Delbarton Baseball Season Underway

The Green Wave baseball team is off to a solid start.  This year’s biggest strength?  Experience.  Captains Kevin Hartley ’16 (center field), Sean Hager ’16 (first base and pitcher) and Andrew Papantonis ’17 (shortstop) all return for their third varsity season.  Jack Corcoran ’16 (right field), Joe Corcoran ’16 (third base), and Matt Zebrowski ’16 (first base and DH) all return to the lineup.  Winston Allen ’17 and Carter Massengill ’16 both serve as veteran arms on the mound.  First year pitchers include Billy Price ’18 and Hunter Waldis ’17.  New additions to the lineup include second baseman Anthony Volpe ’19 and catcher Kevin Schroeder ’17.

The squad has suffered just two losses, to Morristown and St. Joe’s Montvale, in eight games.  With a close 4-1 victory against county rival Mendham in the season opener, Grant Otto broke open the game on a clutch RBI single to the opposite side.  Sean Hager added a 2 run double, and Andrew Papantonis drove in a run.  Defensively, Hager held a tough Mendham lineup to just one run on nine strike outs and no walks.

On Saturday, Delbarton took on Don Bosco, which turned out to be a hit parade.  Delbarton opened the game with a six run first inning, and Bosco responded with a six run third inning.  The Green Wave eventually won 12-10, but not without reliever Billy Price’s shutout performance. Jack Corcoran, Joe Corcoran, Grant Otto each had 2 RBIs, and catcher Kevin Schroeder added 3.

With a bye in the first round of the country tournament, Delbarton will take on the winner of Kinnelon vs Montville.  Outfielders Jack Corcoran and Grant Otto lead the team with ten hits each, while Otto leads in RBIs (11), including a grand slam at Montville.  Sean Hager, who has a .348 batting average and a .464 on base percentage, has been lights out on the mound.  in 18 innings pitched, Hager has given up just three earned runs to give himself a 1.12 ERA, and has struck out 26 batters.  Andrew Papantonis leads the team with a whopping .556 on base percentage.

Delbarton is off to a strong start, and will continue to push through the country tournament and all the way into states.