Falcon coaches getting a glimpse of the future
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING St. Joseph's Dave Milones will help out the Falcons' American Legion team when he can, as he's splitting his playing time this summer with the Super Seven Team.

METUCHEN - This summer's St. Joseph Senior Legion team is affording head coach Paul Esposito a look at his potential varsity lineup for next spring.

While a number of St. Joe's players split time with travel teams, the team has managed to play solid baseball and enters this week 4-4-1 on the season.

With catcher Dave Milanes often out of the lineup due to his duties as the backstop for the Super Seven Team, a team consisting of the best 17-year-old players in the state, fellow catcher Nick Marcucci has been impressive in Milanes' absence.

"Both are excellent defensively," Esposito said. "Coach Chris Scoonhoven and I feel confident with either behind the dish. Nick has been doing a nice job as our No. 4 hitter as well."

This summer is also providing first baseman Brian Beck with more playing time than he experienced this spring.

"Brian is a really good player," Esposito said. "He didn't get as much playing time during the spring because it was tough for him to crack the lineup playing behind senior Tim Furey. When Brian did play this spring, he went 8-19 on the season. He always responded when he got the opportunity and now he's playing every day."

Second baseman Chris Bielak is fresh off a solid spring season and is looking for his late-season surge to carry into summer play.

"He was a solid contributor for us at the end of the season," Esposito said. "He scored the only run of the game in the states versus CBA and he should be a key returning player for us next year at the high school."

Eric Gargiulo and Matthew Karabin fill holes in the infield where needed as able utility men. Karabin will also see plenty of mound time this summer.

"The two of them are solid ballplayers and they can do a bit of everything," Esposito said. "We have a number of really good infielders this summer."

Shortstop Brian Koster is fresh off a solid season as the high school third baseman and appears ready to fill the vacancy at short left by the departure of Eddie Brown.

With Koster's location move, youngster Phillip Gianakos is being groomed this summer to take over the hot corner duties.

"Phillip is a very promising young player," Esposito said. "He's a switch-hitter with a lot of skills. He still has some way to go, but we're just throwing him into the fire at this point."

The team has no shortage of outfielders, as Mike Hamel, Nick Panos, Joey Nyitray, Rob Ellis, George Gonzalez and Dean Santos will also see plenty of action this summer.

"With a number of guys on other teams, we go with the lineup we have on any given day," Esposito said. "We're putting guys on the field we hope will play a large part in next year's high school team."

The team will look to move beyond the .500 mark with a road game July 5 against South Amboy before hosting North Brunswick for a doubleheader July 7.