Notre Dame’s Palmer is our CVC Player of the Year

Colonial Valley Conference baseball was back to playing a full schedule this spring, and its 14 proud baseball teams took full advantage.

Nine of the Central Jersey league’s squads finished with double-digit wins, and a 10th had nine victories. But the downside of getting back to playing without as many of the restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic the last two years was that 11 CVC teams also finished with doubledigit losses, making it a roller-coaster season.

The front-runners were Colonial Division champ Notre Dame High (17-7), Valley Division champ Hamilton West (18-10) and Steinert High (21-9). The Spartans got the furthest of any CVC club, reaching the sectional semifinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association Central Jersey Group III Tournament, in which they were top-seeded.

Talent abounded in one of this county’s constantly thriving sports as seen in The Trentonian’s All-CVC baseball picks. Some of those standouts are encapsulated below:

DYLAN PALMER, NOTRE DAME

This senior infielder and leadoff hitter had a dream season for the Irish, batting an outstanding .577 with 45 hits which he turned into 43 runs by stealing 29 bases. As a constant threat to get on base and score, Hofstra University-bound Palmer was The Trentonian’s pick as CVC Player of the Year.

JOEY GMITTER, STEINERT

The Spartans’ veteran first baseman and cleanup hitter, who will play at Mercer County Community College next year, kept his team in games with his teamleading .338 batting average which included 24 hits, 19 runs scored and 15 runs batted in.

MIKE DORAN, ALLENTOWN

This infielder/righthanded pitcher was the senior leader his young club needed, helping the Redbirds attain 14 wins with his .424 batting average, team-leading 28 hits and three saves as he prepared to head to The College of New Jersey next season.

RYAN MARINO, HAMILTON WEST

This infielder capped a senior season, in which he was also a standout football player, in style by hitting .385 with 30 hits, 24 runs scored, 19 RBIs and 16 stolen bases for a relatively young Hornets squad. JACKSON WARGO, NOTRE DAME

This senior infielder/outfielder may have originally been moved to the outfield grass to keep his bat in the lineup, but head coach Joe Drulis’ switch worked wonders as Wargo played solid defense and batted .419 with 31 hits, 34 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. JACK SWEENEY, ALLENTOWN

As well as this young man hit the ball, it was hard to believe he was only a sophomore with head coach Brian Nice’s Redbirds. When not flying through the outfield to catch fly balls, Sweeney was hitting at a .380 clip with 27 hits, 26 RBIs, 25 runs scored, nine doubles, five home runs and four triples.

LANCE EILBACHER, NOTRE DAME

As one of the most consistent outfielders around this spring (both offensively and defensively), this junior twin made the Irish’s lineup even deeper and more dangerous day in and day out with his .438 batting average, 28 hits, 20 runs scored and 18 RBIs.

JOE GIORI, STEINERT

This senior backstop reminded some of Steinert catchers of old with his ability to handle a fine pitching staff, throw out base runners and make important contributions to the offense. As the No. 3 hitter in head coach Brian Giallella’s lineup, Giori delivered a team-leading 26 hits and three home runs, plus 18 RBIs.

DYLAN PARSONS, HAMILTON WEST

Over the last two seasons, this senior right-hander stood out as one of the best pitchers in the area by powering the Hornets through an always tough schedule. Parsons heads to McDaniel College after posting a 9-2 record this spring (half his team’s wins) with a 1.52 earned run average in 64 2/3 innings, including an area-best 82 strikeouts with just nine walks.

NOAH RIVERA, STEINERT

This Kean Universitybound senior right-handed pitcher provided the Spartans’ rotation with a solid 1-2 punch this season as he went 8-2 with a save, a 1.77 ERA in 59 1/3 innings, 69 strikeouts and 16 walks. RYAN MIGNOGNA, NOTRE DAME

The Irish’s senior righthander, who also helped out wherever his team needed him on non-pitching days, made his mark on the mound this spring (before he heads to Arcadia University) with a 6-0 record which included a 1.53 ERA, 39 strikeouts and nine walks in 32 innings.

MATT DZIUBEK, STEINERT

This senior right-handed pitcher headed to The College of New Jersey gave Steinert’s rotation a solid 1-2 punch this year with his 6-3 record, two saves, a 2.71 ERA in 59 1/3 innings, 67 strikeouts and 18 walks.

AARON WINZINGER, HIGHTSTOWN

This Rider Universitybound senior right-handed pitcher, who paced the Rams with 12 hits of his own, did his best to keep his young teammates in every game he pitched by posting a 1.95 ERA in 32 1/3 innings with 45 strikeouts and seven walks.

LUKE BILLINGS, ROBBINSVILLE

The young gun of the local pitching stars, this sophomore right-hander tossed 47 1/3 innings this spring, went 5-3 while posting a 2.51 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 16 walks. Billings also batted .304 with 17 hits. JACK HUGHES, NOTRE DAME

Those who did not know the Irish’s junior first baseman quickly learned of his power. Hughes broke onto the scene by batting .517 with 30 hits, 29 RBIs, 17 runs scored, six doubles, two homers and one triple. RYAN WILLEVER, LAWRENCE

This senior infielder/ pitcher headed to Rowan College at Gloucester County did all he could to try to get his young teammates on track this spring. Willever led the Cardinals with a .404 batting average, 21 hits, 14 RBIs, six doubles and the club’s lone home run.

MICHAEL BOYER, HOPEWELL VALLEY

Boyer was another senior who tried to provide his young team with direction. Spending time as catcher and designated hitter this year, Boyer, who is planning to take a postgraduate year at the Lawrenceville School next season, hit .439 with a team-high 25 hits, plus 15 runs, 11 RBIs and three doubles.

BRENDAN BUECKER, NOTRE DAME

With the ability to play just about anywhere his team needed him, this junior became quite the commodity for the Irish. His defense was sharp. His bat made him an every game player, batting .453 with 34 hits, 29 RBIs (which tied him for ND’s lead with classmate Jack Hughes), 22 runs, seven doubles and one homer.

CALEB KASOF, WW-P SOUTH

This senior right-handed pitcher/utility player wanted to finish off his baseball career by playing with his friends this spring before he heads to the University of Wisconsin. Minus the pressure, Kasof had a dandy finish with a 5-2 record on the mound, a 2.32 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings. He also batted .352 with a team-leading 19 hits and 13 RBIs, plus 11 runs scored, three doubles and three triples.

KENNY SCHIAVONE, PRINCETON

This senior right-hander and utility player was helpful to head coach Dom Capuano’s squad in so many ways this year. As a pitcher, Schiavone had a 2.94 ERA with six complete games, 63 strikeouts and nine walks in 50 innings. At the plate, he batted .303 with 20 hits, 15 runs scored and a teamleading 19 RBIs.

DAVE ANGEBRANNDT, EWING

After going 4-13 in 2021, things were not looking great for head coach Angebranndt’s eighth season. Yet, with only six seniors and a relatively young cast, the Blue Devils rallied and finished 11-11 this spring to earn their still young skipper a share of the The Trentonian’s CVC Coach of the Year honor.

JUSTIN ELY, WW-P SOUTH

Following an 8-10 finish in 2021, the Pirates were not everyone’s choice as a troublesome team. Third-year head coach Ely changed that with the help of nine dedicated seniors who capped their careers with a 12-8-1 campaign which earned Ely a share of The Trentonian’s CVC Coach of the Year honor.