By Jimmy Allinder
With the return of eight seniors from a team that reached the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament (GMC) championship game the past two seasons and has won five of the last six Red Division titles, East Brunswick High School (20-3) has high hopes for more of the same this spring.
After five games, the Bears were 3-2, including a 5-0 loss to J.P. Stevens High School — the team that interrupted their five-year division winning streak a year ago. The other loss was a 5-4 decision to out-of-conference opponent Hillsborough High School.
East Brunswick’s victories have been against Edison High School, 11-1, Piscataway Township High School, 8-1, and Old Bridge High School, 2-1. The Bears visited South Brunswick High School April 13 and meet Edison in a return match April 15. The week concluded with participation in the North Star Tournament the next day in Hamilton Township.
The start isn’t exactly what head coach Kevin Brady envisioned; however, slow starts are not unique to East Brunswick (17-11 a year ago). But for whatever reason, when the weather gets warm, East Brunswick’s offense does, too, and the victories have added up.
“There are a lot of quality teams in our division and throughout the conference,” Brady said. “But we still hope to challenge for the division title and be there in the end for the GMC crown.”
Senior Kaleigh Dwyer is back in the circle after registering 113 strikeouts in 139 innings and finishing with a 15-8 record. Senior Alyssa Ipolito will spell Dwyer on occasion, and both will pitch to one of the top catchers in the conference, senior Ashli Venokur, a Bloomsburg University commit who hit .414 and clubbed eight home runs a year ago.
The infield includes polished fielders who have also proved they can hit. At first base is senior Allie Warren; senior Brenna Razzano (.422) plays second base or outfield; senior Megan Kelliher (.341) is at third base; and junior Beth Anania is positioned at shortstop.
Senior Samantha Smalley (.383) is in the outfield and is joined by Razzano and a host of newcomers Brady plans to utilize, including juniors Arin Pelletier and Courtney Uhr and sophomores Gina Morrison, Sarah Ciaccio, Sophia DeBellis, Julia Bravman, Emily Miller and Anna Curreri.
