Things would have been great for a Secaucus baseball revival

 Secaucus junior pitcher/first baseman Patrick Pantoliano

Secaucus junior pitcher/outfielder Jamling Lama

For all intents and purposes, it was going to be a successful baseball season at Secaucus High School this spring. Veteran head coach Neal Czechowski was extremely optimistic during the preseason, considering the wealth of talent he had returning from last year’s 11-9 team – and the prospects of promising younger players on the rise.

“I think the experience we gained last year was tremendous,” Czechowski said. “Most of the team consisted of sophomores and we had some juniors who were ready to step into bigger roles. So we were ready for the challenge. I think the juniors we have showed some potential. We have a lot of good kids. From the beginning of the school year, I had a sense of what this team might be able to do. They came in to the school year ready to play and in good shape.”

So that makes the cancellation of the season recently due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic even more difficult to swallow.

Czechowski, a native of Secaucus, said that Secaucus was making a move to become even more of a baseball town once again.

“I think the entire town of Secaucus stepped back into their roots,” Czechowski said. “I think we have a ton of coaches in town who stepped up with their ability to teach on all levels. You could see the tremendous impact that the town’s youth baseball efforts has made, just in the way the kids move around the field.”

So 2020 was shaping up to be a great year.

“I think we were looking at being a solid competitor in the league (the North Jersey Interscholastic Confererence-Meadowlands Division),” Czechowski said. “I think that would have set the tone for the county tournament and the state (the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group II). I think that was going to keep the kids motivated. I was hoping that things were going to turn out for the better.”

Looking at the Patriots, the team would have featured a powerful pitching staff. Junior right-hander Patrick Pantoliano had totally recovered from a broken ankle that cost him the entire basketball season. Now the hard-luck Pantoliano loses his entire baseball season as well.

“He’s coming off a great sophomore year,” Czechowski said. “He had the ability to take on the strongest teams. We had really had high hopes of pitching against the best teams. We expected him to take on the bulk of the big games. He has become a very calm, collected and complete pitcher.”

Junior righty William DeIasi was one of the biggest surprises in the county last season, posting a 5-1 record.

“He’s a good control pitcher,” Czechowski said. “He spots his pitches well. He has good location and has good pitch selection.”

Junior left-hander Jamling Lama was also set to have a solid campaign. The three-sport standout (football, basketball and baseball) won two games last year as a sophomore.

“I have confidence in him to throw strikes,” Czechowski said.

Junior Mark Denhert was another righty who got better as the year went on last year.

“He was a spot reliever who ate up innings,” Czechowski said. “I thought he was going to be a real game changer this year. I can’t wait to see what he can do.”

Junior Jhackzon Gil is another good athlete who is coming into his own as a pitcher. Junior Matthew Deleo is another righty with a bright future. Junior Dominic Polifronio is another who would have saw time on the hill this spring.

“We’re definitely not short on pitchers,” Czechowski said. “I’m very excited about our pitching.”

Senior Nicholas Nardone and junior Sean Moloughney were set to share the catching duties. Nardone saw limited playing time last season.

Pantoliano would have played first base when not pitching. Junior Matt Marselek would have been at first when Pantoliano pitched. Marselek could also see time at third base.

Senior Brandon Tabasco and Deleo would have shared the second base responsibilities. Denhert would have earned the nod at shortstop after having played third last year.

Sophomore John Young, a big, strong kid who possesses a ton of power, would have seen a lot of time at third base.

“He has a lot of potential,” Czechowski said of Young.

Marselek, along with seniors Michael Garcia and Kosei Hayashida would have also seen time at third. Hayashida, the quarterback on the Patriot football team last fall, was set to play baseball for the first time.

The outfield would have consisted of DeIasi in centerfield, with the speedy Gil in left field and the equally fast Lama in right. DeIasi had 17 RBI last year, which was second on the team. Gil has a lot of potential after transferring last year to Secaucus from the Dominican Republic.

Czechowski was pleased to have a solid coaching staff that included holdover Anthony Cassese and added West New York native and former Saddle Brook head coach John Celentano, who was an outstanding player in his heyday.

So the pieces were all in place. We’ll have to wait until 2021 to see the true Patriots in action and we unfortunately bid farewell to the seniors without having a chance to play this season.