Montclair’s veteran co-head coaches Ron Gavazzi and Anthony Genchi know the challenges ahead with looking to blend in a new crop of underclassmen alongside three veteran everyday starters including a reigning first-team all-state selection in hard-hitting senior Benjamin St. Pierre.
The Mounties graduated a wealth of experience from last spring’s solid 22-8-1 squad (6-4-1 for third place in the Super Essex Conference-American Division) which reached the North 1, Group 4 state sectional final where it dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision at conference rival Livingston which had followed an impressive 5-1 MHS sectional semifinal win at defending Group 4 champion Ridgewood.
There was plenty of excitement in the stretch run for the 2024 Mounties diamond squad which won eight of its final nine games and 15 of 17; however, this season could have some big challenges ahead for the MHS coaching staff which will have to incorporate a bevy of young, first-year varsity players into the predominantly new-look lineup with a fairly inexperienced pitching staff.
“We are a program in transition,” said Gavazzi, who reached the 300-victory milestone last spring. “Most of our roster is brand new to varsity baseball. We are learning daily and working towards living up to the program's expectation, which is that every player will improve every day.
“We have so many newcomers that are competing for roles. It may take us time to get it all figured out, but the work ethic is present.
“As a team, we are bound for failure along the way; however, we will learn from all those experiences and use those in our future opportunities.”
MHS begins the new season Tuesday (April 1) at Verona before then opening up the SEC-American Division schedule on Thursday (April 3) at West Essex. On Saturday, April 5, the Mounties travel to West Milford for an 11 a.m. independent contest, before the home opener, Tuesday, April 7, vs. Columbia, at the completely-reconfigured and brand-new turf diamond in the Woodman Field complex.
The Mounties know they have a bona fide star to build around in St. Pierre, who earned first-team all-state honors last spring from nj.com and was Sideline Chatter’s Essex County Player of the Year when he put together a superb junior season that included a .447 batting average with 37 RBI, 40 runs scored and 29 stolen bases while also producing 15 multi-hit games.
He returns at second base while also being a reliable option on the mound after putting together a solid 2024 season when he had a 2.02 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.
The Misericordia (Pa.) University commit will serve as a centerpiece for the 2025 Mounties who will look to build their lineup around their senior standout.
“Benjamin is very focused,” said Gavazzi. “He practices very hard and provides excellent leadership to everyone. He is primed for another big year in all areas!”
The other veteran returnees for the Mounties are hard-hitting senior center fielder Sam Dorian (.330 BA, 6 triples in 2024), junior, slick-fielding, 3-year starting shortstop Patrick VanNote (.274 BA, 26 RBI in 2024) and junior southpaw David Aishton (1.52 ERA with 32 1/3 IP last spring).
“Sammy is displaying very sharp concentration,” Gavazzi stated. “He is practicing very well and is also providing excellent leadership.
“Patrick looks great! He loves the game, plays with such passion and is training with a purpose.
“David's overall game is growing. He has come a long way and his fundamentals are more consistent.”
With a very strong SEC-American Division, led by state-ranked teams Seton Hall Prep and Livingston along with an experienced West Essex squad and an always well-disciplined Millburn looking to be improved this spring, the going could be difficult for Montclair, especially with the very clear youth factor having to enter into the equation.
“The SEC American is as strong as always,” added Gavazzi. “You have to play your very best to have any sort of chance to be competitive in our division.
“The veteran teams will certainly have an edge early based on their experience, and - then from there - we will see how the other teams improve to see if they are ready to test it.”
NOTES- St. Pierre’s college destination of Misericordia is a Division III power having played in the Division III World Series in 2023 under veteran head coach Pete Egbert. Among the New Jersey standouts on the Dallas, Pa. team are Ramsey products Max Oliver, a senior pitcher, and sophomore Brooks Kanwisher, a hard-hitting infielder…Key graduates off Montclair’s 2024 team include pitchers Shea Goal, Finn Jones and Eli Rudall-Stulberg, who was injured much of last season; catcher Nate Ullman, third baseman Luca Van Hamberg, first baseman Derek Lacey and outfielders Jesse Blau and Mack Mathisen…Returning center fielder Dorian was an Essex Coaches second-team selection last spring, while the graduated Van Hamberg was a third-team choice…The Mounties reached the overall Group 4 state final in 2021 when it finished 24-7-1 and lost to Middletown South in the state championship game played at Veterans Park in Hamilton…MHS last won a Greater Newark Tournament title in 2019 and reached the semifinals in both 2023 and 2024.
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