Junior Chase Wengryn – exclusively a pitcher last year – gets his first varsity hit against Phillipsburg in a 6-5 Opening Day win on April 4, 2023 at Torpey Field in Bridgewater. (Source: screenshot from @villebaseballnj on Twitter)
For Somerville baseball, the storyline in the early part of the season has been how new varsity players fit into the team – and how some returnees are taking on new responsibilities.
Some of that is by design, some not.
Where it’s not is on the pitchers’ mound, where Pioneers’ head coach Chris Banos has the unenviable task of trying to find some tentative help to fill-in for the recently-injured Kolbie Stellpflug. He may miss a few games, but even missing a pitcher of that caliber for a week or so in such a condensed season as 2023 will be impactful.
When Somerville travels to Rutgers Prep Thursday afternoon, the Pioneers will have a new face on the mound in Kyle Giacobello. After not playing baseball at all in the last two seasons, the football player will return for his first-ever varsity start.
He’s only worked one inning so far this year, throwing 13 pitches, striking out two, allowing no runs and no hits.
You can hear Thursday’s game on Central Jersey Sports Radio beginning with pregame at 3:40 pm, and first pitch at 4 as Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas call all the action. Click here to listen.
Others also have taken on new roles.
Ty Aikens and Chase Wengryn were exclusively on the mound last year, but now find themselves stepping up to the plate to make up some of the production that graduated last year.
Some of the other key returnees from last season include catcher Karson Wengryn, who is in his third varsity season and provides a threat both defensively and with the bat.
Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas preview Somerville’s game at Rutgers Prep with Pioneer head coach Chris Banos:
Discover more from Central Jersey Sports Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.