Edison is looking forward to weekend rematch with Stevens
Teams will meet at Bridgewater's Commerce Bank Ballpark
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
Being half a game behind cross-town rival J.P. Stevens in the GMC Red Division standings has the Edison High School baseball team eagerly awaiting this weekend's rematch between the two schools. In the season opener, Edison lost an 18-10 slugfest to Stevens. This weekend the two teams will lock horns at 3 p.m.May 3 at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.

"We're looking forward to it, and I'msure Dave Marzano and J.P. Stevens is looking forward to it," Edison head coach VinAbene said. "Both teams have a lot of baseball to play before Saturday, and a lot could happen. This game could also have a ton of implications. We're just behind themin the division standings, and the seedings for the county tournament are coming up. It could be a real big game, and it's usually in front of about a thousand people."

Last week the Eagles had their sevengame winning streak broken in a 3-0 loss to Old Bridge. For Old Bridge, it was its second win over Edison this season. Edison lost the first meeting between the two schools, 1-0.

"OldBridge has probably the best pitcher in the county,"Abene said. "MikeAugliera is one heck of a pitcher, and although we had four hits, we could not get that timely hit to help us push some runs across."

Augliera issued just one walk to go with the four hits he scattered and the six strikeouts he tallied. Losing pitcher Jared Shukis went the distance and fanned eight.

The Eagles rebounded from the Old Bridge loss with a 7-6 win over division foe South Brunswick. Steve Nappe led the offense with a pair of triples, including one in the fifth inning to break a 5-5 tie. Nappe also hit a double and knocked in two runs in the victory.

Edison made it two in a row with a come-from-behind win over North Hunterdon. Chris Virag picked up the win for the Eagles in a relief appearance.

Down 4-2, the Eagles struck for a seven-run seventh inning to pull out the victory. Julian Laguna finished with a pair of doubles, and Shawn Renner contributed three hits, including a two-run single. Teammates Steve Loriot and David Goodman each hit a pair of singles.

"North Hunterdon is having a nice season, and they have one of the best pitchers in the state," Abene said. "He didn't throw against us and we aren't complaining."

Prior to this weekend's showdown with Stevens, the Eagles will have a tall order against three area opponents. Edison started off the week against a tough Woodbridge team before taking on St. Joseph's at 3:45 p.m. today. After squaring off against the Falcons, Edison will match up with Piscataway. The team won all three of its previous meetings with these three schools.

"We have some really tough games before Saturday's game at Commerce Bank Ballpark," Abene said. "We certainly can't look ahead to the weekend, but we have to worry about the very next game"