NJYSN will be back bigger and better than ever, with coverage of high school sports. We will have extensive coverage of baseball, basketball and wrestling. Interviews with New Jerseys top athletes and daily articles will keep our readers in tune with the happenings in our high schools. We also encourage feedback from the readers to let us know the information they are looking for.

---

---

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

---

ATHLETIC DEDICATION

---

YOUTH SPORTS

This time Nutley pulled ahead early, and didn't need any late inning heroics to take down Montclair 13-7 in Nutley. Ryan McGlone and Nick Liaci led the Raider attack wit 2 hits apiece, as Brendon Quirk, Nick DiNorcia, and Miguel Rodriquez added hits, to help Nutley go 8-2 on the season. The Raider offense was aided with a few walks that came around to score. Michael Meechan went 6 strong innings as he earned his 2nd win of the season. Jesse Kraft came on in the 7th, to finish the game for Nutley

The Nutley Raiders rebounded from a 2 game losing streak, by beating Millbun 5-2. Nutley only managed 5 hits, but they were timely, along with some aggressive base running. Nick DiNorcia, crushed a double to center and scored on a single by Nick Liaci to account for one of the Raiders runs. Mark Carnivale (2-3), Brendon Quirk, and Jesse Kraft also added hits to help Nutley score their other runs. Nick Feraco, continued his mastery on the mound, getting key outs during his complete game. Nutley moved to 7-2 on the season

Nutley dropped its second game in a row yesterday. Bloomfield took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, and added single runs in the 5th and seventh to secure the win. The Raiders scratched out 2 runs in the fourth, but only could muster 5 hits on the day. Ryan McGlone had 2 hits, while Brandon Quirk, Nick Feraco, and Jesse Kraft all added singles for Nutley. Nutley drops to 6-2 on the seoson and will face Millburn tomorrow.

Nutley suffered their first setback of the season with a 10-2 loss at Seton Hall. The final score had no reflection on the game, as the 2 teams battled to a 2-2 tie going into the bottom of the fifth. Mike Meechan and the Seton Hall pitcher were both at the top of their game only giving up 4 hits apiece. Meechan, who was hit in the stomach with a line drive, stayed in the game and gave a gutsy performance. Seton Hall scored 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 5th, on 2 errors to go up 5-2, and Nutley failed to score in the top of the sixth. Nutley had runners on 2nd and 3rd in the third and fourth innings and came away without a run. Seton scored 5 more in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Brendon Quirk, Ryan McGlone, Nate Peraino, Jonathan Caplin, and Nick Liaci had the hits for the Raiders in the loss. Nutley goes to 6-1 on the season.

Nutley improved to 6-0 on the season with a convincing win in Maplewood. Mark Carnivale pitched a complete game with 9 strikeouts to pick up the win for the Raiders. That bats came alive again, as Nutley, ripped off 13 hits to get their average back up to 10 hits a game. Mike Milkawitz, Gabe Tutorro, and Chris Palma picked up their first hits of the season to propell Nutley to the win.

Nutley picked up 1 run in the bottom of the fourth inning, which proved to be the only one they needed, to earn a 1-0 victory yesterday in Nutley.The Pitching for both teams was outstanding. Nutley used three pitchers to hold the Livingston line up scoreless. Mike Meechan went the first three, striking out 5 and baffling the Lancers along the way. Nick Feraco came on for the next three and continued to keep Livingston off balance at the plate and on the bases. He picked off 2 base runners to thwart the Lancers comeback efforts.Dylan Ruben entered in the seventh and put an end to Livingstons hopes by striking out the final 2 batters to earn his first save of the season. The Livingston righty, who pitched a complete game, deserved better, as Nutleys only run scored on a play that should have been made. With 2 outs in the fourth, Nic DiNorcia, hit a major league pop up to the shortstop that turned into a double. DiNorcia hustling all the way beat the throw to second. A balk moved the runner to third and lead off batter Nick Liaci hit a hard one hopper off the first baseman's chest to drive in the run and improve Nutleys record to 5-0 on the season. Livingston fell to 3-2.

It's almost as if Coach Puzio scripts the games for his Nutley team as the boys fell behind 3-0 and then stormed back for their fourth consecutive come from behind 11-3 win. The Raiders, averaging 10 hits a game, ripped off 4 triples and as many doubles to keep the hit parade going. Brendon Quirk joined the party this game going 3 for 3 with a long triple to put the Raiders well out in front. Nick Liaci (3-4) and Nate Peraino (1-4) hit back to back triples in the third to tie the score and in the next frame, Ryan Mcglone (2-4)and Quirk hit back to back triples to continue the onslaught. John Conca chipped in a double of his own. Mark Carnivale pitched another solid game for his second win of the season, as Dylan Ruben came in to get the final outs for Nutley. The Raiders climbed to 4-0 on the season.

The cardiac kids were at it again yesterday as they came back from a 9-4 deficit plating 7 runs to take home an 11-9 victory. Nutley went up 3-0 in the first as Nick Liaci and Nate Peraino reached base and scored on Jesse Krafts shot to left. Mark Carnivale was cruising along until some costly errors led to runs for Cedar Grove who jumped out to a 9-4 lead. In the 5th, Nutley made their move as Liaci (2-3) continued his torrid hitting by singling to left and was followed by hits from Ryan McGlone(2-4), Mike Meechan (2-4), and Nick DiNorscia(2-3). The Raiders scored 7 runs to take the lead for good. Dylan Ruben came on to finish the last 3 innings of the game and shut down Cedar Grove to pick up his first win for Nutley

The Nutley freshman baseball season started on the right note with a come from behind win against a scrappy Millburn team 5-4. Nutley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on an rbi single by Nick Liaci. Nutley added another run in the third after Nate Peraino doubled to left, stole third and scored on Mike Meechans' sacrifice fly. Meechan was in control of the game on the mound until the 6th, when he started to tire and Millburn pushed 4 runs across the plate. Liaci replaced Meechan with 2 outs in the 6th and retired the next 4 in a row. In the bottom of the 7th, the Nutley bats finally came alive. With 1 out, Liaci singled to left and Peraino followed with a single up the middle. Jesse Kraft laced a double to deep left to plate the tying runs. With the score knotted at 4 and one out, Kraft stole third and scored on Ryan McGlones' game winning single up the middle to give Nutley a 5-4 win.

Nutley pulled another come from behind victory out of their hats yesterday in Montclair. The Mounties took a 4-2 lead into the 5th only to see Nutley's bats explode to score 5 in the 5th and 2 more in the sixth before the game was halted due to a constant rain. The Raiders led by Joe DiPaolo (3for3 and 3rbi's) and Jesse Kraft(3for4 and 2rbi's)jumped all over Montclair to erase a 4-2 deficit. With the bases loaded and the scored tied at 4, DiPaolo ripped a double to clear the bases and give Nutley a 7-4 lead.  Ryan Mcglone (1-3) and Mike Conca (1-3) also had rbi's. The top of the order continued to get on base as Nick Liaci(2-4) and Nate Peraino (1-3 and a walk) scored 4 times. Nick Feraco pitched a complete game, by throwing strikes and keeping the Montclair hitters off balance, to bring Nutley to 2-0 for the season.

One constant debate that I can't help but get involved in, is freshman playing varsity baseball. I hear so many pro and con arguments, it makes my head spin. The one ingredient that is never mentioned is HEART. We all know what heart means, and if you don't, here is a quick review. Heart is an intangible that can't be taught. It is a burning desire, a deep wanting, a never take no for an answer, reason for doing all things. A kid that possesses the two ingredients, heart and ability, can make the transition. This is because, those two components combined, breed maturity, and that will be the recipe for success. True heart is not seen in many kids nowadays. There are to many distractions and reasons to go off the beaten path. In my own experience, my heart took me places my size could never. Also, in my time, there were many more kids like me. Our fun was in the competition of what ever sport it happened to be, that time of year. My own son who has God given athletic ability, said to me one day, "Dad I have heart." My answer to him was: "You have a heart, don't be mistaken". So my final answer is that, yes the special ones can and all the others shouldn't!!!!! A truly good coach will know.

With temperatures warming and snow melting, baseballs will soon be flying across the skies. This is the time of year that makes, otherwise normal people, crazy!!!! Everyone flocks to the indoor facilities to get their last minute workouts. High school tryouts are a stone throw away and nervous kids want the chance to make their teams. After all, these are the years that will determine the rest of their baseball careers. Most have been playing since they were in T-ball and couldn't imagine not making their high school team. The unfortunate truth is, they all won't make it. Some kids will be cut because they are to small, have weaker arms, or are not fast enough compared to their classmates on the field. Others will be cut because the coaches didn't get to see a players true potential. Sometimes, there is not enough time and the process has to move quickly. This shouldn't be the case, but it is. The reality of the procedure is, that some kids will not be on the field this year. This should not be an end all for anyone who truly wants to continue. Hard work and determination could have you back on the field after the next tryout. Michael Jordan was the best example of that statement. He was cut from his varsity basketball team when he was a sophomore. At 5'11, his coaches said he was to small. He wouldn't take that as a slap in the face, instead he worked hard and the rest as they say "is history." There are plenty of men out there, who did not make their teams the first time around, and turned the negative into a positive. That separates the men from the boys. Regardless of anyone's opinion, the only one who determines the end of your baseball career, is YOU.YOUTH SPORTS-MANIA