It's going to be weird come September when Doug Licitra does not have several of his friends with him.
Licitra has played with many of his 2011 Ridgewood High School baseball teammates since he was in fifth grade. Some, even longer.
But come September, he will be heading south to outside of Philadelphia and walking through the doors of St. Joseph's University.
"I am going to miss playing with them," said Licitra. "But you have to do what you have to do."
The graduated senior said that the success for the last two years for Ridgewood baseball had to do with the team playing cohesively for so long. This group accumulated a 37-16 mark in the last two seasons.
"We played so well because we had played together and knew each other so well," said Licitra who was named to the All Big North Liberty division first team.
With Licitra at the hot corner, the Maroons compiled an 18-8 record this season and made it to the Group 4 North 1 state sectional semi-finals before losing to Morris Knolls. Ridgewood also finished second in the Big North Liberty division, just behind a breakout Paramus team.
The graduated third baseman had the rare power and speed combo on the 2011 season, slugging five home runs and swiping 18 bases. His quick reaction time also turned the hot corner into a defensive strength.
"He could hit for power and has good speed," Ridgewood head coach Kurt Hommen said of his third baseman. "He had a great arm. It was exciting to see him play."
His final season was something of a make-up after not hitting expectations in year three. "I wanted to prove that I am better than what I showed in my junior year," said Licitra.
"I was always a little ahead of the pitches." With a more patient approach, the results followed in his senior year. "I was a little overanxious at the plate. In my senior year I was looking to wait back on the pitch."
Also a varsity football player, Licitra chose St. Joseph over the likes of Villanova, Fordham and Marist universities. He wanted to get away from the area, but not too far. "I really loved the campus and the coach [Fritz Hamburg] is such a great guy," said Licitra.
He's not changing his approach this summer, playing on the
Garrett Teel traveling team with former RHS teammates, Tyler Welence and Cooper Byrne, he is not changing a thing.
Well, there is one thing. He's being worked at second base and shortstop, a bit of a twist from his usual grounds by the baseline.
The graduated senior has been told the St. Joseph's staff that he has a shot at playing all three positions in the spring.
"I just want to go out and play at wherever they want me to play," Licitra said.
Although he suspects he might not be prototypical size for a college third baseman, he's getting a chance to play. And that's all he wanted anyway.
