St. John Vianney’s baseball coming up season in 2016 is looking like a good one.  After winning states in 2014, the team took a dip going 12-8.  The team won their division, but lost first round of state playoffs to Bishop Eustace 6-2.   Even though they didn’t have the best of seasons, the team was filled with solid junior players.  

Six players that had started last year also are going to start this year.  With the experience of six players already playing a full year of varsity baseball, this gives the team a boost against those other teams that will have to fill senior spots.

Before every year, the team plays together on a summer and fall team to build chemistry.  They worked great together which resulted in a summer league championship.  The SJV team knows how to come together as a team really well because the team contains a lot of close friends.  It is an important tradition for the team to come together and counts down the huddle, not to the team name nor the school name, to family.  From what is heard on and off the field, this team is truly a family.  Everyone has faith in one another to get their job done.  

This group only lost one game freshmen year, then two sophomore year.  They were always a good group together early in high school losing only five games in freshman and sophomore year, plus they brought in two new transfers since then.  Victor Jamandron, the first transfer, is this year’s starting center fielder, who also started on varsity last year.  Jamandron brings power to the lineup and great fielding is a key part of the team along with being a good leader.

The other transfer is Chris Cerniglia.  Cerniglia batted first and played shortstop last year but now made the switch to third base.  His quick glove and all around speed makes him a great lead-off batter and a quality third basemen.  

Other players such as Ciaran Devenney and Zach Richards are two players who started last year who are good on both offense and defense.  Ciaran who is a three year varsity player is a great defense catcher along with a solid all around hitter.  Richards is the right fielder who is the heart beat of the team by always getting pumped up along with getting everyone else excited.  

A new starter this year will be Anthony Todaro.  Todaro although is the only starting senior that didn’t start last year is a solid short stop.  He is said to be “automatic” and “smooth” by Coach V when the ball is hit his way.  

Sebastian “Sebi” Bellone is the first baseman.  After making the jump from freshman to varsity, Bellone had a very hard task switching positions from catcher to first.  With one year under his belt, Sebi looks like he has improved tremendously in the field since he had become more comfortable with this position.

The 2 of the new starters this year are still unknown in left field and second base.  Lastly is the pitchers.  Joe Raia, senior pitcher who had the second lowest ERA in the shore last year for varsity.  Joe Raia doesn’t power batters down with a ninety mile per hour pitch, but his placement and his ability to throw off-speed pitches keeps batters off balance.  Raia has high expectations saying that, “This year, is the year.” Brandon Dekovics pitched last year and with his accuracy and speed on his fastball makes him a force on the hill.