Paramus Sports: Spring Previews

Long time Paramus baseball coach Joe Cervino has high expectations for his team after winning 23 games last year.

“We have some quality players,” said Cervino, who is in his 30^th year at the helm. “Seven varsity letter winners are back and we all anticipate them contributing to our success.”

Nick Henriquez will pitch and play third base. Henriquez led the Spartans in three categories: batting average (.404), home runs (five) and runs batted in (26).

Chris Covello, who will patrol center field for Paramus, hit for a .378 average and slugged a team-high .711. Covello was second on the team with 21 RBI. 

Brian Criscione, who will move from second to short, hit .370 and drove in 15 runs last season.

First basemen Tony Billera hit for a .313 average last year.

While the Spartans have some sluggers in the line up, the team also possesses some studs on the mound.

“Our pitching staff should be outstanding with Henriquez (4-1, 2.21 ERA), senior Joey Szorentini (5-3, 2.10), and sophomore Frankie Colasante (4-0, 1.17),” said Cervino, who is one of five head baseball coaches in Bergen County with more than 500 career wins. “Those are our three starters.”

While Cervino said he would like to have the same kind of regular season the team had last year, the coach would also like to win a championship in what may be his final season as head coach.

Last year, Paramus was the top seed in the state tournament, but lost in first round to Northern Highlands.

In the Bergen County tournament, the third-seeded Spartans lost a heartbreaker in final inning to Hackensack.

“Their best player [Tim] Swatek hit a three-run home run that pretty much ended what was the most fun season I’ve ever coached in my 40 years here,” said Cervino, who also coached the Spartan wrestling team.

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The Paramus High School softball team finished 23-6 last year en route to the North 1, Group 3 Sectional championship, the school’s first sectional title in 11 years.

Brian Hay, who is in his ninth year as head coach, returns seven starters.

The Spartans graduated all-County center fielder Jenni Zymet.

“We had a strong finish in state championship,” Hay said. “But we suffered a disappointing loss to Nutley.”

Hay said he would like his team to “take a bigger leap this year”.

Pitcher Tori Feorenzo (17-6 last season) will lead the Spartan rotation. Her younger sister Lauren (6-0) will also take the mound for Paramus.

“I’m looking to get more starts for her,” Hay said of the younger Feorenzo. “I have confidence to give her the ball.”

Shayna Brock, who plays second base, was a first team all-league, all-Bergen County, and all-state group 3 selection. Brock batted a team-leading .551 and knocked in 25 runs for the Spartans.

Kristina Meier, a second team all-Bergen County selection a year ago, will bat in the No.3 hole. Meier, a four-year starter and three-sport athlete, batted .424 and tallied 29 runs batted in.

The Spartan clean up hitter is Victoria Vergona, who plays first base and was a second team all-Bergen County selection last season. Vergona batted .407 and led Paramus with 35 RBI.

Outfielder Taylor Boffalo will bat in the No. 5 slot. Last year, she batted .402 and drove in 19 runs.

“Taylor had real good second half of the season last year,” Hay said. “We’re expecting a big season from her this year.”

Lauren Holden, a lefty third baseman, had a breakout season last year, batting .373 and recording 14 RBI. She also led the Spartans with 60 assists.

Alissa Miranda, a junior, is “one of the better defensive catchers in Bergen County” according to her coach. Hay hopes his second year player “takes the next step.”

Stephanie Huang, who tore her ACL last year, will patrol center field for the Spartans.

“She would have played shortstop, but she is a good enough athlete to place in the outfield,” Hay said. “She has the tools to become a great softball player.”

Hay feels his team is solid defensively and preaches that defense and pitching wins ball games. Through the team’s run in the state tournament last year, the Spartans allowed only three runs in four games before a 6-0 loss to Nutley. Paramus did not commit any errors.

Hay hopes his squad defeats neighboring Ridgewood, who defeated the Spartans twice last year, Indian Hills and Immaculate Heart.  

“We’re projected to win championships, but we still need to work harder than everyone else,” Hay said. “I still think we’re underdogs.”

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The Spartan lacrosse team completed its first varsity season last year, going 6-10.

Head coach Shayne White said the team played a tough schedule and will be placed in a 12–team conference, the CURCIL.

“It’s a good place for us to start at,” White said. “I’m comfortable with the schedule. We’re a young team. We graduated seven seniors.”

White added that 20 freshman are trying out and the returning core of players are predominately sophomores and juniors.

“A lot of players received playing time last year,” said White, who coached at Cape May Kingsway before coming to Paramus. “It took four years to get a lacrosse program together. We have nothing to lose, no expectations."

“We will learn as much as we can,” White added. “Learn from our mistakes. The competition and talent is much better in North Jersey.”