WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS HEAPED UPON THEM, POWERFUL JACKSON LIBERTY NOT FAZED By Mike Ready

JACKSON – Jackson Liberty has reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III semifinals in each of the past two seasons only to come up short both times with this current group of standout seniors leading the way.

 

The Lions, who are dealing with through-the-roof expectations entering this season, boast one, if not the, most explosive lineups in the Shore Conference along with enough quality pitching to finish off the job they started four years ago. 

 

They’ll head into the season is search of the program’s first state title in the school’s comparatively short 14-year history. 

 

“We won our division last year and had a good run in the state tournament two years in a row,” said Jackson Liberty head coach Jim Rankin. “I get the sense that this group of seniors, being that it is their last go-around, are hungry – they’re tired of being close, tired of knocking on the door. We want to go through that door – bust it open. 

 

“Certainly there’s high expectations heading into this season and it definitely means a lot to these guys, but I don’t want to attach any, have to do this, have to do that, to the season because then you start putting pressure on yourself. We’re just taking one day at a time and letting the chips fall where they may. And if a state championship is in the cards late in the season that would be awesome. That’s obviously the grand goal but it’s way too early to start talking titles and championships. Our first goal is always to take care of the division,” continued Rankin.

 

Jackson Liberty runs out all but one player from last season’s starting lineup and two of its top three pitchers, including Wagner-bound and first-team All-Shore selection David Melfi, who took the Shore Conference by storm a year ago. 

 

The senior catcher and number No. 3 batter hit .457 with 28 RBI, 37 hits, 32 runs scored and tied for second in the Shore with seven home runs, first among catchers. His seven homers, 12 doubles and one triple translated into a .889 slugging percentage, which was third highest in the Shore.  

 

The Lions are loaded and Melfi’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the offensive fire-power they trot out onto the field each game. 

 

Third-team All-Shore selection and leadoff batter Connor Keenan is back in center field after smacking 10 extra base hits, including six doubles, two triples and two home runs for a .648 slugging percentage a year ago while hitting for a .423 average with 26 runs scored. 

 

“David and Connor are the two guys that this team looks up to the most,” said Rankin when asked about team leadership. “They are the lead-by-example type of guys. They work hard and do everything you ask them to do as a coach. They’re sprint on and off the field guys. They’re not rah-rah guys but when they do decide to speak up, our guys know they better listen up and focus.” 

 

 Another returning slugger, junior third baseman Shane Hickey, was a second-team All-Shore pick after producing a batting average over .400 for the second straight year hitting .409 with six homers, 27 RBI, 31 runs scored and a .682 slugging percentage. He’ll bat in the two hole in the lineup. 

 

Senior right fielder and No. 5 hitter Scott Wierciszewski posted a team-high 31 RBI last season while averaging .390 at the plate with 26 runs scored, six doubles and three homers for a .584 slugging percentage. 

 

Brandon Kinsman moves to second base this season following a stellar sophomore campaign in which he homered in three straight games at one point and posted a .657 slugging percentage in 46 at bats. 

 

Returning senior shortstop Alex Torres not only flashed his glove last season but showed his power potential blasting three round-trips last year. 

 

If you’re keeping score, that’s 24 home runs by six players and if you add in another four hit by various players, that pushes the number to 28 – monster numbers that could possibly rise to unprecedented levels this season.

 

“Well yea, with the guys we have coming back and with the experience they have, definitely for sure,” said Rankin when asked if we should expect even more power out of the lineup this season. “We pretty much bring back everyone from a team that hit 28 home runs last year. So it would be nice to see some balls fly out of the yard for sure.” 

 

Senior cleanup hitter Charlie Rudderow is back in left field after scoring 30 runs a year ago while driving in 26 runs. 

 

Sophomore Dan Keenan is the only newcomer to the starting lineup at designated hitter, and he’ll also see time on the mound, as will sophomore Carl Barth, who will likely start at first base when senior pitcher Kevin Ritz is starting. 

 

The right-handed Ritz and senior righty Nick DeCarlo are at the top of the pitching rotation after some nice production in 2018. 

 

DeCarlo went 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA, striking out 39 batters in 31.2 innings pitched while only walking 14 on the way to posting an outstanding 0.85 WHIP. In 36 innings pitched, Ritz struck out 31 batters allowing just 12 earned runs for a 2.33 ERA. 

 

Rankin will mix and match his starters and relievers so you may see DeCarlo and Ritz entering later in the game one day then start the next. This, in an effort to limit their pitch counts to keep their arms fresh, is similar to what the Tampa Bay Rays have been doing the last two years. It also gives Rankin flexibility to utilize his two top pitchers in situations where he feels they’re needed most. 

 

“My philosophy regarding Nick and Kevin is that we have to have them available in games as much as possible – they’re our best, most experienced guys,” said Rankin. “The more they’re available late in games – in the most meaningful innings – the better it is for us. If I’m going to gamble with a less experienced guy, I’m going to gamble early counting on our offense to score a couple runs. We’re not afraid to go down early knowing, we think, that our offense is going to score. And if I know I’m turning the ball over later to a Nick DeCarlo or to a Kevin Ritz, I like our odds; I like those matchups.”

 

So, Barth and Keenan, along with juniors Tim Duffy and Ryan Gallacher, are all part of a six-man rotation that can either start or relieve on any given day. 

 

Junior outfielder/catcher Gavin Maarberg and middle infielders sophomore Jake Hickman and senior Cole Watanabe provide depth off the bench. 

 

“I think they’re handling their business very well right now,” said Rankin. “We’re very senior heavy with seven seniors retuning with all having two or three years of varsity experience already underneath their belts. They’re kind of going about things in a very business-like manner – never getting too high or too low. I know it’s early in the season but I like where our head’s at now as long as we stay level headed and especially stay humble.”