Hopewell’s Blake earns CVC Player of the Year
Colonial Valley Conference baseball teams continued to be dominant during the 2018 season, especially when it came to the Group III and Non-Public A brackets of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Tournament.
Six CVC squads qualified for the Central Jersey Group III Tournament with Valley Division champion Allentown (22-7) eventually making it all the way back to its second consecutive state final before falling to Somerville, 3-2, at Bob DeMeo Field in Hamilton’s Veterans Park, the new home of the state finals.
Hopewell Valley, one of the state’s top teams this year after winning the Mercer County Tournament, the CVC Patriot Division and going 25-3, joined A’town in the sectional semifinals before the Bulldogs fell to Wall, 3-1, after the Crimson Knights had survived close calls with Lawrence (9-13) and Steinert (16-7-1).
Mercer County Tournament runner-up Nottingham (21-5) and Hamilton (12-11) also were in the CJ III field before getting knocked out by Hopewell and Steinert, respectively.
One of the most impressive turnarounds during the season belonged to Notre Dame, which started out, 3-5, before winning 13 and tying two of their next 17 games to advance to the Non-Public A South final for the first time in 25 years, but fell to eventual state champion St. Augustine on the road. Coach Joe Drulis’ Irish won the CVC Colonial Division and finished 16-7-2.
In a season when 11 of the
Position
Infield Drew Brodine Hopewell Sr. Infield Robbie Buecker NotreDame Jr. Infield Justin Marcario Allentown So. Infield Giuseppe Arcuri Allentown Sr. Outfield Paul Cooke Princeton Sr. Outfield David Scott Nottingham Sr. Outfield Cole Hare Hopewell Sr. Catcher Tatem Levins NotreDame Sr. Catcher Chris Reeder Allentown Sr. Pitcher Nick Houghton Nottingham Sr. Pitcher Tony St. John Hopewell Jr. Pitcher Dylan Joyce Hopewell Jr. Pitcher Phil Rojek Nottingham Sr. Pitcher Ben Amon Princeton Jr. DH Jake Muller Steinert Sr. DH Liam Cleary Hopewell Jr. Utility Bill Trimble NotreDame Sr. Utility Andy Blake Hopewell Sr.
Position Player Player School School Year Year
Infield Brandon Gaul Allentown Sr. Infield Matt Tannenbaum Allentown Jr. Infield Tom McParland Nottingham Sr. Infield Tim Wood WW-P South Sr. Outfield Mike Zupko Allentown Sr. Outfield Aidan Jodoin Lawrence Sr. Outfield Ian Muni WW-P South So. Catcher Mike Savas Hopewell Sr. Catcher Alec Silverman Princeton Sr.
CVC’s 14 teams won seven or more games, there was plenty of baseball talent. Here is a look at some of the league’s top stars:
DREW BRODINE HOPEWELL VALLEY This senior all-purpose player found a home at first base and hit .391 for the Bulldogs with 34 hits and 26 runs batted in.
ROBBIE BUECKER
NOTRE DAME
This junior can play a number of positions in the infield and pitch. Buecker batted .410 (34-for-83) and scored 28 runs. He also posted a 4-1 pitching record with a 1.75 earned run average and 64 strikeouts. JUSTIN MARCARIO
ALLENTOWN
The youngest player on the All-CVC first team had a lofty .455 batting average with 40 hits, 23 runs scored and 22 RBIs, while stepping in to become the Redbirds’ everyday shortstop. Pitcher Jack Nitti Allentown Jr. Pitcher Ben Simon Hightstown So. Pitcher Tim Sharpley Hamilton Sr. Pitcher Dom Maglione Steinert Sr. Pitcher Ryan Sullivan Lawrence Jr. DH Brendan Béchamps Robbinsville Sr. DH C.J. Pittaro Steinert So. Utility Kiefer Goss Hamilton So. Utility Joey Sacco Steinert Sr. A.J. Ariano, Austin Ferrier, Dan Merkel (Allentown); Jay Lawrence, Dom Salvatore (Ewing); Sean Elefant, Tyler Springett (Hamilton); Dylan Welch, Michael Caniano, Jared Stillwagon (Hightstown); Jack Haynes (Hopewell Valley); Trevor Delcampe, Shea McGuire, Adam Zakaria, Hunter Rivera (Lawrence); Ryan Mains, Justin Frascella, Jake Kmiec (Notre Dame); Bryce Fremgen, Wyatt Baker, Jake Fanning (Nottingham); Teddy Durbin, Tommy Reid, Zachary YoelsonAngeline (Princeton); Grayson Cooke, Tyler Lehmann, Shane Martin, Dan Frascella (Robbinsville); Brady Plunkett, Brendan James (Steinert); Brian Roldan, Jefery Azcona (Trenton); Ben Goldstein, Chris Gonnella (WW-P North); Luke Potts, Jack Dileo (WW-P South). Andy Blake (Hopewell Valley) Ken Harrison (Hopewell Valley)
GIUSEPPE ARCURI
ALLENTOWN
This senior played stellar defense at third base, making it hard for teams to get the ball through the left side of the Redbirds’ infield. “Juice” batted .375 with 30 hits, 25 runs, 17 RBIs and 14 doubles before heading off to East Tennessee State.
PAUL COOKE PRINCETON
In his senior season, this outfielder/pitcher helped the Tigers have one of their best years (13-9) by hitting .414 with 24 base hits, including six triples, with 20 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
DAVID SCOTT NOTTINGHAM
The Northstars’ senior center fielder covered a lot of ground defensively and offensively where he batted .415 with 34 hits and 20 runs to go with 22 RBIs.
COLE HARE HOPEWELL VALLEY When not filling in on the mound, this senior proved a steady contributor in the outfielder for the Bulldogs. Hare had 30 hits on the way to hitting .380 with 18 runs, 17 RBIs and 11 doubles.
TATEM LEVINS NOTRE DAME
In a league as strong as the CVC, there were plenty of strong catchers and Levins was one of the best. His hitting never suffered as Levins raked 35 hits, including 12 doubles and two home runs, while driving in 31 runs and batting .461.
CHRIS REEDER ALLENTOWN
A team does not get to back-to-back state finals without one of the smartest catchers around directing the staff. Offensively, The College of New Jersey-bound backstop hit .384 with 28 hits, 32 runs, 18 RBIs and four homers. NICK HOUGHTON
NOTTINGHAM
Before heading off to Monmouth University, this senior right-handed pitcher turned in one more fine season with the Northstars. Houghton posted a 7-2 record with a 1.41 ERA, while striking out an incredible 115 batters this spring to go with just 17 walks.
TONY ST. JOHN HOPEWELL VALLEY This junior right-handed pitcher proved to be a tremendous addition to the Bulldogs’ rotation, going 6-1 with a 1.21 ERA, 23 strikeouts and just three walks.
DYLAN JOYCE HOPEWELL VALLEY This junior left-handed pitcher gave Hopewell a fabulous 1-2-3 punch, along with classmate St. John and senior Andy Blake. All Joyce did was post a 6-0 record with a 1.32 ERA, 23 strikeouts and seven walks.
PHIL ROJEK NOTTINGHAM When not playing third base, this senior moved over to the mound and kept the Northstars sharp. The righthander went 7-1 on the hill with a 1.96 ERA, 34 strikeouts and nine walks.
BEN AMON PRINCETON
At 6-foot-4, this junior right-handed pitcher figures to be a player to watch over the next year if he keeps improving (and growing). “Big Ben” led the Tigers’ staff with a 2.68 ERA and 53 strikeouts.
JAKE MULLER
STEINERT
This multi-talented senior was the 16-7-1 Spartans’ most consistent batter this spring, hitting .400 with 20 hits and 12 RBIs.
LIAM CLEARY HOPEWELL VALLEY Just like last year, this junior gained a spot on the AllCVC first team by hitting 35-for-76 (.461) with three homers, 14 doubles, 25 runs scored and 28 RBIs. BILL TRIMBLE NOTRE DAME Whether batting, playing third base or pitching, this senior closed out his career in style for the Irish. Trimble hit .354 with 23 hits, including 10 doubles, and 24 RBIs. He also posted a 5-0 record on the mound with a 0.58 ERA in 36 innings.
ANDY BLAKE HOPEWELL VALLEY After going to the American Legion World Series with Hopewell Post 339 last summer, Blake returned to have the kind of senior season every athlete wants to have. He went 46-for-99 at the plate for a .465 batting average. He had 34 runs, 20 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples and two homers.
On the mound, Blake became the Bulldogs’ ace, posting a 0.84 ERA in 58 1/3 innings with 50 strikeouts and 11 walks to lock up The Trentonian’s CVC Player of the Year before he heads to the Hun School for a postgraduate year next season. Blake is also the All-Area co-Player of the Year with PDS’ Luke Franzoni.
KEN HARRISON HOPEWELL VALLEY
In his 14th year as the Bulldogs’ head coach, Harrison earned Trentonian All-CVC and All-Area Coach of the Year honors with the help of his dedicated staff by leading Hopewell to a school-best, 25-3 season which included a Mercer County Tournament crown and Patriot Division title.