JFK ready to challenge for a sectional crown
Cordero leads Mustangs to GMCT semifinals
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

ISELIN - For the eighth time in the last 16 years, the John F. Kennedy High School baseball team reached the prestigious final four of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament.

The journey began with a first-round meeting with No. 13 Monroe. The No. 4 Mustangs cruised to a 6-1 victory behind the arm of senior Rafael Cordero. Cordero was masterful, allowing just four hits and three walks while fanning six. The Temple University-bound player helped his own cause with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

"Rafael is now up there with the elite players to come through JFK," Kennedy head coach Jerry Smith said. "He became only the third player in school history to reach 100 hits and he'll bring his game to Temple to play the infield."

Cordero not only joined the ranks of Kennedy graduates Mike Wojcik and Jeff Grosse in the 100-hit club, he surpassed both in total hits along the way.

Before a successful career at Rutgers, Grosse finished his high school playing days with 113 hits. Grosse is currently playing in the Independent League in Michigan. Grosse's record stood until 2001 when Wojcik set a new mark with 116 hits. Heading into this week's action, Cordero's hit total tallies 122.

"He's had a great career here," Smith said.

"He's a big reason we reached the semifinals of the county tournament."

After topping Monroe, the Mustangs squared off No. 12 Perth Amboy. Perth Amboy was fresh off its upset win over No. 5 Piscataway and looked to score another victory but came up a run short as Kennedy advanced with a 3-2 win.

Cordero upped his record to 7-3 with a complete-game victory. He scattered six hits, walked just two and struck out seven.

"He always has pretty good control and he was in a groove," Smith said. "We took an early lead in the first inning and Rafael was able to protect it for us."

Sophomore first baseman Brian Schroeder provided the big hit for Kennedy with a three-run homer. Junior third baseman Chris Grimes and senior shortstop Mike Cabonilas scored on Schroeder's blast.

The win pitted the Stangs against No. 1 Spotswood in the semifinals. The two teams played a tight game with Spotswood clinging to a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Grimes held Spotswood to just two hits over the first five innings before running into some trouble in the sixth. Schroeder came on to relieve Grimes, but Spotswood would rally for five runs in the inning and advance to the finals with a 7-1 victory.

In addition to his solid pitching performance, Cabonilas went 3-for-4 in the loss with a double. He lit p county pitching in the tournament batting .600 in the three games.

"He really raised his game in the tournament," Smith said.

"He'll be playing for Middlesex County College so it was nice to see him play so well on his future home field. The Middlesex County College coach was at the game and he was pleased with Mike's performance."

Kennedy will resume play this week in the opening round of the North Jersey II Group 3 state tournament.

The Mustangs go into the tournament as the No. 5 seed at 16-10 and will face off with No. 4 seed Scotch-Plains. The winner gets No. 1 Cranford.

"We've played some quality teams and the competition prepared us for the postseason," Smith said. "The kids feel ready after playing against the likes of Spotswood, J.P. Stevens and Immaculata."