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Saturday, May 25, 2013

B5

T H E DA I LY J O U R N A L

the
STARTING NINE
Once a three-sport star at St. Augustine Prep, junior Joe Gatto has narrowed his focus down to basketball and his top sport of baseball, where his talents led him to commit to the University of North Carolina. The Hermit recently took time out to talk to The Daily Journal about Prep athletics and life outside of the diamond: Question 1) What do you think about your teams chances heading into the Non-Public A South playoffs? Answer: I think our team has character and any day of the week we can come out and play our best baseball. If were able to keep that mentality rolling in the playoffs, I think we can make a deep run. 2) Your team is on a hot streak right now (six wins in a row). Why? A: I feel like weve just really come together lately. Once that happened, I think everyone just opened their eyes and realized this is how the rest of the games can be. 3) You pitch, play outfield, DH and first base. If you could pick one spot, which would it be? A: Its got to be pitching. I like being in control out there. 4) When pitching earlier this season you were hit in the head by a comeback line drive. How did you move past that? A: It was scary because you always think thats the worst thing that can happen to you as a pitcher. When you get back on the mound youre a little conscious of it. Its been good though, the more you pitch the easier it gets. 5) As a freshman you were the Preps starting quarterback. Was it tough to give up football? A: A lot of people told me from the beginning that I should drop football, but it was something I loved so Id say it was one of the toughest decisions Ive had to make in a while. 6) Do you have a preference between baseball and basketball? A: Baseball is my No. 1, and again everyone says I should drop basketball, but I love it and Im going to keep playing. 7) Whats your favorite hobby outside of sports? A: Hanging out with my friends, especially because Im never around much. 8) Wheres your favorite place to eat? A: Famous Daves (Bar-B-Que in Mays Landing). 9) Do you have a favorite band or musical artist? A: Im a rap guy, so Id have to say probably Lil Wayne.

JOE GATTO
St. Augustine Junior Pitcher

CARRIED THE CRUSADERS

Freijomil was backbone for Delsea this season
By Anthony Coppola
acoppola@thedailyjournal.com

AREA LEADERS
Hitting
Hits Johnny Malatesta, Vineland.........35 Robert Bunton, Buena .................33 Kyle Cox, Millville ........................33 Mike Elfreth, St. Augustine ..........33 Ethan Francis, Schalick .................31 Gabe Rosado, Millville .................31 Nick Freijomil, Delsea...................30 Christian Adorno, St. Augustine ...29 Denny Brady, Buena ....................29 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine ..............29 Barry Buchowski, St. Augustine....28 Marco Rios, Buena.......................28 JaQues Colon, Vineland ..............27 Sean Carew, St. Augustine...........26 Jon Cosenza, Delsea ....................26 Don Money, Vineland ..................26 Tyler Chiarello, Cumberland .........25 Jarred Corniell, Buena..................25 Jay Higbee, St. Augustine.............25 Austin Griffie, Cumberland ..........24 Dom Lopez, Buena ......................24 Roberto Rivera, Millville...............24 Average Johnny Malatesta, Vineland..... .449 Gabe Rosado, Millville ...............449 Kyle Cox, Millville ......................423 Mike Elfreth, St. Augustine ...... .423 Barry Buchowski, St. Augustine .406 Cody Sadreameli, St. Augustine .404 Austin Griffie, Cumberland ...... .400 Sean Carew, St. Augustine....... .397 Don Money, Vineland .............. .393 Christian Adorno, St. Augustine .392 Jon Cosenza, Delsea ..................388 Denny Brady, Buena ..................387 Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea.......... .387 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine .......... .387 Runs Marco Rios, Buena.......................33 Robert Bunton, Buena .................32 JaQues Colon, Vineland ..............31 Christian Adorno, St. Augustine ...30 Daniel Cardona, Schalick .............25 Johnny Malatesta, Vineland.........25 Jason Davis, Bridgeton.................24 Barry Buchowski, St. Augustine....23 Taylor Cheli, Buena ......................23 Mike Forte, Vineland....................22 Sean Carew, St. Augustine ...........21 Denny Brady, Buena ....................20 Tyler Chiarello, Cumberland .........20 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine ..............20 Christian Cortese, Delsea .............19 Nick Freijomil, Delsea ...................19 Jay Higbee, St. Augustine .............19 Garrett Mayhew, Cumberland......19 RBIs Barry Buchowski, St. Augustine....25 Ethan Francis, Schalick.................25 Jarred Corniell, Buena..................24 Johnny Malatesta, Vineland.........23 Michael Foytik, Cumberland.........21 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine...............21 Denny Brady, Buena ....................20 Mike Elfreth, St. Augustine ..........20 Jay Higbee, St. Augustine.............20 Adin Kolansky, Delsea .................20 Jon Cosenza, Delsea ....................19 Dom Lopez, Buena.......................19 Don Money, Vineland ..................19 Sean Carew, St. Augustine ...........18 Taylor Cheli, Buena.......................17 JD Donnelly, Sacred Heart ............17 Nick Freijomil, Delsea ...................17 Andrew Gee, Vineland .................17 Home runs Barry Buchowski, St. Augustine......5 Taylor Cheli, Buena ........................3 Michael Foytik, Cumberland ..........3 Ethan Francis, Schalick...................3 Chris Repice, Sacred Heart .............3 Sean Carew, St. Augustine.............2 Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea................2 JD Donnelly, Sacred Heart..............2 Austin Griffie, Cumberland ............2 Jarred McCafferty, Schalick............2 Steven Steigerwalt, Sacred Heart ...2

Delsea Regional High School baseball coach Tom Carney has experienced plenty of success in his three different stops as leader of varsity programs. So when he deals out the type of praise that he did for Crusaders senior Nick Freijomil, it shouldnt go unnoticed. In my 25 years coaching, Ive never seen a kid carry a team like he has with us this season, Carney said of Freijomil. Delsea, which ended its 2013 campaign 21-7 following Fridays loss in the Group III South quarterfinals, had to deal with its fair share of setbacks this season. The biggest hindrance was a shoulder injury to pitcher and infielder Bryan Dobzanski that kept the junior out until the last week of April. Dobzanski was supposed to provide a 1-2 punch with Freijomil at the top of the Crusaders pitching rotation. Instead, Freijomil, who is also a dynamic shortstop, was left to tote the majority of the load for Delsea. Any questions of whether or not he could handle it have been answered by Freijomils 6-1 record on the hill, which includes a 1.69 ERA and area-best 65 strikeouts. Thats what I like, Im real competitive, I want to be in those situations, Freijomil said of having the spotlight on him. I expect to be someone the team is counting on. I thrive on that. In the highly-contested Tri-County Conference Royal Division, a pitcher of Freijomils stature is a necessity. Just ask Carney. I had to save him for every big game, Carney said of the right-hander. He faced (divisional rival) Williamstown twice, GCIT. ... He pitched all the bigger games. Freijomil also excelled with the bat. The senior captain was hitting .385 with a team-high 30 hits and 17 RBIs entering Friday. Freijomil was also tied with catcher Christian Cortese for the

team lead in runs with 19. You want to lead by example, Freijomil said. Last year as a junior I was a captain, but if I didnt get a big hit there was someone else to look to. This year, that guy is me and you have to want that pressure on you. Even Carney was caught a tad off guard by Freijomils assertiveness this season. Hes leading the team in hitting, hes played a Gold Glove shortstop and hes the ace of the whole pitching staff, Carney said. Its mind boggling really, because he didnt put up those types of numbers last year. Hes by far and away been our leader. Freijomil will attend LIU Brooklyn in the fall, but was hoping to end his senior

year by going out on top with Delsea. That meant winning a sectional title and playing for the right to earn a state championship. Unfortunately for Freijomil and the rest of Crusaders, the team took a step back this season after reaching the semifinals in 2012. Delsea did reach a new milestone by making the prestigious Diamond Classic for the first time since 2006. Though Freijomil isnt the type to settle for a consolation prize, the early exit from the state tournament cant take away from the standout year he had. Hes a high-character kid and I hope the best for him, Carney said. Players like Nick dont come around too often.

Delsea Regional senior Nick Freijomil was an all-around force this season.
STAFF PHOTO/CODY GLENN

Pitching
Wins Don Money, Vineland ....................8 Chris Oakley, St. Augustine............8 Chris Capriotti, Buena....................6 Michael Foytik, Cumberland ..........6 Nick Freijomil, Delsea.....................6 Eli Helsel, Delsea ...........................5 Justin Rivera, Vineland ..................5 Eric Stratoti, Schalick .....................5 Zach Warren, St. Augustine ...........5 Innings Don Money, Vineland ..................60 Johnny Malatesta, Vineland.........59 Michael Foytik, Cumberland......5423 Nick Freijomil, Delsea ................5213 Austin Griffie, Cumberland ........4613 Chris Oakley, St. Augustine..........45 Roberto Rivera, Millville ............4413 Chris Capriotti, Buena ...............4213 Jeffrey Soto Balbuena, Bridgeton .42 Zach Warren, St. Augustine .......4123 Eli Helsel, Delsea.......................3823 Calvin Clark, Millville ................3723 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine ..............37 ERA Mark Rowan, Vineland .............0.95 Jon Cosenza, Delsea ..................1.16 Calvin Clark, Millville.................1.18 Eli Helsel, Delsea .......................1.34 Justin Rivera, Vineland ..............1.33 Zach Warren, St. Augustine .......1.34 Don Money, Vineland................1.40 Chris Oakley, St. Augustine .......1.56 Nick Freijomil, Delsea ................1.69 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine............1.70 Joe Brewin, Delsea....................1.90 Strikeouts Nick Freijomil, Delsea...................65 Johnny Malatesta, Vineland.........56 Zach Warren, St. Augustine..........55 Chris Oakley, St. Augustine..........49 Michael Foytik, Cumberland ........45 Joe Gatto, St. Augustine ..............43 Steve Steigerwalt, Sacred Heart ...43 Calvin Clark, Millville...................42 Austin Griffie, Cumberland ..........42 Chris Capriotti, Buena..................34 Eymar Huerta, Bridgeton .............33 Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea..............30 Don Money, Vineland ..................29 Eric Stratoti, Schalick ...................29 * All stats submitted by coaches through Thursday * Sacred Heart and Schalick did not report. Buena pitching did not report.

MEAN 15
1. Washington Township...........23-6 2. Gloucester Catholic................24-5 3. Eastern ......................................22-3 4. St. Augustine............................19-6 5. Bishop Eustace.........................19-6 6. Audubon ...................................19-4 7. Delsea ........................................21-6 8. Camden Catholic.....................17-9 9. Pennsville ..................................19-3 10. Ocean City...............................19-3 11. Vineland ..................................20-7 12. Buena .......................................21-6 13. Cherry Hill West.....................15-6 14. West Deptford .......................17-7 15. Sterling ....................................16-6 * Records through Thursday

LOCAL POLL
m 1. St. Augustine (19-6) Hermits are the areas hottest team after winning six straight games entering today. m 2. Delsea (21-6) Crusaders see this season as Group III South title or bust. m 3. Vineland (20-7) Tough week for the Fighting Clan, who lost three meaningful games. m 4. Buena (21-6) Chiefs will need to overcome some dings to navigate through the postseason. m 5. Millville (11-11) Bolts showed well in a Group IV South playoff loss to top-seeded Eastern on Monday. m 6. Cumberland (13-10) Colts couldnt manage to find their way at the end of the season. * Records through Thursday

St. Augustines Jay Higbee takes a swing against Vineland during a 4-0 win on Thursday. The Hermits regained the top spot in this weeks Local Poll. STAFF PHOTO/CHARLES J. OLSON