NMHS Spring Sports Preview

Patch sat down with NMHS Athletic Director Joe Ricciardelli to get the inside scoop on the spring season.

Baseball

This year’s varsity team has the potential to compete for a league title by the end of May, if the team plays up to their potential.The team has all the skill and talent to establish itself as a powerful opponent in the NJIC.

Entering his second season at the helm of the program, head coach Mark Mongiardo has six returning players from last year’s roster. Among the returning players are four starters, including a player who garnered post-season awards from the NJIC, and five pitchers. The team will also rely heavily on six newcomers to the varsity level, including two seniors, three juniors and one sophomore.

The Knights hope to contend for the league title and a berth into the NJSIAA state tournament playoffs. The 2012 version of the Knights will rely on some experienced seniors, but they will need contributions from some very talented underclassmen. 

The 2011 Knights finished the season 8-16 overall. They entered the NJSIAA state tournament as the #16 seed and lost to #1 Glen Rock in the first round. During the year they had some impressive wins knocking off #13 Glen Rock, #6 Emerson and Park Ridge. The team’s offense finished with a .348 batting average, scoring 3.1 runs per game. Eight players have graduated from last year’s team that made it to the state playoffs. Gone is three-year varsity IF John Rugani (First Team All-League IF).  Also gone is First Team All-League OF Shane Doherty. The team also lost three Second Team All-League Players including Brendan Baum (1B), Mike Hackett (C) and Peter Martin (P) as well as Honorable Mention Eddie Valdivia, P James Favia and C/Utility Ryan Bigger. 

The 2012 season sees three seniors and three juniors returning to lead the Knights. Senior centerfielder and two year varsity starter, Miles Viant, will finish out his Knights career roaming center field. Viant hit .347 as a junior while earning Second Team All-League (DH) honors.

Senior Royce Rebustillo will return as a P/1B this year. Junior Sawyer Coughlin will once again be stepping into the starting rotation after coming off his junior season as one of team’s top pitchers. Sawyer hit .375 as a sophomore and started at SS/2B while leading off the Knights offensive attack. Junior Kevin Soriano will also be once again stepping into the starting pitching rotation after a successful sophomore year on the mound. Junior Connor Swanson will return as a P/OF for the Knights this year.  

Seniors Michael Walsh and Joel Martinez will be looking to work their way into the everyday line-up. Walsh will compete in the outfield as well as on the mound and Martinez will compete for infield and outfield playing time. Junior Brendan O’Brien will be looking to work his way into the starting catcher job as well as help out on the mound. Junior Sean Ryan will compete for a starting pitching job as well as various infield positions. Junior Elijah Ortiz will look to help the Knights in various roles including infield, outfield and catcher responsibilities. The team’s solo sophomore, Obert Bowers, will look to compete for playing time at both catcher, infield and on the mound.

The Knights will be playing the full twenty-five games this season, including a 19 game league schedule in the NJIC. Independent games this year include Glen Rock, North Arlington, Wood-Ridge, Hasbrouck Heights, Bergenfield and River Dell.

The team will start the year by playing very difficult competition including Paramus, Bergenfield, West Essex, Mahwah, Dumont, Pascack Hills and Westwood. The team traveled to Stamford on March 24th and took on Westhill. The regular season kicks off at Waldwick Tuesday. 

The key to the 2012 Knight's baseball success is their ability to pitch, play defense, and manufacture some timely runs.

Softball

The New Milford Knights Softball team is expecting a big year this season. Coach Mike Mayer returns to the field with a very young, very strong team. 

The team finished a surprising 17-9 last year after beginning the season 4-6. The girls are hoping to give the school its first league title since 1997. The team finished in second place last year to Leonia and has made it a goal to take home the title this year.

The team is led by four first-team all-league selections including junior pitcher Mackenzie Holowach, junior center fielder Angela Coughlin, sophomore short stop Carly Lesko, and sophomore third baseman Erin Bigger. The team also expects big contributions from sophomore catcher Danielle Laube and sophomore P/LF Jamie Ashman who hit .427 as a freshman.  

The Lady Knights have a difficult independent schedule which will make repeating a 17 win season a challenge. However, the team expects to return to the county tournament this season and secure a home game in the state tournament.  

Boys Track

With over 60 on the team, Coach Jeff Bliss has a strong mix of all levels of runners and looks forward to a competitive year. The team has a good veteran core coming back this year along with some tremendous young potential.

Andres Belliard and Sean O'Brien should lead the way in sprints while Steven McCann and Brandon Matulac anchor the hurdle team. Dante Tobler and Raphael Velazquez continue to be some of the best triple jumpers in the league. The distance team will be very competitive this year with Kevin Teets and Chris Whittaker taking some tremendous strides.

Girls Track

This group is poised to make their mark in Group 1 track. Despite the fact that the team has to overcome some significant losses from last years' squad, both from graduation and residential changes, Coach Greg Kelly says that they still have the ability to challenge on League, County and State levels.

Seniors Kailey Barszcz and Adriana Gjidoda, along with juniors Jennifer Teets, Jamie Tiu, Nawal AbdallahKadijah Cox and sophomores Kelly Bevaqua, Alexandra Rodriguez and Lauren Fritschka, create a solid foundation for another run at a title. 

Golf

Golfers at New Milford High School come out freshman year with little or no experience and must learn the fundamentals of the swing as well as the intricate rules and etiquette of the game.

Coach Joe Albanese said that most begin with 9-hole averages in the mid 70's and by junior year are able to shoot in the mid to low 50's. While this does not bode well from a "wins and losses" standpoint, Albanese also said that NMHS views golf as a "life skill" and takes pride in teaching student-athletes to understand, appreciate, and play the game the way it was intended to be played.

Participation in the golf program has seen a steady increase in the last 6 years.  This year's co-ed team is comprised of 10 golfers. Senior Brandon Foo and juniors John Bernard, Leigha Ortenzio, and Victoria Rossi look strong and should round out the team's top four spots.

Sophomore Joey Hill and freshmen Danny Rugani and Kent Shoda have shown promise and may be able to contribute with this year's new shoot six, count four, stroke-play format. The team remains focused on improving its individual and team scoring averages as they continue to hone and develop their skills. Golfers open up the 2012 season at Valley Brook Golf Course on Tuesday. 

Boys Tennis

Seniors Ken Montecillo and Jeremy Ocampo lead the team that hopes to make strides over last year's season. 

Coach Joe Manzo's whole roster is returning from last year and he's looking forward to a great season with a strong team that is growing in experience.