Patriots in driver’s seat in White Division race Colonia enters week ranked third in the GMC BY MIKE McDONALD Staff Writer Going into what was a crucial week for his team, Colonia High School head baseball coach Matt Cilento was very optimistic last week. He knew his team could make up some ground in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division race, where they trailed division leader Carteret by just one game. After beating Carteret on Monday and North Brunswick on Friday, the Patriots improved to 10-5, good enough to sit atop the White Division, and proved their coach prophetic. The game against Carteret was a classic. Colonia was able to hand Carteret starter Will Negron his first loss of the year, even though the pitcher only gave up three runs. The day belonged to Colonia pitcher Nick Smith, who struck out eight batters, scattered six hits and delivered an RBI single in the first inning. Smith, who was the GMC’s top hoops player this past winter, returned to play baseball after taking last year off to concentrate on basketball. His impact on the Colonia team is a big reason for the team’s fast start. Scott Semmens, Smith’s battery mate, who is getting acknowledged by area high school coaches as one of the best catchers in Middlesex County, executed a perfect squeeze in the top of the seventh inning, scoring Billy Pribica to put Colonia on top. Along with being a great hitter, Semmens has shut down opposing team’s running. Teams simply are not trying to steal on the sure-handed, strong-armed catcher. Frank Nadjavetsky, who was sidelined for a couple of games after taking a baseball to the face, returned this past week and played extremely well against Carteret, going 4-for-4 with a run scored. Also delivering an RBI single was Brian Milczek. Colonia then came back on Friday to hand North Brunswick a 10-3 loss. Scott Semmens, Billy Pirvilla and Joe Maiorana all hit two-run homers in the game. Maiorana also returned this past week after taking a baseball to the face, which sidelined him for a couple of games. The return of Nadjavetsky and Maiorana returning to the lineup definitely impacted this team this past week, and with the team now riding a three-game win streak, Cilento and his team are confident they are peaking at the perfect time’.