Chipper Benway would like to think that his Union City baseball team should be improved over the team that won 16 games last year, including a late-season upset of then No. 3 state-ranked St. Peter’s Prep.
“But that’s yet to be determined,” said Benway, whose team has started off 2-2, with losses to Prep and Scotch Plains-Fanwood and wins over North Bergen and Dickinson.
“We lost two kids from last year’s team who were the heart and soul of the team,” Benway said of Keven Perez and Justin Jandik, who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors as a utility player. “They were the two who made us go. It’s difficult to replace those kids, not just in talent, but the quality of the kids. That’s part of our challenge right now. We have a lot of work to do to see how far we can get this year.”
The Soaring Eagles were knocked out of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV playoffs last season by Memorial in the first round and they were defeated by Prep in the semifinals of the Hudson County tourney.
“We’ve been right there the last few years,” Benway said. “We have talent here. We feel like we should be able to compete. We’re Union City High School. We should be able to compete on any level in every sport.”
So does Benway think his team can take that extra step this season?
“Are we good? Yes,” Benway said emphatically. “Are we good enough to beat the top teams on a regular basis? Well, that’s a question that remains to be answered.”
The Soaring Eagles do have three returning starters who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors last season in senior shortstop Dany Perez, junior third baseman Josie Tavarez and senior centerfielder Manny Cruz. All three are among the very best players in the county once again this season.
Perez and Cruz are three-year starters, so they know what to expect in terms of the best competition.
“I expect nothing less from experienced seniors,” Benway said.
Leading the pitching staff is a pair of talented juniors in Sandro Martinez and Justin Vasquez. It was Vasquez who befuddled St. Peter’s Prep at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark last year, limiting the Marauders to just two hits in earning the victory.
“Martinez was our best preseason pitcher,” Benway said. “He threw seven innings of shutout ball in the scrimmages. He has good command of his pitches and mixes them up well. Vasquez is a little battle tested. None of our kids are going to blow anyone away with their fastball. But they throw strikes. We just have to play good defense behind them.”
Junior Neil Alzamora is a promising left-hander. John Carlos Arendondo is a righty who will take the ball when called upon.
The Soaring Eagles got a huge boost when the starting quarterback on the football team, namely senior Renaldy Tavarez, decided to come out for the baseball team this spring.
“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Benway said of Tavarez, who will also pitch. “The kid can obviously throw.”
Tavarez has proven he can throw a football. Now, he gives baseball a try.
Junior Armando Ovalles is the Soaring Eagles’ starting catcher this spring. Ovalles played first base last year.
“But he’s a true catcher who was transformed into a first baseman,” Benway said. “Now, he’s back in his true position.”
Senior Frank Polanco, who missed most of last season with an arm injury, has returned to take over the first base duties.
Second base is being shared by sophomore Leo Paredes and senior Luis Solorzano, who is recovering after an injury suffered during basketball season.
Perez is the shortstop and Josie Tavarez is the third baseman. The Soaring Eagles are more than solid on the left side of the infield.
Senior Bryan Dominguez is the starter in left field, where he started every game a year ago.
Cruz is the centerfielder, with right field duties being shared by junior Deven Goldbecher and junior Deurys “Bobby” Bonilla, who sure enough wants to be known like the beleaguered former Mets outfielder.
“He came to us with the name already,” Benway laughed.
So after the 2-2 start, how does Benway feel about his team?
“We expect to compete,” Benway said. “We expect to be in the mix for the county and the state. The question remains can we win when it counts? That’s the question we have to answer.”
And it’s a question that will linger until both playoffs begin in earnest next month. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.