Prep believes that they will contend for Hudson County crown once again

 St. Peter's Prep senior outfielder Kyle Hoog

St. Peter's Prep senior pitcher/first baseman Zach Oswald

The St. Peter’s Prep baseball team came so close to winning championships last season, falling in the Ed “Faa” Ford Memorial Hudson County Tournament title game to Bayonne in extra innings and losing to Seton Hall Prep in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 North semifinals.

Veteran head coach Pat Laguerre said that the Marauders have been making plans for the 2020 season since last June.

“From the day we lost our last game, we’ve been building toward this year from that day on,” said Laguerre, who guided the Marauders to 18 victories last spring. “For the kids who were there when we lost (4-3 to Bayonne in the county finale), that’s their motivation. They spent the offseason thinking about that loss and waiting for the opportunity to make it better.”

Since Bayonne is the defending county champion, the Marauders will enter this season as the ones chasing the Bees.

“We relish the role of being the hunter,” Laguerre said. “I don’t think there’s a clear cut favorite this year. We have to win to have something to hang our hats on. We put ourselves in the position of being the hunter. Last year was a bitter pill to swallow. They were just a little bit better than us. I feel pretty good about our chances this year. The kids are definitely motivated.”

Leading the returnees is senior right-hander Zach Oswald, who has already committed to George Washington University. Oswald won seven games a year ago, earning All-Hudson County honors.

Even though Oswald was the Marauders’ top winner last year, Laguerre wasn’t about to hand Oswald the tag of being the Marauders’ No. 1 hurler.

“We don’t look at our pitching staff with having a No. 1,” Laguerre said. “We have three very good starting pitchers and Zach is one of them.”

Senior left-hander Matt Moreira was the Marauders’ closer last year, but he’s been elevated to a spot in the starting rotation this year.

Junior Teague Mulcahy is a right-handed flame thrower.

“He has a lot of promise,” Laguerre said.

Senior righty Andrew DeLucia is a tough competitor in the rotation.

“He’s aggressive and challenges hitters,” Laguerre said of DeLucia. “He pounds the strike zone.”

Junior righty Ryan Wallace and senior righty Luis Tolentino will get their fair chance to pitch this season for the Marauders, if and when the season begins.

“It’s a pretty deep pitching staff,” Laguerre said.

The Marauders have two catchers to handle that great staff in three-year varsity contributor Joe Vuolo and junior Ian Wilson. Vuolo is a senior.

The crew of players at first base for the Marauders includes pitchers Oswald and Moreira, as well as junior Connor McElroy.

Senior Ray Ortiz, Jr. who played third base last year for the Marauders, has moved over to play second base this year.

The shortstop is veteran Roddy Hernandez, who is as good of a fielding shortstop there is in Hudson County.

“He has good hands,” Laguerre said. “He has good speed and a quick bat. He was our utility player last year, but this year, he’s at shortstop.”

Hernandez replaces two-time All-County standout Kyle Hess, who is now at the University of Notre Dame.

The third baseman is sophomore Ulises Ferrara, who played last year at the now-defunct St. Mary’s of Elizabeth. Since the school closed, Ferrara will be able to play immediately – and that’s good news for Laguerre and the Marauders.

“He’s a talented young player,” Laguerre said. “He swings the bat well.”

Senior Chris Cerbone moves from second base to left field.

“He’s a very heady player,” Laguerre said. “He has great baseball instincts.”

The centerfielder is the electric Desmond Watkins, who is now a senior. Watkins covers a lot of ground in centerfield. He started for the Marauders last year in left field.

“He hits well and hits for power,” Laguerre said of Watkins. “He’s also a smart player.”

The right fielder is senior Kyle Hoog, who made a name for himself by standing out in a series of All-Star games he played in last summer. It enabled Hoog to get himself a college nod, as he’s headed to Northeastern in the fall.

“He’s just a flat out good hitter,” Laguerre said of Hoog. “He can hit and hit with power.”

The Marauders have a very deep bench that includes juniors Ryan King and Max Malanga, the hockey player who has great speed, sophomore John O’Donnell, sophomore R.J. Fiore and junior Owen Fletcher. Fiore plays all over the field, while Fletcher’s big bat will have to put him in the lineup at either catcher or designated hitter.

Needless to say, Laguerre feels very good about the Marauders’ chances this season – if and when the season begins.

“I absolutely expect to contend for the county championship,” Laguerre said. “We were all pretty disappointed about what happened last year (to Bayonne). I don’t think there’s a clear cut favorite in the county this year. We will have to see what happens.”

Everyone does. So far, the winner has been the coronavirus.