WEST ORANGE – Head coach Stephan Zichella is certainly happy with the start of the season for his West Orange High School varsity baseball team.
After 10 games, the Mountaineers had a 7-3 record.
“It’s been a great start for us and we’re playing our best ball as of late,” said the coach, who continued to talk about the record. “This is one of the best starts we’ve had in quite some time. In fact, it’s been at least five years since we’ve had this kind of a start.”
Overall, Zichella credited the team’s success to senior leadership.
“Good senior leadership has helped sparked the run,” he said. “Guys want to have a great year and it shows.”
One player who has played a key role for the team’s success early on has been senior Andrew Scholz.
“Andrew is 8-for-8 in his last eight at-bats over the course of our last two games and that’s just amazing,” said Zichella. “Andrew has been solid for us on the mound, too. He’s a guy who can do it all.”
Similarly, senior Liam White has also helped play a leading role.
“Liam, who leads our team with a 3-1 record, has been our workhorse and him and Andrew have both just been fantastic. They’re both having really good years.”
Other seniors who have led the way are Rob Parisi and Doug Hughes.
“Rob Parisi has been our leadoff hitter and our catalyst,” Zichella said. “He’s been getting on base in just about every game, while Hughes is quite possibly the best shortstop in the county. He makes things happen. He’s a really special player and he can also do it all for us.”
Another jack-of-all-trades type of player for the team is Paul Casolaro.
“Paul has a 2-1 record on the mound and he also has a half dozen hits or so. He’s also a big reason for our good start,” said Zichella.
One Mountaineer who has been a pleasant surprise for the team has been sophomore Chris Walker.
“Chris is one of the best sophomores in the county as he shut out American Division opponent Belleville 15-0 before then joining two other pitchers in our no-hit win against Newark East Side,” he said.
Notably, Zichella said Tyree Bradley, who pitched two-thirds of an inning, and Scholz, who pitched the sixth and the seventh innings, were the two other pitchers involved in the no-hitter.
The Mountaineers also defeated Newton, 16-1, April 20, on the road.
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