Trojans look to start another streak after loss BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer MIGULE JUAREZ staff Bishop Ahr shortstop Chris Ciardella looks to turn the double play during the Trojans’ loss to J.F. Kennedy on Thursday in Iselin. EDISON — The Bishop Ahr High School baseball team had its five-game winning streak snapped at the hands of a red-hot John F. Kennedy ballclub by a 15-2 score. “They beat us handily,” Bishop Ahr head coach Scott Runkel said. “It was one of those games that got away from us.” Bishop Ahr extended its winning streak to a season-high five games with a huge win over division rival Spotswood. Junior right-hander Steve Montalbano went four innings to register the win. Runkel went to reliever Dave Slater in the fifth after Montalbano started the inning with three straight walks. With the 10-1, Bishop Ahr snapped Spotswood’s streak of eight consecutive wins. “It was probably our biggest win of the season,” Runkel said. “Spotswood was on a roll and it was an important game for us.” Montalbano finished the game scattering three hits while fanning three and walking six. Spotswood’s lone run was charged to Montalbano as Slater did an effective job to stop the bleeding. Slater pitched two scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit and three walks while striking out two. Right fielder Justin Taylor led the way at the plate going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs. His first hit came in the third when he sent a two-run blast over the wall. His second hit of the day was a two-run double. “Justin is coming around,” Runkel said. “He’s capable of having more games of this magnitude.” Senior second baseman Ryan Van Name also finished with two hits. He also scored three times and drove in one. “He’s been our top hitter all season,” Runkel said. “He’s hitting well over .400 and he continues to swing a hot bat.” Freshman third baseman Lee Cavico was another Trojan to have a multihit game going 2-for-3. He also drove in a run and scored once. “Lee is starting to pick it up,” Runkel said. “He’s having better at-bats and we’re looking for big things out of him.” Another Trojan swinging a heated stick of late is junior first baseman Eric Douglas. Douglas went 2-for-4 with one RBI. “Eric and Lee have been beneficiaries of playing more baseball,” Runkel said. “It was a difficult preseason, and we were really restricted with time and space. Now, the guys are playing more and getting into a rhythm. Look at Douglas. He started the season 1-13 and now he’s hitting close to .400.” Catcher Joe Cruz also showcased some offensive skills in the win over Spotswood finishing 2-3 with one RBI and a run scored. “He’s doing well learning the game and the pitching staff in just his first year on varsity,” Runkel said. “He’s helping with his bat a bit more as of late.” The Trojans resume action tomorrow with a 3:45 p.m. road game at Middlesex, and like all other area teams, await the results of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament seeding meeting on Monday. “We’re really not thinking about what seed we may get,” Runkel said. “We’re just trying to get better and take things one game at a time, and hopefully get hot heading into the tournament.” Runkel thinks the idea of another streak rests upon the team’s pitching. In addition to Montalbano and Slater, junior right-hander Eric Avila is expected to see significant action this week and into the tournament. “Baseball is a game of momentum and sometimes it works for you and sometimes it works against you,” Runkel said. “But it always starts with pitching.”