Despite 1-2 start, Matthews promises power from Red Wings
After a 16-9 season a year ago, veteran Hoboken head coach Buddy Matthews expects his Red Wing team to be in the thick of the HCIAA and NJSIAA Group II playoff hunt again this year.
"At the end of the last few years, we really had a lot of bad breaks," said Matthews, who began his 16th season as the Red Wings’ head coach last week. "We had injuries and other instances that haven’t gone our way. Something gets in the way and that has really hurt us."
Added Matthews, "But on any given day, we definitely have the talent to be a contending team. But we need breaks. We can’t win on talent alone."
However, the Red Wings have their fair share of talented players, including two returnees who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors last season.
Leading the returnees is senior shortstop Nick Trincellita, who earned recognition last year at third base. Trincellita hit .439 with 33 RBI last season. Matthews said that he’s pleasantly surprised with Trincellita’s transformation into a shortstop.
Outfielder Joe Natale, who batted .413 last year to earn All-Area honors, also returns. Natale spent a good portion of the summer traveling all over, including to Australia last winter, to play in highly competitive camps and tournaments. He should be ready to blossom in a big way this season.
"I expect very big things from Nick and Joe," Matthews said.
But the talent level doesn’t stop there.
Senior Anthony Iapicca returns as the team’s starting catcher, where he batted .250 last year. Senior Jared Fowler was slated to be the team’s No. 1 pitcher last year, but he suffered a broken ankle in the second game of the season a year ago and missed the entire year. But Fowler has recovered and will be a major force, both on the mound and at the plate this season.
Junior left-hander Tirrell Ortiz won three games last year, including wins over Memorial and Edison down the stretch. Matthews feels that he can be a very similar pitcher to former Hoboken All-State ace Danny Ortiz. That is saying a lot.
"He’s a Danny clone," Matthews said. "He does everything the same way as Danny."
The team is also sprinkled with some talented newcomers. Junior first baseman Joe Radigan, the standout punter and placekicker for the football team, saw limited action last year, yet managed to drive in 15 runs. Radigan could blossom into one of the best power hitters in Hudson County.
"From No. 2 in the lineup [Natale] through five [including Trincellita, Fowler and Radigan], we rank right up there in terms of hitting," Matthews said.
Sophomore Anthony Martinez will play second base. A trio of juniors will battle for playing time in the outfield, namely Chris Lyons (a transfer from St. Mary’s in Jersey City), Pedro Medina and Ortiz, when he’s not pitching.
Senior Tito Valentin will see playing time at designated hitter, with junior Ralph Gallo, the starting quarterback in the fall, playing a utility role and junior Jude Bracken also wearing a variety of hats, playing infield, outfield and pitching.
"I absolutely believe this team will be in the playoff picture," Matthews said.