One had a history-making performance for his school while two others earned starting roles on the infield for one of Essex County’s better teams, while yet another broke into the lineup for the Greater Newark Tournament champions.
Freshmen, who for many years would never even be considered for varsity action at certain schools, definitely made an impact this spring with their Essex County diamond programs, even if it has been a foreshadowing of what’s to come in the next three years.
Stefano Rizio, a precocious southpaw for Montclair Kimberley Academy, hurled 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball in his final start of the year, combining with junior Wes Narucki, who recorded the final two outs for the combined no-hitter as the Cougars defeated Hawthorne Christian/Eastern Christian, 5-1, in an NJSIAA Non-Public, North B first round state tournament contest on Tuesday, May 26, at MKA’s diamond.
Thomas Drechsel earned a starting role at third base, wielded a potent bat and also helped bolster the pitching depth for a West Essex team that finished 21-8 and was in second place behind Seton Hall Prep in the Super Essex Conference-American Division this season.
Another freshman infielder for the Knights was the second baseman Ethan Fiss. In his final game of the season in a tough 5-3 loss to Mendham in the North 2, Group 2 state tourney quarterfinals on Friday (May 29), the sure-handed infielder also shined at the plate going 2-for-2 with an RBI and made a beautiful flip to shortstop Rocco Portrella on a well-executed 4-6-3 double play to end the fourth inning of a very competitive matchup.
Over at SHP, which captured its third straight and record 21st GNT title this spring, another freshman starting second baseman was Noah Vargas, who is another excellent defender and became that rare ninth-grader to crack the lineup of legendary coach Mike Sheppard, Jr., and his highly-ranked Pirates (23-5).
At Montclair, which improved as the season went on and finished 12-14, there were two freshman starters in second baseman/catcher Silas Hart and third baseman/pitcher Clyde Hodari.
MKA’s Stefano Rizio is following in the footsteps of his older brother Alessandro, who graduated last spring after helping to lead the Cougars to an 18-7 record and a berth in the Non-Public, North B state sectional final vs. Pope John.
The Cougars were hit hard by graduation last June and a very young squad finished just 7-20 this spring, but showed enormous promise with young players on the rise led by the freshman Rizio who wound up with 5 mound victories this spring and he got stronger and even more productive as the season progressed while striking out 47 in 35 2/3 IP.
He walked three and hit two batters while striking out 10 in his combined no-hitter with Narucki vs. Hawthorne Christian/Eastern Christian, but had been foreshadowing that type of domination with strong previous recent outings, such as when he threw 6 innings of 3-hit ball while allowing 3 runs, walking 2 and striking out 8 in a 5-4 win vs. crosstown rival Montclair on May 19 in the annual Yogi Berra Cup Game.
Another top-notch performance in the past month came on May 2 when the Cougars edged a strong Cedar Grove squad, 2-1, and Rizio threw an economical 80-pitch complete game allowing just two hits, walking 1, hitting a batter and striking out 8.
