New Coach, Same Tradition: Wolfpack Baseball Ready To Take The Field

LONG VALLEY, N.J. – Opening Day: music to the ears of any baseball fan.

It’s the start of a new season, sure, but more importantly it’s the beginning of a journey where all teams are on a level playing field and everyone has a fair shot.

At West Morris Central, Opening Day in 2016 is all of those things, but the new beginning is as fresh as they come.

After a decade-long tenure ended last season by former head coach Dan Wydner's resignation, Central hired Tom Reindel to take over as the varsity team’s new coach. He’s brought with him assistant coach Walker Larsen, a former NJAC Pitcher Of The Year from Ramapo College, and has Central alumni Gerard Stefanelli leading the junior varsity team. Eric Jacobson will take on the role as the freshman coach.

Reindel comes from the parochial conference where he was an assistant coach for Immaculata High School under coach Tom Gambino, who led the team for nearly three decades.

Reindel played high school ball at Hunterdon Central, then at Gloucester County College where he helped the team win a junior college national championship. He finished his collegiate career with two years on the diamond at Rowan University.

“(Immaculata) would play Central during the preseason each season, and I always noticed that those kids knew how to play and knew how to compete,” Reindel said. “So when I heard the position was open I reached out pretty quickly.”

Reindel’s enthusiasm for the new beginning has been matched by players in all four grades.

The new coach said 46 sophomores, juniors, and seniors came to tryouts this season, and there will be 37 total between the junior varsity and varsity rosters.

“In speaking with other coaches when I took the job, I was warned about how difficult decisions like that would be,” Reindel said about having to make cuts and decide who will start at each level. “It’s definitely kept me up at night. But the kids who didn’t make the squad have been just as supportive and let us know they appreciated the opportunity.”

It’s not just about making the team top heavy with older players, either. The varsity team’s shortstop will be a freshman, and its catcher is a sophomore.

As for its leaders, there are many.

“I’m not big on naming captains,” he said. “We have seven seniors this year, and I told them in a meeting that I want them to all take the lead on this team and share that responsibility.”

Reindel said he’s more of a players’ coach; wants to build confidence in the kids and expects them to be prepared and committed.

“We practice a lot of situational stuff both offensively and defensively,” he said. “Coming in to this I knew we’d have some growing pains in the first year and I didn’t want to label goals or expectations. But I see now that this team truly has a lot of talent. We’re going to have some tough games where we’ll need to scratch out one or two-run wins; I don't think we'll be blowing out a lot of teams, especially in this county. But I think we can win 17 or 18 games and really be competitive.”

The 25-game season begins Friday, April 1 at home against Mt. Olive.

It’s a new season for baseball fans, and a new beginning for West Morris Central High School.