Kevin Wendolowski knows that it’s never easy replacing a legend, so the challenge of taking over as head baseball coach at St. Peter’s Prep for long-time Marauder mentor Joe Urbanovich looms large as the 2010 high school baseball season begins this week.
Urbanovich, the St. Peter’s Prep and Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, retired at the end of last season, leaving a legacy of 35 years of Prep baseball excellence, a resume that posted 580 career victories and seven HCIAA championships, including the final one last spring.
Replacing Urbanovich is what Wendolowski, Urbanovich’s dutiful assistant for the last decade, first has on his plate.
“I now have to elevate my game as being the head coach,” said Wendolowski, who has served as a baseball coach in the county for the quarter century, including stops at Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep, as well as being part of the Jersey City Stars of Tomorrow program. “I am now in charge of one of the best programs in the state. I know it’s a bigger and more important job to keep the program at the top.”
So Wendolowski goes from being the good-guy assistant to being the head man in charge. It’s never an easy transition.
“But the kids all know me and they know what I’m all about,” Wendolowski said. “I’m an old-school type of guy. If you play hard and do the right things, then we can let the chips fall where they may. I don’t ask for much. I keep it pretty simple. I just laid the law down with the kids and told them what I expect. I want them to give it all they have and if that’s the case, then we’ll never have a problem. Just leave it all out there between the lines and we’ll be fine.”
Wendolowski’s loyalty and dedication for the past 10 years has earned him the right to be the Marauders’ new head coach.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity,” Wendolowski said. “I’ve been coaching for 26 years and I’ve finally reached my destiny. It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
Wendolowski also inherits a veteran team that won the HCIAA Coviello title last year in the final year of the storied league, so the pressure is there from the outset of Wendolowski’s career to maintain the winning ways.
“There’s always pressure to win at Prep,” Wendolowski said. “That comes with the territory. It is big that we have so many kids back from last year. They understand me and know the system. I’m not making major changes. I’m just bringing a little different style. I think it is a little easier for me as a new coach that I have so many returning players. It’s much easier because they know what to do and what to expect.”
Leading the way is senior pitcher/third baseman Marc Hanna, who was The Hudson Reporter Most Valuable Player last year, winning nine games on the mound and hitting .383 with 31 RBI for the county champs.
“I don’t want to just pinpoint one kid, but Marc has to be the leader of this team,” Wendolowski said. “He’s the ace of the pitching staff and it’s great to have him back, because you give him the ball and he goes out there like a bulldog.”
Wendolowski has a deep pitching staff, featuring returning seniors Angelo Scianni and Matt DeSimone. Both Scianni and DeSimone are proven quality hurlers who have improved tremendously since last year and are fine complements to Hanna.
Junior lefty Paul Pappaceno and sophomore righty Mike Doran are also excellent pitchers in their own right. When called upon, senior Jeremy Selecky and junior Mike Martucci can also pitch in a pinch.
“There are no excuses,” Wendolowski said. “We have plenty of arms.”
The catching duties will be shared by senior Jimmy Gardner and junior Phil McGovern.
Senior E.J. Schaeffer, whose father Eric was a standout football player during his days at Hudson Catholic, is a powerful slugging first baseman.
Senior Mike Yager returns to his starting position at second base. Martucci, who has a world of talent, is at shortstop. Selecky will play third when Hanna is on the mound, but Hanna slides in with his big bat at the hot corner when not pitching.
Senior Matt Woods is the leftfielder, with the fleet-afoot Sean Cole in centerfield, where he played masterfully last spring. The right field duties are being shared by juniors Joe Vesey and Nick Galasso.
By virtue of their deep pitching staff and returning players, the Marauders begin the 2010 season this week, opening against last year’s HCIAA Seglio champion St. Mary’s of Jersey City, Thursday at Franco Field, as the team to beat in Hudson County.
“I have all the confidence in the world in this team,” the new head coach said. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be the top team in the county. I think their athleticism just has to speak for themselves. It’s a good group, a talented group. We’re not backing down from anyone and we have a good, competitive schedule.”
Wendolowski has worked long and hard enough in local baseball circles to deserve this chance to lead the Marauders. Now, it’s up to the Marauders to perform for their new coach. –Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.