A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains Fanwood Thursday, April 2, 1998 Page 13
THE WEEK IN SPORTS
Dogged effort and discipline eventually yields rewards, and several members of the Scotch Plains- Fanwood and Westfield High School boys swimming team recently received some of the rewards by being named to The Courier News 1998 First Team All- Area Boys' Swimming List. Several additional Raiders and Blue Devils were also named either as All- Union/ Middlesex or as Honorable Mentions.
Raiders Steven Berkowitz, David Russ, Jeff Wagner and Ian Doebber and the Blue Devils' Seth Burstein and Jay Pollack were selected to the All- Area list, while Raiders Chris Karelus and Charlie Rowe and Blue Devils' Cliff Haldeman and Erik Larson were named to the All- Union/ Middlesex lists. In addition, the Raiders' Chris Smith and Chris Swenson and Westfield's Coley Lechner and Rob Myers have been named as Honorable Mentions.
Russ, a junior, appeared on the top list as a member of the 200- medley relay team and individually for his feats in the 50- yard freestyle. Russ virtually owned the events at the Union County Championships as he aced the 100- yard and the 50- yard freestyle events, and was a member of the winning 200- yard medley relay and the 400- yard freestyle events.
Russ set Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School records in the 100- yard freestyle, the 200- yard medley relay and the 400- yard freestyle relays.
Doebber, a senior, swam the freestyle leg of the 200- yard medley relay team for which he was selected All- Area. Doebber touched first in the 100- yard backstroke and in the 400- yard freestyle relay at the Union County Championships. Doebber also placed second in the 100- yard backstroke at the Pirate Invitational.
Berkowitz, a sophomore, was also named All- Area for his role on the Raiders' 200- yard medley relay team. The foursome of Berkowitz, Russ, Wagner and Doebber aced the 200- yard medley relay at the county championship and set the school record in the same event.
Wagner, a junior named All- Area for his role on the Raiders' 200- yard medley relay, swam the butterfly portion of the event. Individually, Wagner
placed second in the 200- yard individual medley and in the 100- yard butterfly at the Union County Championships. Wagner created a tidal wave when he out- touched Burstein in the 100- yard butterfly to assist the Raiders in defeating the Blue Devils in the state sectionals. Wagner holds the Raider school record in the 100- yard butterfly.
Burstein, a junior, was selected twice on the All- Area list for his achieve ments in the 100- yard butterfly and in
the 100- yard freestyle. Burstein's excellence in the 100- yard butterfly, the 200- yard individual medley and on the third leg of the 200- yard freestyle relay earned the Blue Devils first place in all three events and helped the Blue Devils capture their 42nd Union County Title. Burstein placed third at the Pirate Invitational in the 100- yard butterfly. Four Westfield High School and four
Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School girls, along with one Union Catholic High School girl have been selected to
The Courier News' 1998 First Team All- Area girls' Swimming List. Also, one additional Raider and one additional Blue Devil have been named either as All- Union/ Middlesex or as an Honorable Mention.
Senior Heidi Schoenemann, junior Brooke Smith and sophomores Abby and Jesse Coxson were selected for their outstanding accomplishments in the 200- free relay event for the Blue Devils. Seniors Sarah Milligan and Jessica Zentmeyer, sophomore Ann Espinoza and freshman Dana Berkowitz have been selected for their outstanding accomplishments in the 200- medley relay for the Raiders. Lisa Dolansky of Union Catholic High School was named for her efforts in the 100- yard backstroke.
Schonemann, as part of the 200- yard freestyle team, helped break a Westfield High School record in the event when the foursome turned in a combined time of 1: 42.81 at the Public A state final. Schoenemann was also part of the winning 200- medley relay team, also at the Public A final, which recorded a time of 1: 55.39.
Abby Coxson, as part of the foursome, swam the third leg in the 200- yard freestyle relay which broke the record at the Union County Champion ships (UCT). Among her many victories
in several events, Coxson won the 200- yard freestyle at the counties, and placed second in the 500- yard freestyle at the UCT last year. Coxson was named either All- Area, All- Union/ Middlesex or Honorable Mention in every event in which she had competed.
Jesse Coxson, like her twin sister shared the same recognition by The Courier News. Coxson swam the anchor leg of the winning 200- yard freestyle relay at the UCT and took first in the 500- yard freestyle at the same meet. Coxson was part of the 200- yard medley and 200- yard freestyle relays which seized first at the Public A finals.
As well as sharing the fame of the 200- yard freestyle relay, Smith took firsts in the 200- yard individual medley and in the 200- yard medley and freestyle relays at the state finals. Smith touched for seventh in the 100- yard butterfly and eighth in the breaststroke at the Meet of Champions. Smith also was named first team All- Area in the 100- yard butterfly.
Milligan and her three teammates combined to break the record in the 200- yard medley relay at the Union County Championships. Milligan also placed second in the 100- yard backstroke at the UCT. Scotch PlainsFanwood High School records were set by the foursome in the 200- yard medley relay and by Milligan in the 100- yard
backstroke this year.
Zentmeyer swam the breaststroke leg for the school and county recordbreaking 200- yard medley relay team. Zentmeyer's effort helped push the relay team to a second- place showing at the Meet of Champions.
Espinoza swam the butterfly leg of the school record- breaking 200- yard medley relay at the Meet of Champions (MoC). Also at the MoC, Espinoza set a Raider record in the 100- yard butterfly. In the UCT, Espinoza captured first in the butterfly, the 200- yard medley relay and the 400- yard freestyle.
In addition to being part of the recordsetting 200- yard medley relay team,
Berkowitz placed third in the 200- yard individual medley and second in the 100- yard freestyle at the UCT. Berkowitz touched fifth in the 50- yard freestyle and sixth in the 100- yard freestyle at the Pirate Invitational.
Dolansky won the 100- yard backstroke and finished second in the 200- yard individual medley at the UCT. Dolansky took fourth in the 100- yard backstroke and ninth in the 100- yard butterfly at the Meet of Champions. Dolansky broke the Viking record in the 100- yard backstroke and in the 200- yard individual medley.
Raider Melissa Caniff was selected All- Union/ Middlesex in the 400- yard freestyle relay and Blue Devil Ashley Saul was named Honorable Mention in the 200- yard medley relay.
Jeff Wagner Dave Russ Ian Doebber Steve Berkowitz Cliff Haldeman Erik Larson Jay Pollack Seth Burstein Jessica Zentmeyer Sarah Milligan Ann Espinoza Dana Berkowitz Heidi Schoenemann Brooke Smith Jesse Coxson Abby Coxson
Raider Pitching Will Be Major Focus This Year
Blue Devil Softball Team Will Execute a Fresh Approach
By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Offense with power was the name of the game last year for the Scotch PlainsFanwood High School baseball team as they blended the long ball with a high team batting average. Although several of those impressive hitters have graduated, several have remained and several new talented hitters have come up through the ranks; however, the primary focus may be on developing the pitching depth.
With a total of 20 home runs and a team batting average of .379 last year, the Raiders had nothing to worry about offensively. The defense had an .863 fielding average and the Raiders finished the season with a 14- 7- 1 record.
Gone from the starting lineup are Kyle Atkins, John Luciano and Mike Pudlak. Atkins hit with power but was especially adroit with the glove as he led the team with a .955 fielding average. Luciano struck fear into opposing pitchers as he thumped eight home runs, stole 14 bases and finished with a steaming .438 batting average. Pudlak was the Raiders' king with the 'stick' as he led the team with an incredible .483 batting average. Pudlak was also great
with the glove, finishing second on the team with a .953 fielding average.
Returning are, shortstop and pitcher Dave Gewirtz, left fielder and pitcher Adam Baumwoll, second baseman Doug Bishop, outfielders Delmar and Donald Patterson and catcher Jim Buccola.
Aside from being the Raiders' ace pitcher, Gewirtz hit two home runs and batted .405. Baumwoll belted three homers and batted a sizzling .448. Bishop batted .357, Delmar Patterson blasted two home runs, stole eight bases and batted .444 and Buccola ripped one homer and batted .353 last year.
Luke Cerchio and Matt McCarthy, who were instrumental in the success of the junior varsity (JV) squad last year, will help solidify the pitching staff. Joe Franzone, a junior, will be playing first, but may get some pitching time as will junior outfielder Tony Melendez. Joe Ascolese will most likely be used for middle relief and as a backup catcher.
Ryan Hahner, who caught for the junBy
DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Offensive clout and effective pitching powered the Westfield High School girls softball team to a fine 17- 8 record last season which qualified them for the state sectionals. Although some of their power hitters have graduated, the Blue Devils have several returning players. However, the offensive philosophy will take on a new look. On the mound, the Blue Devil girls will be blessed with the return of their ace pitcher.
Last year, the Blue Devil girls put up some big numbers, amassing 224 hits and finishing with a .324 team batting average. The Blue Devils were not the type of team to wait for the walk as only 46 were taken.
Gone are center fielder Rachel Brendler, left fielder Lindsay Greenwald, right fielder Becca Brendler, designated hitter Linda Hoesly, Mie Asakawa and third baseman Kate Tracy. Returning are senior pitcher Shannon Wagner, junior catcher Susan Phillips, senior shortstop Colleen Ryan and junior second baseman Liz McKeon.
Rachel and Becca Brendler both hit three home runs and batted .405 and 302, respectively. Greenwald was effective as a backup pitcher and also drove 20 Blue Devils across the plate. Hoesly thumped two home runs and crossed the plate 12 times. Tracy rarely struck out
and also crossed the plate 12 times. Once on base, Asakawa owned the base pads as she could move from first to home in a flash. Asakawa batted a cool .333 and crossed home plate 15 times.
Wagner sizzled everywhere. As a pitcher, Wagner successfully fired the ball past 102 batters for a call of third strike, recorded a 2.44 earned- run- average and finished with a 15- 8 record. As a hitter, Wagner blazed with a teamleading .455 batting average, led the team with 35 hits, scored 32 runs and ripped seven triples. Wagner will remain as the Blue Devils' ace pitcher. DEADLINE INFO DEADLINE INFO. .
Sports deadlines are: All sports that take place during the week MUST be submitted by FRIDAY, 4 P. M. Weekend sports ONLY will be accepted up till Noon on Monday. Aritcles must be typed, double spaced, upper and lower case and no longer than 1- 1/ 2 pages. NO EXCEPTIONS
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
Raiders and Blue Devils Rule All- Area Boys Swimming List Blue Devils, Raiders Dominate
All- Area Girls' Swimming List
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
Kashlak Gets Named All- Public 2nd Team
Westfield High School junior Ronnie Kashlak has been selected to the Second Team All- Public Schools Hockey List for the 1997- 98 season. For nearly the entire hockey season, Kashlak topped the scoring charts and finished as the state's second- highest scorer with 95 total points, netting 64 goals and setting up 31 assists.
The Blue Devil varsity hockey team finished 10th on the Public School list this season.
UC's McDonald Makes All- Area Basketball
Union Catholic High School senior forward Devin McDonald has been named to The Courier News
1998 First Team All- Area Girls Basketball List. McDonald, who averaged 12.3 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game, scored in double figures in 17 contests. McDonald led the Viking girls to a 51- 39 victory over Oak Knoll in the Union County Finals, hitting 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. In addition, McDonald sank 17 points in a 51- 44 win over powerful Paramus Catholic.
Katie Santo and Kathryn Rooney of Union Catholic, Liz McKeon, Vicki Nusse and Suzanne Vinegra of Westfield and Nikki McCoy of Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School were named as Honorable Mentions.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times
ALL SET Raider Doug Bishop is all set to hit a pitch from Brearly pitcher Ron Veit during the scrimmage game.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
ABOUT TO CONNECT Blue Devil softball player Shannon Wagner swings and is about to connect during a scrimmage game with Roselle Park on March 27. Wagner was the Blue Devils' best hitter last year with a .455 average.
Ronnie Kashlak
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