calls a great game," said MKA senior starting pitcher and tri-captain Alessandro Rizio. "And, at the plate he is a terrific hitter to is a spark at the top of our lineup."