The Mike Of All Trades

This Saturday, the Hanover Park Hornets take on a Delbarton Green Wave baseball team that is seeking redemption after their embarrassing participation in a benches-clearing brawl last Saturday against Randolph in Roxbury. In the incident, thirdbasemen Frank Hager, allegedly clipped the Randolph catcher, Mike Zavala, the younger brother of 2007 MCT MVP and Future Rutgers Scarlet Knight, Steve Zavala. Well apparently, Steve, the starting pitcher, took much offense to this and decided to stick up for his brother and took Hager in a choke hold. A bench clearing brawl ensued. Hager and Zavala both were issued 2 game suspensions as a result of their misconduct.

The Delbarton Green Waves are a fundamentally sound baseball team that executes very well. Their basic game plan is to hit and run, and bunt to get runners in scoring position for their big bats in the middle of the order, namely Frank Hager, who hit a monstrous triple to deep left center in the semi-finals against Randolph. Frank Hager, who is the nephew of Extra Innings instructors Ed and Pat Collins, has strong baseball roots in his blood and will continue his studies next year at Cornell University. Harry Marino is expected to take the mound this Saturday. This crafty left-hander has a great feel for the game and sports a low-80s fastball and a strong curveball and a deceptive change-up. If he can effectively change speeds throughout the game, he will hold the Hornets in check. The Delbarton Green Waves play tremendous team defense and will not commit many mental mistakes in the field. They are very smart on the basepaths and will delay steal often to put pressure on the Hornet defense.

The Hanover Park Hornets are a very strong hitting team. Their entire lineup has the ability to hit the longball. The Hornets are led off by the aggresive Greg Baruka, who is always looking to take the extra base. He reminds me of Corey Hart of the Milwakee Brewers with his potent blend of size, power, and speed. Batting second is shortstop Super Steve Seminerio. He is often compared with the Captain Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees with his love for the game and his unselfish play. He bunts very well and has tremendous opposite field power. In the field, he is as smooth as it comes. Batting third is Adam Flanner, the rightfielder, he had very consistent at the plate throughout the entire season, but has hit a tough patch recently. I expect him to respond on Saturday in a very big way. Cleaning up is Jason Liotta, nicknamed "Animations", who might get the call to toss on Saturday. He has been extremely clutch with baserunners in scoring position and is the heart and soul of this team. Right after Liotta is Matthew Rawson. Rawson has tremendous power due to his wicked bat speed, he can catch up with just about any fastball; however, his pitch selection at the plate is his Achilles heel. He has often been seen waving at curveballs in the dirt and at fastballs eye level. Earlier this season, he had struck out on numerous occasions due to the opposition realizing his weakness. But as the season wore on, he developed a better sense of the strike zone and has become a lethal weapon in this stacked lineup. After Rawson, bats Alex Gialanella, the second baseman. "Smooth", as many of his teammates have been heard to call him, is cool, calm, and collected at the plate. He was the one who came up with the clutch sacrifice fly to beat SHP in extra innings. He has great gap power and has the speed to stretch singles into doubles and doubles in triples, and so on and so forth. Eric Bodnar, the backstop and otherwise known as "Touch My Bodnar", is an excellent catcher and calls very good games. He has a feel for the game and provides leadership in the field. He is a superb hitter and can hit the ball out of any ballpark. Up next is Glenn Paladino, the leftfielder. Sidelined for the first part of the season, Paladino has provided a spark in the bottom of this powerful lineup. He is also a terror on the basepaths with his quickness and instinct. Rounding off the end of the lineup is the platoon of James Moran/Matt Mitola. Both have hit well this season, though Moran is hitting for more power, but Mitola for a better average in my opinion. Both are safe plays.

As for the game, I believe that the Hornets have the power, speed, pitching, and discipline to defeat Delbarton. The Hornet lineup is very tenacious and will make any pitcher work for an out. With either Baruka or Liotta on the mound, I think the Green Wave can be tamed. I see both teams coming out with something to prove and a little hop in their steps. There will be butterflies in their stomachs, but once the umps yell out "Play Ball!" it will all be business. And I see the Hornets walking away with the victory if they keep focused and play their game.