The Young Guns: Holmdel Baseball Preview

At a program not far removed from the basement of the Shore Conference Class A Central standings, Holmdel baseball coach Dan Mondelli cannot dance around a clear fact with a young but experienced group of returners this season.

The time is now.

“I’m expecting to compete for a divisional championship,’’ Mondelli said. “I’m not saying we’re going to win it, but we should be right in it. This is something that is attainable. It isn’t a brash statement. It’s something that is on our level right now.’’

Considering last year’s Class A Central overall champion, Red Bank Catholic, is now in Class B North under the latest Shore Conference realignment, and the fact that many division rivals graduated their ace pitchers, it is certainly not hyperbole to think Holmdel can make a serious run at a championship.

The Hornets return six starters, led by captains Peter Renna at shortstop and J.J. Cuccurullo at second base to give them solid defense and experience up the middle. Renna hit .325 with 17 RBIs as a junior, while Cuccurullo hit .250 with three doubles. Senior Nick Solfaro, who had a .400 on-base percentage as a junior, returns at catcher, and senior lefty Jason Amabile is a returner on the mound after going 2-0 in 15 1/3 innings of work as a junior.

A group of juniors who all saw time last season is also back, led by another returning starter, pitcher/outfielder Eric Scamardella, along with pitcher/outfielder Dylan Baxter and outfielder Jason Foo. Sophomore third baseman J.T. Licciardiello saw time as a freshman and also returns.

“We’re still considered kind of a young team, but we’re a more experienced team,’’ Mondelli said.

This squad looks like it is going to be better offensively with a year of experience, and the lineup has the ability to rough up opposing pitching. Scamardella showed flashes of being an All-Shore level hitter at times as a sophomore on his way to hitting .321 with six doubles and 15 RBIs, and junior newcomer Cole Whatley, a first baseman, should add even more power to the middle of the lineup.

“We became more and more successful as our hitting came along last season, so we look to continue that this year,’’ Cuccurullo said.

“We’re hitting the ball well in the scrimmages,’’ Mondelli said. “We’ve got some kids who have a good approach and are making good adjustments. I’m really surprised but satisfied about the way we look offensively.’’

The flip side to the offensive prowess is that pitching remains a question mark. Holmdel graduated its top starter and all-around player, Cody Bird, and has to find a way to replace his production on the mound in particular. Baxter, Scamardella and Whatley will lead the staff and each brings something different to the table.

Baxter is a competitor who battles on every pitch, while Scamardella and Whatley have solid stuff. Scamardella, who went 0-4 as a junior on the mound during the Hornets’ 11-12 season, may not pitch for a few weeks as he recovers from some tendinitis. Baxter is tentatively the No. 1 starter, but all three are similar in ability so if they can be consistent, the Hornets should be in decent shape if their offense produces as expected.

“We have some really solid guys, but we don’t have total shutdown pitchers, so it will be up to the defense to make plays behind those guys,’’ Mondelli said.

In what appears to be a wide-open division in which many teams have question marks on their pitching staffs, Holmdel is not alone in that regard. While another Holmdel school, St. John Vianney, looks like the slight favorite in the preseason, a number of programs could make a run at the title considering another possible contender, Manasquan, is now in Class C Central.

Another reason for a potential breakout year for Holmdel is just the improvement in several crucial behind-the-scenes areas.

“We definitely go much harder in practices this year,’’ Cuccurullo said. “Guys are giving 100 percent every day.’’

“Prior to Mondelli, we worked a lot as individuals in the offseason, whether it was in the weight room or out on the field, but now guys are doing much more stuff together,’’ Renna said. “We’ve come together as a team much better than in past years.’’