Excitement surrounds Metuchen's program
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

METUCHEN - After posting its most wins since the 1988 season, the borough high school baseball team is looking to the future with high hopes.

After losing to Middlesex in the Central Jersey Group I sectional finals, the Bulldogs finished the season 16-12.

"We accomplished quite a bit with one of the youngest teams in school history and possibly one of the youngest teams in the county," said Metuchen head coach Sean Economou. "At one point, we were 5-7 before we turned things around with a six-game winning streak."

Economou credits the season's turnaround with the Bulldogs' big win over division rival Bishop Ahr.

"They've had our number the last couple of years," Economou said. "Finally, beating them was the turning point because we began to believe in ourselves. The team knew that they could play with just about anybody."

While the Bulldog team is loaded with young talent, it will miss the services of this season's seniors Pat Darrah, Brandon O'Connell and Danny Zullo. Zullo started this season as the team's designated hitter, while Darrah and O'Connell roamed the outfield.

"Brandon missed about 10 games with an injury, but made a nice impact when he returned," Economou said. "Pat Darrah will be our biggest loss. He was a three-year starter and a four-year letter winner."

Darrah batted .372 in his final season for Metuchen with 29 hits and 17 RBIs. When not playing some of the best outfield in the county this year, Darrah gave his team 53 innings in 11 starts on the hill.

"Pat kept us in pretty much every game he pitched," Economou said. "Unfortunately, he was on the wrong end of some games, but he was extremely valuable for us. He was the energy behind the team and he was dedicated to making this a good season for us. He went so far as to organize offseason workouts and his dedication paid off."

While the team will take a hit with the loss of Darrah, the return of junior Jack Rems should make Metuchen a team to look out for in 2008. Rems led the team in every pitching and offensive category.

"His numbers this season were just mind-boggling," Economou said. "Kids do what he did all the time in either pitching or hitting but rarely in both during the same season."

On the mound, Rems posted a 7-3 mark with 99 strikeouts and 46 walks in 60 innings of work. His ERA for the season was an impressive 1.86. At the dish, he led the Bulldogs with a .427 batting average, seven home runs and 38 RBIs. His slugging percentage was a ridiculous .805 and his 25 stolen bases were another team high.

"As good as he did this year, he will need to step it up next season," Economou said. "Next year, he'll have a target on his uniform because everyone will be gunning for him."

Classmate Mike Durnim also had a tremendous year batting .380 with 28 RBIs. Durnim also gave the team exceptional defense at shortstop.

"We thought he'd hit at the bottom of the lineup at the start of the season, but he established himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter," Economou said. "He started at third base last year and struggled a little with the bat. This year, he ended up with more hits than his number of at-bats from last season.

After taking his sophomore season off, Mike Jachim returned to the team this season and posted a 6-2 record on the hill this spring.

"He was a pleasant surprise on the mound and he turned into a solid catcher for us," Economou said. "It takes a lot of commitment and heart to excel at the catcher position, and he put in the work. He really taxed his body and came through in a big way."

A list of talented sophomores including Joey Shampain, Bryant Riquelme, Pete Strom and Lawrence Petrakakos should also have the Bulldogs playing for a division title next season.

"It should definitely be an advantage to have so many guys with varsity experience back next season," Economou said. "Hopefully, we can build off this year's success."

Bulldogs with a .427 batting average, seven home runs and 38 RBIs. His slugging percentage was a ridiculous .805 and his 25 stolen bases were another team high.

"As good as he did this year, he will need to step it up next season," Economou said. "Next year, he'll have a target on his uniform because everyone will be gunning for him."

Classmate Mike Durnim also had a tremendous year batting .380 with 28 RBIs. Durnim also gave the team exceptional defense at shortstop.

"We thought he'd hit at the bottom of the lineup at the start of the season, but he established himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter," Economou said. "He started at third base last year and struggled a little with the bat. This year, he ended up with more hits than his number of at-bats from last season.

After taking his sophomore season off, Mike Jachim returned to the team this season and posted a 6-2 record on the hill this spring.

"He was a pleasant surprise on the mound and he turned into a solid catcher for us," Economou said. "It takes a lot of commitment and heart to excel at the catcher position, and he put in the work. He really taxed his body and came through in a big way."

A list of talented sophomores including Joey Shampain, Bryant Riquelme, Pete Strom and Lawrence Petrakakos should also have the Bulldogs playing for a division title next season.

"It should definitely be an advantage to have so many guys with varsity experience back next season," Economou said. "Hopefully, we can build off this year's success."