Young Orange HS baseball team seeks winning season

David Johnson-Guzman fires a pitch in the win over East Orange Campus in last year’s annual Unity Cup Game.

Anthony Osorio swings a pitch in a game vs. Irvington last season.

Joshua Fields swings at a pitch in last year’s Unity Cup Game win over East Orange Campus. Photos by Steve Ellmore.

ORANGE, NJ – “This is the youngest team of my coaching tenure,” says Wally Boyett (64-83 record) in his ninth season as Orange High School head varsity baseball coach. The team returns two seniors, no juniors and a host of sophomores. Despite being very young, the Tornadoes have their sights set on a winning record in 2018.

“Seniors infielder/pitcher Joshua Fields and catcher/pitcher Adam Tizio have played a lot of varsity games over the past three years and we expect them to lead this very young team,” Boyett said.

Key returning sophomores include second baseman/pitcher David Johnson-Guzman (2017 nj.com freshman honorable mention), center fielder/pitcher Devon McKay and shortstop/pitcher Anthony Ozoria. “These three players gained a lot of experience at the varsity level last year and we expect their development to continue,” said Boyett.

Also returning are sophomores outfielder/pitcher Steeve Lazarre and first base/pitcher Ryan Delgado. Newcomers include junior outfielder Edrich Collin, sophomore third baseman Randy Crisastomo and sophomore outfielder Avirson Velez.

“For us to be successful, we must make the routine play and not underachieve at the plate,” Boyett says.

In addition to Boyett, the Tornadoes coaching staff includes assistants David Guglietti and John Boykin.

Orange opens the 2018 season Monday, April 2, at 4 p.m. at Technology in Newark.

Schedule

April 2, at Technology, 4 p.m.

April 4, at Arts, 4 p.m

April 6, Weequahic, 4 p.m.

April 7, at Lincoln of Jersey City, 11 a.m.

April 9, Irvington, 4 p.m.

April 11, at Golda Och, 4 p.m.

April 13, Barringer, 4 p.m.

April 17, Belleville, 4 p.m.