The Haddonfield Memorial High School freshman baseball team completed their 2012 pre-season schedule highlighted by an exciting 7–6 victory over Bishop Eustace. This group is deep with talent and anticipates an exciting year of quality baseball.
Pitchers who saw action this pre-season were Blake Barr, Nick Binder, Alex Caruso, Charlie Clarke, Drew Dark, Chad Evans, Tom Gosse, Sean Noone, Nick Rollo and Mark Walker.
All pitched spectacularly against some very talented opposition.
The catching duties were shared by Troy Crompton, Christian Jordan, Matt Smart and Rollo.
The infield defense was superb, anchored by middle infielders Matt Gilbert, Jack Spinelli, Clarke, Dark and Gosse, and corner infielders Wes Dengler, Owen McGovern, Caruso and Walker.
The outfield duties were shared by Alex D’Ascenzo, Joe Glennon, Noah Saggesse, Freddie Shindle, Barr, Binder, Dengler, Evans, Gilbert, Jordan, McGovern, Noone, Rollo and Smart.
After an exciting spring season, the freshman baseball team was ready to get the regular season underway.
Noone earned the season-opening start and was brilliant, pitching five innings of 2-hit shutout baseball against always-tough Sterling High School.
Noone threw 6 strikeouts and gave up 2 walks, and he worked ahead in the count throwing strikes with his fastball. His change-up got him out of trouble on two key at-bats and his curve ball and knuckle curve was unhittable.
Evans was tasked to finish the early season game and was just as dominant, tossing the final two innings that included 4 strikeouts and striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish the game as the Haddons cruised to a 10–0 opening day win.
The defense was just as spectacular, completing an error-free game. Crompton handled his pitchers flawlessly, calling all the tough pitches in the most difficult situations without a single past ball, outstanding. The infield of Caruso, Dark, Spinelli and Walker and the outfield of D’Ascenzo, Gosse and McGovern handled every attempt smoothly.
Offensively, the Dawgs pounded the ball; Gosse had 2 hits, including a double. Spinelli and Mark Walker also had 2-hit days and Caruso added a base hit.
The top of the seventh inning included a rally with outstanding at-bats by Barr, Binder, Glennon, Jordan and Shindle.
