SOUTH PLAINFIELD – Sluggers want to mash homers, right?
That’s just a natural inclination for power hitters. But JP Zayle discovered muscling up for highlight-film shots doesn’t quite work.
“No, believe it or not,” the St. Joseph senior said. “You got to be as smooth as you can. Last year there were a couple times I tried to hit a home run and they don’t come. You need to let them come to you.”
Friday, the 6-foot, 225-pounder belted his second home run of the season in St. Joseph’s 14-7 win over South Plainfield in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division game. His approach has been mirroring the rest of the Falcons’ mindset.
“A big word for our team this year has been loose,” he said. “Loose, not lazy. So, staying loose, playing with energy, playing with fire.”
That passion was on display as St. Joseph cranked out a 13-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth against South Plainfield, No. 2 in the Home News Tribune preseason GMC Top 10. The Tigers (2-1), fresh off a sweep of Edison, rallied as Dan Kapsch went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk and Dom Massaro (2-for-3) doubled, walked and had an RBI.
Right fielder Kevin Penny threw out a runner trying to score on a sac fly with a perfect toss to catcher Steve Studlack as South Plainfield got out of a bases loaded, no-out jam.
No. 10 St. Joseph (1-2), though, held on for Dennis McCaffery’s first win as the Falcons skipper. McCaffery retired at the end of last year after coaching Cranford to 511 wins in 25 seasons. He’s a member of the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Union County Baseball Association Hall of Fame.
He returned to the dugout after Mike Murray Jr. stepped down after nine seasons at St. Joseph. Friday, he was thrilled the team got the win with the hope it’s the first of many for the Metuchen school.
“I’m happy for the kids,” McCaffery said. "It’s never about me. It starts on the mound. Richie Zangara threw a good game. He was able to throw strikes and command both sides of the plate and he did a very good job.”
The senior ...
