Memorable trip to Duke for Hudson Catholic's Sellers

From left, Keith Sellers, Antonio Sellers and Felicia Harris Sellers enjoy a laugh after Antonio spoke to media at the recent "Make-A-Wish" presentation at Hudson Catholic

At first, the “Make-A-Wish” sponsored trip to Durham, N.C. was supposed to be just for tickets to see the Duke-North Carolina game for Jersey City resident Antonio Sellers.

The Hudson Catholic basketball star, battling the effects after several surgeries to combat brain cancer, received the gifts of his “Wish” from New Jersey Chapter of “Make-A-Wish” President and CEO Tom Weatherall, at a special assembly inside the Joe “Rocky” Pope Gymnasium at Hudson Catholic.

A week later, Antonio, his mother Felicia Harris Sellers, his father Keith, his good friend and Hudson Catholic teammate Zion Cruz and other family members made the drive down to North Carolina before Antonio’s beloved Duke Blue Devils took on their archrival Tar Heels.

Can anyone even fathom the thought if there were quarantines and shutdowns before the Sellers family made the journey south? It would have been so disappointing, so heartbreaking and brutally unfair.

But they were able to make it to Cameron Indoor Stadium for the pep rally on Friday night and the game on Saturday night.

And it’s safe to say that the trip far exceeded anyone’s expectations of the “Make-A-Wish” request.

“It sure did,” said Felicia Sellers, who was the New York Metropolitan Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year in 2002, leading the Peahens to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, a league that the former Felicia Harris won Player of the Year in both the regular season and MAAC Tournament. “We knew that we might meet some people, but they took us in like we were family.”

Before they made the trip to Duke, it was unclear whether the Sellers family was going to meet with the legendary man simply known in college basketball circles as “Coach K,” namely Duke’s Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski, and the players on the team.

Well, “Coach K” more than simply embraced Antonio and his family. He took them all in. Krzyzewski addressed the 5,000 or so attending the pep rally, telling them all about what is called “the Duke Brotherhood.”

“Anyone who plays for Duke is welcomed into the Duke Brotherhood,” Coach K said. “Well, the players all agreed that Antonio could be adopted into the Duke Brotherhood tonight.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan,” Felicia Sellers said. “It was really nice and showed they cared for Antonio. They all went out of their way. It wasn’t all about basketball.”

Krzyzewski told the “Cameron Crazies” that he had worn a special pin on his lapel on his suit jacket for every game since 2002 in honor of a 7-year-old boy named Rory Deutsch who was battling brain cancer and eventually passed away from the hideous disease. Since that time, the Rory Deutsch Foundation has raised more than $8 million to be used for brain cancer research

Well, Krzyzewski took the pin off his lapel and gave it to Antonio.

The crowd then chanted “Antonio, Antonio, Antonio,” as Keith Sellers wheeled his smiling 15-year-old son off the floor in his wheelchair to the rhythmic clapping and dance gestures to the upbeat tune “Everytime We Touch,” by Cascada.

“It was just great for me,” Antonio Sellers said. “I was just happy, because I had never been there before. It was better than I imagined.”

A day later, it got even better for Antonio, who sat in the third row behind the basket with his father. The two were spotted talking about the game as former Duke greats like Carlos Boozer and New Jersey native Alaa Abdelnaby came up to greet him.

After the Blue Devils won the game, 89-76, Antonio was on the floor with his victorious Brotherhood. There were pictures taken with Antonio and the players, like Vernon Carey, Jr,, who had a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds and Tre Jones, who had 21 points and 11 assists.

The players, Antonio’s new Brotherhood, presented Antonio with the game ball. As it turned out, because of the growing concern involving the coronavirus COVID-19, it was the final game of the season for Antonio’s Blue Devils.

Duke did not get the chance to play in either the ACC or the NCAA Tournaments. Jones has already declared his intentions to leave Duke and become an NBA player next season. Carey has not announced his plans for next year.

Just imagine if that trip wasn’t made right there and then?

“It was so great,” Antonio Sellers said. “I only cried once. The team and Coach K, they were so great to me. They took care of me and my Dad. And Duke won.”

Sellers knew the importance of the game.

“We had to beat them,” Sellers said, already using the possessive pronoun. “We just had to. I loved it after the game. I gave Coach K two hugs. It was just great for me, my Mom, my Dad, my friends.”

And before Antonio left Cameron, the “Crazies” gave him one more salute, chanting “Antonio, Antonio, Antonio,” once again.

“After we won, they were all calling my name,” Antonio said. “That was really cool.”

The trip wasn’t over yet. On Sunday morning, the Sellers family met with some of the top neurosurgeons in the world that work at the Duke Medical Center, to discuss Antonio’s prognosis and prospects of recovery.

“It was more enlightening and educational,” Felicia Sellers said. “They told us about different options that we have. We told them about what we had already been through.”

All in all, it was a great trip for the entire family.

“It was a moment with a lot of unexpected moments,” Felicia Sellers said. “I got to relax a little, because I saw Antonio smile and be happy with his friends. He was doing something that he always wanted to do. Some of it was a little overwhelming at times, but it was still a relief to see him so happy.”

Every single picture taken, every video recorded, had Antonio flashing that bright, wide smile. For a teenager who has endured so much since his diagnosis a little over a year ago, seeing the smiles on his face was so heartwarming and invigorating.

“It was just how everyone treated us, how the whole coaching staff went out of their way, people like Debbie K (the coach’s daughter), who took us all over the school,” Felicia Sellers said. “They embraced our family and we felt so comfortable with them right away. They opened up and showed us where it all happens. It made the trip so much more than basketball. We’re going to remain in touch. We made friends for life.”

All totaled, it’s a weekend that Felicia Sellers and her handsome 15-year-old son won’t soon forget.

“It was amazing for me,” Felicia Sellers said. “I appreciate everyone who had a part in it and made it all possible.”

And to think, the entire trip became possible with one simple phone call from an old sportswriter to a long-time friend of almost 50 years and an old Little League teammate who has never once forgotten his Jersey City and St. Paul’s of Greenville roots. Seeing that boy smile was so very much worth it. – Jim Hague

Defending softball champ Secaucus looks totally different

Secaucus junior pitcher Sydney Ianuale

Secaucus senior infielder Caroline Andriani

Defending Hudson County softball champ Secaucus looks to reload again

The 2019 high school softball season represented as a lot of firsts for Secaucus head coach Cory Roesing.

For one, it was the first year that Roesing, one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of the school, got to be a head coach. And for another, Roesing got to work on the same coaching staff with her younger sister Danielle, who in her own right was an incredible athlete as well during her days at Secaucus.

So the Roesing sisters were together, taking over the Patriots’ program, hoping for a successful initial campaign.

It sure was – as the Patriots, the No. 7 seed in the tournament, stormed back to capture the county crown. Not bad for a rookie head coach. What does Roesing do for an encore? She never once worried herself with her public perception as either a high school or college (Caldwell University) athlete.

Now, as Roesing is set to begin her second campaign as the head coach at her alma mater, coaching with her little sister by her side, all of Hudson County -- and the nation for that matter – has come to a complete halt. Once again, Roesing is facing an adversity as a head coach.

“It really doesn’t change how we approach the season,” Roesing said. “Our goals are always the same. We want to win the county and win the states. We told the girls that nothing is going to be handed to them. They have to work very hard every day for it.”

But there is one problem. The Patriots graduated most of the team that finished 16-9 last year, but came away with the county’s top honors by defeating Kearny, Union City, Weehawken and finally Bayonne in the title game by a 5-4 final score.

“We graduated eight of our nine starters,” Roesing said. “We have only two returning players and neither is playing the position she played last year.”

Three of the graduated players, namely Gianna Zena, Gabby Samarelli and Alyssa Perez, earned All-Hudson County honors, with Perez being named Hudson County Most Valuable Player. Those are crushing losses to the Patriots.

But Roesing is not overly worried.

“We have a strong young group,” Roesing said. “And our leaders are great leaders. I have no doubt in any of them.”

Leading the way is junior pitcher Sydney Ianuale, who was the backup to All-County pitcher Jessie Gohde last season.

“Sydney has some experience,” Roesing said of Ianuale.

In a total oddity, the Patriots’ other pitcher is also named Sydney – namely senior Sydney Fourier.

“I’m really confident in both of them,” Roesing said.

The team’s catcher is junior Grace Angulo, who was the team’s designated hitter last year.

“She’s so solid,” Roesing said. “She’s a great leader. She’s very vocal with the girls. She has a lot of poise at the plate.”

The first baseman is freshman Taylor Hartung, who is the daughter of former Secaucus All-County player Mike Hartung, who played a few years of professional baseball, ending his career with the New Jersey Jackals.

“She’s a solid pitcher as well if we need her,” Roesing said. “She actually can go anywhere we need her, but she’s playing first base for now.”

The second baseman is senior Caroline Andriani, who started in right field last year for the Patriots.

“She’s a solid infielder and a solid leader,” Roesing said.

The shortstop is freshman Daniela Pischetti, the younger sister of Julia, who had a great soccer career at Iona College.

“She’s very quick on her feet,” Roesing said. “She has a great arm. She has the instincts that you just can’t coach.”

The third base position is being shared by two sophomores in Nurisha Ferati and Kaitlyn Fernandez.

The outfield is led by senior Skylar Eccles, who Roesing considers “a great leader with experience.” Junior Marietta Angulo, the twin sister of catcher Grace, is in the outfield mix. Junior Brianna Guzman, junior Gianna Pischetti and senior Jazmin Bujari, who came out for softball for the first time since she was a freshman, will all see time in the outfield.

Look out for freshman Emily Fearon, who will eventually play somewhere. Fearon is too good of a hitter to leave out of the regular lineup.

“She’s our wild card,” Roesing said of Fearon. “She can go anywhere.”

Roesing said that the Patriots were just hitting a regular stride when the entire year has been put on hold.

“It’s been very tough,” Roesing said. “I feel bad for the seniors. I also feel bad for the freshmen. I had a talk with them all and told them about things to work on while we’re out. I know they were working hard before we went out, even for a little workout, they went hard. We’re going to try to make the season a memorable one for the seniors and stay as positive as possible.”

The Patriots will contend in the NJIC-Liberty Division and will be in the hunt for the North Jersey Section 2, Group II sectional title as well. -- Jim Hague

Bayonne baseball: Ready to make another run

Bayonne senior pitcher Justin O’Connor should be the ace of the Hudson County pitchers

It was a mystical, magical season last spring for the Bayonne High School baseball team, posting an astounding 25-3 record, including the championship of the Ed “Faa” Ford Memorial Hudson County Tournament, defeating St. Peter’s Prep in the title game by a 4-3 decision.

It was also the first county title for head coach Dave Hoffmann in his six seasons at the helm of the team he once played for. Now, as preparations were being made for his seventh season guiding the Bees, Hoffmann believes that his team should certainly be among the contenders for the distinction of being the county’s premier team come sometime in June.

“It’s something that we always aspire to be,” Hoffmann said. “We always want to be county champions. To be able to achieve that goal was something special. And we’re going to strive to hold onto that crown and embrace that title. We take it very seriously.”

As the Bees were making plans for the 2020 season when the season was shut down and immediately halted by the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus that has engulfed the world, Hoffmann realized that repeating as county champions would be a tall order to achieve.

“We lost eight position players from last year’s team,” Hoffmann said. “But we have kids that were waiting in the wings, players who were role players who helped us in different aspects. Those kids are now able to assume their responsibilities and play major roles this season, if and when we play.”

Gone from last year’s champions include catcher Shane Paradine, the Hudson County Most Valuable Player, and Jonathan Lee, the Hudson County Most Outstanding Pitcher, who pitched to a 7-1 record and a 1.27 earned run average. Paradine is now at Stony Brook University.

So even with the major losses, Hoffmann is basically saying that he expects the Bees to be right in the thick of things once again this season.

“I’m absolutely confident in what we have returning,” Hoffmann said. “We’re excited about that.”

The Bees did get six practices in before the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association placed the decree to halt all spring activities until Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, ordered all scholastic activities to cease for the time being.

The Bees were scheduled to scrimmage top rivals Bloomfield, Toms River North and Toms River South last week to get ready for the start of the season.

“That was going to be the challenge,” said Hoffmann, who was preparing to begin his seventh season as the head coach of the Bees. We wanted to catch these guys up to speed. If and when we are able to come back, we’re going to force feed things on them.”

So while Hoffmann was unable to conduct practices with his team, he was holding viral get-togethers online.

“We are doing virtual things online,” Hoffmann said. “I think these have been helpful, just to keep in contact with the players. We needed something to lift their spirits a little. By doing these virtual things, it has helped their mindset a little. By doing these virtual things and showing them what they should be doing, we have to be ready to go when we get the green light to get back out there.”

Hoffmann has no idea what the NJSIAA or the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League has planned for the Bees regarding the schedule.

“We have to be ready to start the season right away,” Hoffmann said. “If we have to, we’ll plaey doubleheaders, We can work out a season and be able to get a certain number of league games in.”

If and when the season kicks off, the Bees will have a deep and talented pitching staff, led by snior right-hander Justin O’Connor, probably the county’s best returning hurler from a year ago. O’Connor was a First Team All-Area selection in 2019, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.09 earned run average, striking out 47 batters in 35 innings, surrendering just 21 hits.

“He’s had some career for us,” Hoffmann said of O’Connor. “He’s our No. 1 guy and he thrives under that role. I know he’s the best returning pitcher in the county and I know a lot of people would agree with that. We’re counting on him to be our ace this year.”

Senior right-hander Julian Gonzalez also returns. Gonzalez pitched to a 5-1 record and a 1.70 ERA last year.

“He pitched some big games for us,” Hoffmann said of Gonzalez, who has a gaudy 10-1 record over two seasons with the Bees, posting a 5-1 record, including a no-hitter against Ferris. He has some really good stuff and mixes it up well.”

Gonzalez has already given a commitment to Keystone College, an NCAA Division III institution in Factoryville, Pennsylvania.

O’Connor and Gonzalez form a nice 1-2 pitching punch for the Bees, but in reality, the team can go an incredible nine deep on the mound.

“We have a lot of pitchers,” Hoffmann said. “We’re going to need them with whatever schedule we play.”

Chances are that the pitchers will be called upon to throw in three-inning stretches maximum when the season resumes, so having a deep staff will be imperative.

Right-hander Brian Baranok returns. The All-Hudson County third baseman was a quality hurler when called upon last year.

“I’m expecting a lot from him,” Hoffmann said of Baranok. “He has to be a leader.”

The rest of the staff is relatively unproven on the varsity level.

Junior left-hander Quincy Mitchell is a transfer from Union High School. Senior Liam Doherty-Burke is a right-hander who pitched in limited innings last season. Sophomore Richie Bukowski is a right-hander who just got his feet wet a little last year. Senior Isaiah Olmo is a left-hander and a transfer from Hudson Catholic. Senior right-hander Nick Valencia was basically a pitcher on the junior varsity last year. Junior Ian Malone is another righty. So is senior Aidan Calcaterra, who just got clearance to return to action after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee,

So the Bees have basically 10 kids who can grab the ball and head to the mound this season. That’s depth.

“We’re okay with that,” Hoffmann said.

The Bees have a huge hole to fill behind the plate, but they have Paradine back there -- namely freshman Aidan Paradine, Shane’s little brother. The Bees also have sophomore Rob Geisler to maintain the pitching staff.

“Both are competing and both will play,” Hoffmann said.

Senior Carlos Miranda was off to a fine season, but he suffered a concussion in the early stages of last season and missed most of the season. Miranda batted .338 before being relegated to the bench after the injury, Miranda is getting a chance to play first base this season. Miranda started there as a sophomore.

Senior Brian Cotter is a three-year varsity player, will get the chance to start at second base. Senior Gonzalez is the shortstop and a solid defensive player. Baranok, a four-year varsity player and three-year starter at third base, will settle the infield down. Baranok, an All-Hudson player last season, hit .394 with 18 RBI last season. Baranok is a player to watch. He’s 11 hits shy of reaching the impressive 100-hit plateau for his career.

Hoffmann is convinced that Baranok can be the leader that the Bees had with Paradine the last two seasons.

“I really do think he can do it,” said Hoffmann of Baranok, who has already committed to play at Ramapo College next spring. “He’s best friends with Shane, so we’re hoping some of what Shane did for us rubbed off on him. I think he’s excited to do what he could do and have the same kind of year he’s enjoyed the last two years.”

Junior Tyler Johnson is a very athletic kid who can cover left field. Mitchell can cover a lot of ground in center field.

“He’s smooth,” Hoffmann said. “He’s very quick. It was limited, but I liked what I saw in the first week of practice.”

Valencia will see a lot of time in right field, but look for sweet-swinging junior Santiago Jimenez to make a difference somewhere in the lineup, either in the outfield, first base or designated hitter. Jimenez can flat out hit the ball. If he was stuck in phone booth, Jimenez could hit his way out of it. Calcaterra will also get a chance to play once he gains medical clearance.

“He can help us,” Hoffmann said of Calcaterra, the son of soccer coach and former athletic director John Calcaterra. “He can swing the bat.”

Senior Anthony Klick is another who will see time in the infield, on the mound or even catcher.

So don’t cry for the Bees. Don’t forget, the Bees buzzed their way to 25 wins last year. It wasn’t a fluke. They’ll be back.

“We hope so,” Hoffmann said. “Winning is part of our culture. So for us to finally win the county crown was huge. It meant a lot. We want to keep it moving forward.”

The late Alexis Demby

The coronavirus has claimed the life of a former Hudson County girls’ sports superstar.

Alexis Demby, who was a standout athlete during her days at Memorial High School, died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus during a stay with family and friends in West New York. Alexis was just 32 years old.

Demby first came into prominence when she was just an 11-year-old girl, earning a spot on the West New York Little League All-Stars with and against the boys.

She continued her brilliance and dominance into high school, where in girls’ basketball, Demby earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors three times, once earning First Team All-Area in 2003 among the five very best players in Hudson County. She was a Third Team selection her sophomore campaign of 2002 and was a Second Team choice as a senior in 2004.

Demby formed a dynamic duo at Memorial with Mercedes Nunez, another player who earned All-Area honors as well. Nunez was the Hudson Reporter Female Athlete of the Year her senior year. She was a vivacious, extremely humble, fun-loving kid who really never thought she was as good as she really was. She was a joy to watch -- unless you were an opponent.

“She was strong and didn’t take any crap,” said Craig Kuzirian, her head coach at Memorial. “When she was on the floor, she busted her tail. She was just a wonderful person.”

Demby went on to play basketball at Caldwell College and spent four years with the Cougars.

Demby earned her degree from Caldwell and became a social worker. She was living in Georgia and came back to visit her family, then got sick.

“She came up a couple of weeks ago and was ready to go home,” Kuzirian said. “And then she got sick and passed. Her mother passed about three years ago. It’s a terrible thing. Her mother used to come to all the games and got to know everybody.”

Kuzirian was asked how he would best remember his player.

“Her smile,” Kuzirian said. “She always had a smile on her face. No matter how much I would yell at her – and I yelled a lot – she still smiled. She was just a sweetheart.”

Kuzirian was upset when he watched some ill-advised college students at spring break in Florida.

“You see all these knuckleheads at spring break and then you hear this news,” Kuzirian said. “It’s a scary, scary thing. It’s just terrible. It hits home more now that it’s one of your own.”

Here’s the Athlete of the Week article that I wrote about Demby and Nunez together on March 11, 2004.

One thousand ways to remember Memorial duo

Nunez, Demby end hoop careers with impressive milestones

Craig Kuzirian has been the girls’ basketball coach at Memorial High School for almost 30 years now, so he’s seen a lot of things during his storied career.

But he’s never had two players as teammates reach the 1,000-point plateau, like seniors Alexis Demby and Mercedes Nunez did.

“It’s unusual to have to kids with that kind of ability on the same team,” Kuzirian said. “I never had two on the same team.”

While Demby and Nunez worked together so well that they were able to both reach the milestone, you never would have thought it was possible for them four years ago.

That’s because the two were fierce rivals when they were in grammar school, with Demby playing at P.S. No. 6 and Nunez performing for P.S. No. 1.

“It was always a battle between the two of us in grammar school,” Demby said. “Every game we played against each other, it was a war. And it was always me against her.”

“Honestly, I didn’t like her at all,” Nunez said. “She was my enemy. I had to win every time we played.”

Kuzirian got to witness the rivalry firsthand.

“I refereed the grammar school games and I knew they were both talented players,” Kuzirian said. “I knew that they had the talent to play for us right away.”

When tryouts for the Memorial girls’ basketball team took place the following November, Demby and Nunez were on the floor together again, only this time as teammates.

“I looked over and said, ‘Oh, look who’s here,’ ” Nunez said. “I didn’t know how things would work out between us, because we’re both competitive.”

“I honestly couldn’t wait to play with Mercy,” Demby said. “I knew she was a great shooter and passer and that she was going to help me become a better player.”

It didn’t take long for the two to put their past differences behind them.

“I felt fortunate to be able to play with her,” Demby said. “After all the time that we went head-to-head, it was a good feeling to be on the same side as Mercy.”

“Alexis is cool people,” the effervescent Nunez said. “It worked out well. I love Alexis because she has such a good heart.”

Demby was the one who became more of an impact player as a freshman, leading the Tigers in scoring. It took a while for Nunez to get more accustomed to high school basketball, even though she is a diverse athlete and became the first female in the school’s history to letter in four different varsity sports (including volleyball, softball, baseball as a sophomore, playing with the boys, and basketball).

“I had a tough time convincing Mercy that she had to take more shots,” Kuzirian said. “She was so unselfish and would throw passes to people who couldn’t catch the ball. Alexis was originally a power forward that I moved to guard. Alexis was the one who was the scorer right away. We had to make adjustments with Mercy.”

Demby reached the historic 1,000-point plateau in the late stages of last season as a junior. Nunez was going to need to do some prolific scoring as a senior to hit the mark.

“I didn’t think I was going to get a chance to make it,” Nunez said. “It wasn’t even in my mind.”

But the Tigers enjoyed a fine season, with Demby and Nunez leading the way. They won 17 games, a far cry from the seven wins they had as freshmen.

And sure enough, Nunez was able to reach the 1,000-point plateau in the final games, giving Demby a total of 1,279 and Nunez 1,030, the first 1,000-point teammates in the history of the girls’ basketball program at Memorial.

For their efforts, Demby and Nunez have been selected as Hudson Reporter Co-Athletes of the Week for the past week, the first shared honorees since the St. Dominic Academy Penn Relay gold medal winning team a year ago.

Kuzirian is convinced that there won’t be another pair like Demby and Nunez.

“We’re not going to have something like this again,” Kuzirian said. “It’s very rare to have two kids like this on the same team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I think it’s remarkable, because each year, they got better and they made each other better, while making the other players on the team better.

Added Kuzirian, “Not only are they great players, but they’re even better kids off the court. They’re able to take whatever I throw at them, when I scream and yell, and keep playing hard. I really wanted them to go far in the state playoffs, because it was their last chance. But it didn’t happen, so I’m a little disappointed. But they were a pleasure to coach and they made me a better coach as well.”

Both will head off to college and both will more than likely receive a scholarship, although it appears they will head in different directions. Demby is more than likely headed to Caldwell College, while Nunez will probably go to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.

Demby said that she will always remember her days playing with Nunez.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to go different ways in college and that will be very difficult, not playing with her anymore,” Demby said. “But it’s something I will never forget. I definitely feel better being her teammate than playing against her. I would have to say she made me a better player, because she pushed me and I guess I pushed her. I really had confidence in Mercy, in whatever she does.”

“It’s pretty unbelievable how far we’ve come together,” Nunez said. “I feel very fortunate to have played with Alexis. I know that we made [Kuzirian] look good. But I know we definitely gave it our all.”

Kuzirian said that he certainly will miss the dynamic duo.

“They made it a pleasure to coach. They made it fun to come to practice,” Kuzirian said. “They’re both very competitive, but they also made things a lot of fun. We won’t see anything like this again. I’m sure of that.”

REST IN PEACE, ALEXIS....AND HERE'S PROOF THAT THIS CORONAVIRUS IS THE REAL DEAL, SO BE SAFE EVERYONE!!!

TASTY TIDBITS, Dehere recalls his senior year at Seton Hall

Terry Dehere (right) talks to yours truly at a Seton Hall game last season

Photo courtesy of APP.com

TASTY TIDBITS

Sudden end to sensational Seton Hall season brings back memories for Dehere

The college basketball season ended without the usual March Madness, namely the NCAA Tournament, thanks to the coronavirus outbreak that totally stifled all of sports.

It was particularly frustrating for local college basketball fans, considering that Shaheen Holloway’s Peacocks of St. Peter’s University were sitting with the No. 2 seed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings and were poised to make a possible run at the NCAAs in just Holloway’s second season as the head coach of the Peacocks.

Holloway was rewarded for his spectacular second season at Harvard on the Boulevard by being named the MAAC Coach of the Year, an honor richly deserved.

But what about Holloway’s alma mater, namely Seton Hall? The Pirates were 21-9, ranked No. 11 in the entire nation and finished in a three-way tie with Villanova and Creighton for the regular season championship of the Big East Conference, before everything came to a screeching halt earlier this month.

In fact, a lot of people thought that the Pirates had the makings of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament with First Team All-America and Big East Player of the Year Myles Powell leading the way.

The Pirates were so deep and talented that it made people recall the 1992-93 Pirate team that went 28-7, won both the Big East regular season and Big East Tournament championship and headed to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 6 team in the entire country.

And there was no one better to remember that season than Jersey City’s own Terry Dehere, who remains the school’s all-time leading scorer with an incredible 2,494 points.

Dehere was the Big East Player of the Year that year, averaging 22 points per game, and won the Big East Tournament Most Valuable Player award as well.

That team featured players like Arturas Karnishovas, Bryan Caver and three other Jersey City natives in Jerry Walker, Danny Hurley and Luther Wright.

Although the Pirates lost to Western Kentucky in the second round of the NCAAs, they were picked by many to perhaps win the whole tournament, because they had a deep roster, a lot like this year’s team. In fact, the similarities between the two teams are startling.

“I think they had all the components to have a deep run,” Dehere said last week. “They were one of the better Seton Hall teams since our team in 1993. They had the potential and the makeup to go far in the NCAAs. I think this is by far the best team Seton Hall has had in a long time.”

Dehere recalled his senior year with the Pirates.

“We had the chance to play some big time teams, like Duke and UNLV,” Dehere said. “We had the chance to see other teams we didn’t normally see. We had a good team and had a lot of fun that year. It was a shame that it ended the way it did.”

Much like the way this season ended for the Pirates – with sudden disappointment and sadness.

“It is disappointing, because this ended everything,” Dehere said. “It wasn’t just college basketball. It was all of sports and entertainment. I think it’s important to have sports, because then we’re not all focused on the pandemic. We don’t have any distractions and after a while, reality sinks in. I feel bad for those kids, because they didn’t get a chance to play at the end of the season.”

We will never know just how deep of a run that this Seton Hall team could have made in March Madness…

Someone once said that everything in New Jersey sports somehow always gets tied back to Jersey City. Well, here’s proof – a little.

The Ramapo College baseball roster this season – if the Roadrunners played more than the two games they played prior to the season being cancelled – featured a freshman catcher named Sean Donaghue and two assistant coaches named T.J. Ward and Nick Camilleri.

Well, Ward and Camilleri both played their high school baseball at St. Peter’s Prep and were selected as All-Area baseball players in this corner, with Ward being named twice as a Player of the Year. On the other hand, Donaghue, whose hometown and high school is listed as Marlboro on the roster, is the son of retired Jersey City Police Inspector Hugh Donaghue, who played his high school baseball at Hudson Catholic.

Sean Donaghue is the cousin to Hudson Catholic girls’ basketball freshman sensation Megan Gentile, who is the daughter of former St. Peter’s College women’s basketball superstar Patty Marchese Gentile and Gary Gentile, who is the vice principal at Ferris. Now, that’s Six Degrees of Hudson County for you.

We’ll be back next week with more tidbits on the blog. If you have anything you would like to add to the blog, just drop me a note at OGSMAR@aol.com. If it’s worthy, I’d be glad to add it to the blog next week. And as always, thanks for reading.

SCOREBOARD, Beteta looks for new shot as Ferris head baseball coach

Ferris sophomore P/1B Denny Furcal

Ferris senior OF/P Robert Estrada

Ferris senior OF/P Jafari Williams

By Jim Hague

Josh Beteta spent a good portion of his adult life as a dutiful and highly respected assistant high school baseball coach at a host of different spots.

The 36-year-old Beteta, a former standout during his playing days at Lincoln High School, bided his time and waited for the right opportunity to be a head coach.

So four years ago, Beteta got that chance, taking the head coaching responsibilities at Marist High School in Bayonne. Beteta thought he was going to have the opportunity to build a program at one of the most historic baseball programs in Hudson County, a place that had captured four NJSIAA Parochial (Non-Public) state championships with three different coaches.

It was a perfect spot for a hard-working Beteta, the chance to be his own man, build a program that worked all year for success in the spring.

That chance lasted for just one season. Beteta was unceremoniously removed from the job after just one year because a new administrative regime took over and that administration wanted to make a big splash with a big-time coaching name.

Beteta was making plans for the upcoming season and was overseeing off-season weight training sessions when he received word he was no longer wanted. The timing of his release was also wrong, considering he was let go in January and the season began in earnest with the first practices just seven weeks later.

“It was tough,” Beteta said. “There wasn’t any time to find anything else. It took a little toll on me. I didn’t know if I wanted to coach again. I really didn’t know what I was going to do. I thought that was it.”

All those days of volunteering to coach summer league teams and travel teams and serving as an assistant all came to a crashing halt with a simple e-mail. Beteta didn’t even receive a phone call or have a meeting to discuss his status. It was just an e-mail, thanks, but no thanks. Even the Mets treated their managers with more respect.

Last year, Beteta was asked by his former high school coach, Marco Mejia, to help him out as Mejia was asked to serve as the interim head coach at Ferris. The former head coach at Ferris, the legendary Hudson County Hall of Famer Mike Hogan, had an off-the-field altercation that eventually led to Hogan’s retirement. Mejia needed help running and organizing one of Hudson County’s best programs at Ferris and turned to his former player who had extensive coaching experience.

“I was happy to be a volunteer assistant for Marco,” Beteta said. “He was my coach at Lincoln and we have a good relationship.”

But after one season, a year where Mejia guided the Bulldogs to a 15-9 record in the highly competitive Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League-Red Division, Mejia wasn’t comfortable being the head coach any longer.

“He said that he would be fine as an assistant if I was the head coach,” Beteta said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I’d love to work for you.’ He vouched for me.”

With that, the two men reversed their roles and Beteta is once again getting the chance to be a head coach, this time with an established and talented team.

The Bulldogs welcome back a series of talented players from a year ago, including three standouts who earned All-Area honors from this writer last spring. Beteta knows he has inherited a good squad that will be primed for action if and when the 2020 season begins after the coronavirus outbreak.

“I told the team in the first meeting that I’ve driven some nice cars as a coach,” Beteta said. “I drove a nice Honda and perhaps a nice Camry. But this time, I’m driving a Porsche.”

The Bulldogs have a nice pitching staff, highlighted by sophomore left-hander Denny Furcal, who posted an undefeated 6-0 record on the hill last year and made two different post-season All-Star teams on the field and earned Jim Hague Sports All-Area honors last season as a pitcher.

“He’s so much of a leader that we named him a captain even though he’s only a sophomore,” Beteta said of Furcal, who also batted .430 at the plate and is an excellent first baseman when not pitching. “He commands the respect of everyone. I want him to be the captain for the next three years. He’s our pitching ace.”

Junior Marcus Monroe is also a fine pitcher and will be one of the Bulldogs’ top hurlers this spring.

“He’s my anchor,” Beteta said of the righty Monroe, who was one of the Bulldogs; top pitchers last season. “He’s been a three-year starter and knows what it takes to win.”

Senior Robert Estrada, who has been selected to the Jim Hague Sports All-Area team in each of the last two seasons, is also a fine pitcher when he’s not manning right field. In the outfield, Estrada has no peers, especially with his cannon of an arm.

“He definitely has a live arm,” Beteta said of Estrada, who hit .450 last season. “He can fly. He’s a veteran out there and he hits the ball hard. He’s even stronger this year than last year.”

Jafari Williams, another senior, is a solid pitcher and an even better centerfielder. Williams was the third member of the Bulldogs to collect All-Area honors last season in the utility slot. Williams hit .360 with 19 RBI and pitched to a 4-2 record on the mound.

“He’s a freak of an athlete,” Beteta said of Williams. “He’s another leader on this team.”

The team’s main catcher is returnee Jerome Banks, who is a fantastic defensive backstop.

“We’re looking for Jerome to have a really good year this year,” Beteta said. “He’s a very good defensive catcher who throws well.”

Banks just needs to improve his offensive production.

Sophomore Christopher Gonzalez is another catcher that Beteta can count on.

Furcal is the main first baseman. Sophomore Jaiden Garcia returns at second base.

“He has the best hands on the infield,” Beteta said of Garcia.

Look for fabulous freshman DeAngelo Ponce to get some playing time at second base or shortstop or somewhere. Ponce is the team’s resident jack-of-all-trades.

“He’s like my Joe McEwing,” Beteta said, recalling the former New York Mets’ utility player. “He plays everywhere and plays everywhere well.”

The starting shortstop will be freshman Justin Hernandez, who is the absolute real deal. Hernandez’s father is a big-time influence, a former coach who has worked wonders with his son.

“I think he’s going to be the best shortstop in Hudson County,” Beteta said of Hernandez. “He is so sure-handed. He can also switch hit and hits pretty well from both sides. I’m really excited about him.”

The third baseman is Monroe, but freshman Jacob Ruiz is getting some time at third.

In left field, Ponce will get a shot there, but junior Yaraldi Amparo will also see time. Amparo just transferred to Ferris from his native Dominican Republic – and everyone knows how baseball players from the DR do when they arrive in the United States.

Jafari Williams is the centerfielder and Estrada is in right field, but considering both are pitchers, freshman Jonathan Correa will see a lot of playing time, as will Ruiz in the outfield.

So Beteta has waited his entire life for a chance to coach a talented team like Ferris – and now, with the delay of the season due to the coronavirus outbreak, Beteta has to wait some more.

“It’s very frustrating,” Beteta said. “I feel really bad for the seniors, because they put so much work in during the off-season. I know we all want to be out there, but everyone’s health comes first. I’m remaining optimistic that we’ll be out there playing. The optimist in me says we’re ready to go and the realist in me says that we’re a very young team that needs some jelling. Those kids from last year aren’t freshmen anymore. I think we’ll be ready when we get word we can play.”

We can only hope so.