Baseball – 2014 Preview: Marlboro

Marlboro Mustangs

Head Coach: James Ferraro, sixth season
Record Last Year: 13-12 (6-8, fifth in A North)

Key Losses: Adam Ashenfarb (P/1B), Evan Hilla (1B/P), Anthony Asta (SS)
Key Newcomers: Steve Epstein (Jr., P/1B), Brian Reilly (So., 1B), Phil Saglietto (Jr., P/DH), Corey Gluck (Sr., 2B), Chad Kaplow (Sr., INF), Jeremy Gerringer (Jr., INF), Kyle Ondar (Jr., C), Evan Rosenthal (Sr., OF), Ronuq Rawal (Jr., P), Jeremy Dyzenhaus (So., P), Matt Disciullo (So., OF)

Team Outlook

Pitching and defense are the commonly-cited qualities of every good team and Marlboro has both in spades. The Mustangs have not only been a sound defensive team under sixth-year coach Jim Ferraro, but they have been a spectacular one at times with a number of up-the-middle defenders who cover a lot of ground and make a lot of difficult plays. Those qualities served Marlboro well last year, when they had to get by without injured ace Adam Ashenfarb for much of the season and still reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinals before losing to eventual sectional champion Hunterdon Central.

Keeping its ace healthy will be a major priority for Marlboro, which returns another good arm at the top of the rotation this year. Junior left-hander Andrew Nardi took the baton and ran with it during Ashenfarb’s injury, posting a 1.34 ERA in 41 2/3 innings. Marlboro has had some bad fortune when it comes to the health of its top pitcher, so the Mustangs will be taking every measure to make sure Nardi is ready to turn things loose come May. With some good options behind him to fill out the rotation in Corey Goldstein, Matt Nelson, Dustin Jensen and Phil Saglietto, the Mustangs should have enough depth to handle whatever comes their way.

Marlboro’s offense will be a question mark going into the season, but its starters should be able to catch the ball as well as any other team. Shortstop and Monmouth University recruit Jeff Trochiano shifts over from second base, while junior catcher Jeff Goldrosen and his dangerous right arm (60 percent caught-stealing percentage last year) also return. Goldrosen hit .318 with five doubles last year, while Trochiano knocked in 11 runs. Junior third baseman Steve Santigate also roped five doubles last year and rangy junior center fielder Mike Santoromita will look to add some offensive punch to his profile.

Marlboro will be relying on some junior breakouts, but Mustangs saw enough from the underclassmen to head into 2013 with designs on winning big in Class A North.