Bakirtzis' Homer, Feigenbaum's Pitching Powers West Orange

Junior Frank Bakirtzis slammed a home run over the left-center field fence in the first inning Saturday morning, and West Orange's baseball team sustained that spark and whipped Caldwell 9-2.

Bakirtzis, the designated hitter and cleanup hitter, hit a 1-2 pitch to give the Mountaineers a lead they wouldn't relinquish in the season opener at home.

"We've got some power in the middle of the order," said West Orange coach Steve Zichella, whose team went 13-9 lat season. "Frankie has a lot of pop to his bat. It's a nice way to start the season — a home run in your first at bat."

Senior shortstop Robert Trenk — a three-year starter who moves over from second base this season — had three hits, three RBI and three stolen bases.

"He had a great day," said Zichella. "He was on base all four times and really made things happen on the bases."

Senior righty Corey Feigenbaum pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs for the win.

"Corey was great," said Zichella. "He threw a lot of strikes, got ahead of the batters and went the whole way. The times they did hit him was when he left the ball over the plate. But he did a great job locating, changing speeds and he worked really quick. He really had a good rhythm out there."

Sophomore third baseman Nick Mockabee blew open the game with a two-run single in the second inning that gave the Mountaineers a 5-1 cushion.

"That was big," said Zichella, whose team graduated three of its best hitters last June in Mike Romano, A.J. Flores and Alex Gouin. "They played (the infield) us up and he had two strikes on him and went with the pitch. It was just a great at bat. He didn't try to do too much.''

The Mountaineers next game is Wednesday afternoon at home against cross-town rival Seton Hall Prep, a perennial Non-Public A state title contender. Senior Giovanni Loreto, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored Saturday, is likely to get the start though Feigenbaum could also pitch.