Colasante Uses Arm, Bat To Power Paramus to Win

The Paramus Spartan baseball team started its season on a high note by cruising to a 12-0 win over Kennedy at home on Monday afternoon.

“It was nice to get on the field,” Spartan head coach Joe Cervino said, since the team’s original opener on Friday against Bergen Tech was rained out.

Frank Colasante pitched three innings of no-hit baseball, striking out four Knights. The junior also slugged a two-run home run to left center in the third inning.

Shortstop Brian Criscione led the game off with a walk. He stole second and came around to score the first run of the game on an error. Second baseman Joey Szorentini knocked in Nick Henriquez and Chris Covello with an infield single.

Paramus would tack on three more runs in the second inning, two runs in the third and four runs in the fourth.

The Spartans racked up 12 hits in the game. Szorentini went 3-for-3 (two singles and a triple) with two runs batted in. Criscione walked twice, swiped two bases and scored two runs. First baseman Tony Billera went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Tyler Garguilo, Anthony Matesic, Giancarlo Rozon, Eberto Diaz and Joe Mastrofilipo each tallied an RBI for the Spartans.

Brandon Smith and Dominic Caporelli pitched the final two innings; the former yielded Kennedy’s lone hit—a single—in the fourth.   

“We think we have a good blend of pitching, hitting and defense,” said Cervino, who picked up career win number 514. “We have a good balance of power and speed.”

“Everyone was hitting well,” said Colasante, who picked up four wins to go with a 1.17 ERA last season. “It looks like we’re going to have a strong season. We’re hoping to get a few championships out of this year.”

Paramus is scheduled play at home versus Hackensack on Wednesday at 4:15 PM.