2018 Season Recap
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - As the leaves begin to change and we hear into fall, it presents a perfect time to look back and reflect on the 2018 season.
While it didn't end with a trophy in hand, there were plenty of bright spots for the Reds this year. The Regular season concluded with a 10-8 record and a 4 seed entering the playoffs. The Reds have made the playoffs every year of play in the NJABL. After handling the Jersey Rays in the first round, the Reds fell to the eventual NJABL Champion Hawthorne Chico's in round two, and then were eliminated from contention by the Montclair Bulldogs 3-2 in 13 innings.
There were many familiar faces on the Reds with a couple new comers. On any given Sunday at Oakwood Park in New Providence, you would see the following:
Pitcher: Ace Scott Horowitz continued his NJABL dominance while posting a 1.50 ERA and was a finalist for league Cy Young. New comer Peter House led the Reds and was T-4thin the league with Wins (5) to go with a 2.18 ERA. Harry Cohen tacked on 2 Ws and SV while sporting a 2.46 ERA. As a team, the Reds had a 1.95 ERA which was good for 3rdin the league and these horses were the main reason.
Catcher: the tools of ignorance were donned by Will Anderson and Joe Randazzo. Will and Joe stifled many a base runner and helped lead a very solid pitching staff. At the dish their contributions were plenty as Anderson paced the league in HR (3) and Randazzo was T-3rdin the league in RBI (13). That is some stellar production from the backstop.
Infield: around the diamond saw mainstays Ray Nesto (2B), Matt Nesto (SS) and Tom Pavero (3B), with the addition of John Tomlinson (1B) and Pat Anderson (2B). Defense was a strong suit as always, but the boys hit a little as well. Ray had 5 RBI and John had 7 Runs scored while Pat added 6 Runs in 7 games. Matt had 15 hits and Tom finished with the team lead with 16 Hits, 17 Runs (T-1stin NJABL), 18 Walks (1stin NJABL), 14 RBI (T-2ndin NJABL) and was a NJABL MVP finalist.
Outfield: anchored by Captain CF Nick Sommo, his crew included longtime Red Ariel Melendez and new comer Tyler DeGeorge. Nick finished with 12 hits and Ariel led the team in SB with 10. Tyler became the leadoff hitter the Reds had been missing as he finished with a .472 OBP. Not many balls were able to fall in this speedy OF.
League wide, we’d like to congratulate The Hawthorne Chico’s on their NJABL Championship. They are a tough team and were clicking at the right time entering the post season. On the individual award side of things, congratulations to NJABL MVP Joe Grimaldi (Hawthorne Chico’s) and NJABL Cy Young Mike Brizzolara (North Jersey Yellow Jackets). Both of them had outstanding seasons and the awards are well deserved.
We’d like to thank our fans for always supporting us both on the field and throughout our social media pages. The “Red Heads” are the best in the league! Also our sponsors, Orangetheory Fitness and Chimney Rock Inn. Be sure to visit their websites and sign up for classes/sit down for a delicious meal!
With that, we officially wrap up the 2018 season, and can’t wait to get back out there for 2019!
