Veteran coach Zadroga assures improvement
The Hudson Catholic baseball team suffered through a miserable 6-16 record a year ago – the first losing season in the 30-plus years Mike Zadroga has been a head coach.
"It’s the only one I remember," Zadroga says with a laugh.
It was a learning year for the Hawks and certainly a humbling one as well, but it was a year that many of the players, all inexperienced sophomores and juniors, took their lumps, but became determined to never let it happen again.
"I think they were definitely motivated to come back this year," Zadroga said. "Although the record wasn’t great, we were competitive in most games. It never entered into my head whether there would be a problem with the kids coming back ready. The attitude of the kids has been great."
Although the Hawks endured a tough year, the experience gained may pay dividends this season. Junior Rich Mercier is the team’s best pitcher who won exactly half of their games a year ago and comes back this season with a chance to be one of Hudson County’s premier performers.
"He really has the makings of being a good one," said Zadroga of Mercier, who will play shortstop when he’s not pitching. Mercier batted .350 a year ago.
Another promising performer is junior catcher Darren Lionakis, who batted .375 last year and is becoming more comfortable with his play behind the plate.
"I like his leadership behind the plate," Zadroga said. "He really could play anywhere, but he really likes catching and he has a tremendous arm back there. He’s just a very good athlete."
Senior centerfielder Tom McCann also returns from a year ago. McCann is a steady performer who also could play a host of positions, but has settled into the centerfield slot. McCann batted .400 last season and will also pitch in certain situations for the Hawks this season.
At first base, Zadroga can utilize two players, either senior Marlon Pavon or promising freshman Roberto Zapata, whose name has been Americanized by Zadroga. "We’re calling him Bobby Shoes," said Zadroga. "And Bobby Shoes can play."
Junior Eric Dolaghan mans second base most of the time and will be the team’s designated hitter in others. Sophomore Mike Rivera will see time at both second base and shortstop, and will be backed up by senior Byron Barreto.
Zadroga is very high on sophomore third baseman John Walsh, who will put up some impressive statistics this season.
"He hits the ball a ton," said Zadroga of Walsh, who will also pitch for the Hawks. "He’s just going to get better and better."
Other than McCann, the Hawks will feature junior Len Urbanski, Jr. in left field and senior Anthony Martinez in right. Urbanski’s father, Len, Sr., played for Zadroga when he was the coach at Dickinson in the ’70s and ’80s.
The Hawks’ pitching staff will be comprised of Mercier, McCann and junior Jerry Collela. Senior Will Costigan will join the staff when he recovers from a recent knee injury.
Junior Joe Castagna, an outfielder, and senior Anthony Samarski, a utility player, will also see playing time this year for the Hawks.
"We have hopes to make the state and county playoffs," Zadroga said. "If we can find a No. 2 pitcher to depend on, then we have a chance to be pretty good."
And that’s certainly a change over a year ago.