Barrons team has improved on the baseball diamond

The Woodbridge High School baseball team certainly made some improvements this season.

After finishing last year with a 2-16 record, the Barrons left much room for improvement, and followed through this year as the team finished with an overall record of 6-13, and 3-11 inside the Greater Middlesex Conference’s talent-rich Red Division.

The Barons were seeded 17th in the Greater Middlesex County Baseball Tournament and were forced to play top-ranked St. Joseph in the first round. St. Joseph had beaten up the Barrons in the regular season, winning by a combined score of 22-1. Worst of all was that St. Joseph entered the tournament having won 12 of its last 13 games.

The game took place on May 10, and the result wasn’t much different than could be expected. St. Joseph won the game in rather easy fashion by a score of 10-1, as Mike Strickland took the loss for Woodbridge.

He did, however, drive in the Barrons only run of the game.

With defeat still looming in their minds, the Barons took the field the following day, and were able to beat the Highland Park Owls, 7-2. Art Beyer went an impressive 3-for-4 with a home run and collected four RBIs on the day to lead the Barons. Keith Zalassar went 3-for-4, also homering once. Mike Strickland went 2-for-4 and Brian Casey had a double in the victory.

However, the problem with the Barons this season is that they have not been able to put together wins. For example, when the Barons took the field on May 13 against Piscatway, they had another tough day, losing 2-0, finishing with just two hits on the day while striking out 12 times. Art Beyer suffered the loss despite pitching well.

It has been that inconsistency that has hampered the Barrons’ efforts throughout the year.

— Mike McDonald