Balance Will Hold the Key to Mountaineer Diamond Success

It's a rite of spring, especially for public school athletic teams.

Finding replacements for those players who have graduated, and wondering how long it will take for those newcomers to settle in.

West Orange High School baseball coach Steve Zichella is facing that challenge once again this March.

The Mountaineers, who open the season at home Friday afternoon against Columbia, finished 13-9 last season. That team was led by starting first baseman and pitcher Alex Gouin (now playing at the University of Hartford), pitcher and infielder Mike Romano (a freshman at Seton Hall University) and outfielder A.J. Flores (now playing third base at William Patterson).

"We graduated our three best hitters and players who were a big part of our success," said Zichella. "They will be big shoes to fill."

The Mountaineers will go on to face the traditionally strong rivals Nutley, Bloomfield, Livingston and Columbia.

"There are no gimmes in our conference, in our league," he said.

The team's core will be three-year varsity letter winners. Senior center fielder Alex Bahia, senior shortstop Rob Trenk, who moves over from second base, and senior left fieldeer Joe Boettinger.

"Those guys will carry the burden, the burden of really having to step it up," Zichella said.

Senior first baseman Giovanni Loreto is projected as the team's No. 2 pitcher and versatile senior Corey Feigenbaum will pitch, play first and third base and shortstop.

Senior Thomas Attamante, who led the soccer team to the state Group IV final last fall as its goalie, will be the catcher. He'll be backed by sophomore Dan Campbell.

Zichella said the Mountaineers have shown to be scrappy in the early scrimages.

"I think we are going to be much more balanced, our offensive attack won't be reliant on just a few players," he said. "You'll see a different kid contribute."

Junior Frank Bakirtzis, a tight end/defensive end for the football team in the fall, will play third base. He has been one of the team's better hitters in the pre-season.

Junior Anthony Piserchio will be at second base with sophomore Nick Mockabee at second, short or third. Junior Nick Pinto will be a second baseman.

The outfield appears deep behind anchors Bahia and Boettinger with juniors Matt Scalora, Adam Miller and Derek Olsen, who'll also see time at first base.

The pitching staff will be led by Giovanni Loreto, Feigenbaum, Miller and sophomore Anthony Loreto, Giovanni's brother. Senior Kenly Concepion, who will do some pinch hitting, will work out of the bullpen.

"We're looking at a lot of kids to carry the burden," said Zichella. "Giovanni Loreto and Feigenbaum will carry us on the mound and be our 1 and 2 pitchers."

The success of the team will rest on more than just the three three-year starters.

"We're going to have to hit in a conference like we're in," said Zichella. "We're looking at our entire lineup to hit and we'll have to play solid, solid defense. We have to play mistake-free baseball. I see a lot of kids contributing in a lot of ways."