Mat. team holding their own in legion league play

The youthful Matawan High School junior American Legion team has held its own playing in the Monmouth County American Legion Baseball League.

Clockwise from top: Middletown Mariner Megan Loh (left) competes against Erika Brown in a relay race during a meet at Candlewood Swim Club in Howell on July 18. Mariner Christel Murray competes in a relay during the meet, which the Middletown Mariners won to cap an undefeated 6-0 season. Ben Kingscott and Megan Massa compete as members of the Mariners. The Middletown Swim & Tennis Club Mariners is co-ed and includes swimmers ages 6-18. Coach John Thompson's team is comprised of 12 eighth-graders as well as five freshmen from the Matawan program.

Despite playing against generally older competition, the young Huskies have posted a 3-13 record and after a slow start have been quite competitive.

"The level of play came as a bit of surprise to our guys at first," said Thompson, who noted that many of the eighth-graders played for the undefeated Matawan-AberdeenMiddle School team.

"But we got them together and reminded them that they're here because the high school coaching staff sees something in them. Since then they've been holding their own."

Five players who will be entering their sophomore seasons are all doing well for Thompson.

Kenny Brown has been the team's top pitcher and is among the leaders in batting and RBIs. Catcher Joe Zirkel is also among the RBI leaders, while Alex Marabel has pitched well. Infielders Anthony Castanada and David Leibowitz have also been solid.

The eighth-grade contingent includes outfielders Michael DiNino, Justin Harnett, Shawn Johnson, and Michael Zirkel along with infielders Ryan Branagan, Brian Libell, Robbie Marshall, Matt Rackett, Scott Thompson, George Zirkel and Danny Incle. Ron Robinson has been superb behind the plate.

Harnett, Incle and the younger Thompson have all done well at the plate, and Rackett is among the RBI leaders. Harnett has shown promise on the mound.

"This is really an opportunity for these players," coach Thompson said. "They're getting an opportunity to play and learn against more experienced kids. This will really help them down the road. Even though they've struggled a bit, they're adapting to the faster pace of the game and to the high school umpires."

Matawan, which is sponsored by American Legion Post 23 in Keyport, has picked up wins against Freehold Township, Freehold Borough and St. John Vianney. The team will close out its season with a pair of games this week.

Coach Thompson is assisted by Jim Branagan, Rob Marshall, Ron Robinson and George Zirkel.