Woodbridge GMC squad nets fourth victory of season
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
The Woodbridge GMC Coaches baseball team improved to 4-1-1 on the season after a 14-2 victory over Spotswood over the weekend. Woodbridge jumped ahead with an eleven-run first inning, thanks in large part to a lack of control from the Spotswood hurlers.

A combination of three Spotswood pitchers took to the hill in the first inning alone and issued six straight walks at one point in the frame, as all nine of Woodbridge's batters scored at least once in the inning.

Woodbridge's Nick Natole finished with a pair of hits and two runs scored while teammate James Lyzkowski scored on three different occasions.

Although Woodbridge head coach Lou Urbano is certainly not going to complain about his team's success, Urbano, like many other coaches in the new league, is not as concerned with the win/loss column as he is with the myriad of benefits the new league offers both coaches and players alike.

"There are positives and negatives to both the American Legion league and the new GMC Coaches league," Urbano said. "The Legion schedule allows for a little tougher competition, but your senior Legion team is more suited for the older kids, and the younger players, the ones you'll have on your team next year, are often left searching for a place to play."

Urbano's summer team fields players from grades eight through 11 with some seasoned varsity players and others that have yet to walk the hallways of high school.

"The setup places some added responsibility on the older guys," Urbano said. "It's working out as the older kids have sort of taken the younger guys under their wing."

Leading the way both on the field and in the dugout are team captains Zack Hopf, Eric Perez and Dan Petro. Both Hopf and Perez were named by area coaches to the All-County team this spring and have yet to slow down this summer. In the team's win over Spotswood, Hopf tossed a complete game allowing two runs off seven hits.

"Zack is our ace," Urbano said. "He went 8-2 during the regular season and he won two of our four victories in the GMC Tournament."

Perez also left his stamp on the county tournament when he collected 15 hits in a row to help Woodbridge reach the title game.

"It was just phenomenal to watch," Urbano said. "Eric really carried us offensively, and we as a team got hot at the right time. The best teams don't always win tournaments, and a lot of times it comes down to which team got hot at the right time."

Petro is arguably one of the county's top defensive middle infielders and is using this summer to improve his offensive production.

"We're going to use Dan in the leadoff spot and see if he can take to that spot," Urbano said. "He's working hard to improve his hitting."

Although both Hopf and Perez are off to strong starts this summer, the primary focus is on the younger players who will be new to the varsity ranks come next year.

"Winning isn't the most important thing this summer," Urbano said. "We won't overuse any pitchers, and we'll use this summer as a building process. When the league tournament comes around, we'll focus a bit more on winning."