Middletown High School South - Aquiline Yearbook (Middletown, NJ)

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TOP - Dave Lynch demonstrates the swing that aided in his selection to the Asbury Park Press All Shore First Team. BOTTOM - lt was not all plea- sant this season as exemplified by Jeff Kunkel's broken leg shortly after a slide into second base. BASEBALL 238

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Despite a rash of mid-season injuries and a predominence of underclassmen, this marked the first time any baseball team from Middletown had ever reached the State Final. - Dennis Sasso ith the outlook for the 1979 season cautiously optimistic , Coach Dennis Sasso combined an experienced group of Seniors with a large number of talented Juniors to produce the Shore Conference A Division North and Central Jersey Group IV Champion, Middletown High School South baseball team. Behind the exceptional hitting of All Shore Sophomores John Johnson and Dave Lynch, in addition to the superb fielding of Juniors Jack Simons, Jeff Kunkel, John Kolacki, and Seniors Bill Josko, Doug Scales, George Haliotis and Pete Waldron, the Eagles were able to support the pitching performances of Brian O'Larte, Matt Lenzi, Mike Habber- man, and the other South spot star- ters. The Eagles' strong bench, con- sisting of John Diodato, Boo Boo Bavaro, Lou DeMarco, and several others, also contributed greatly to South's 19-9 record. The Eagles' season ended as they faced number one ranked Linden in the State Group IV Final at Mercer County College. Dave Lynch awed the crowd with a booming home run to support the outstanding pitching of Brian O'Larte and Matt Lenzi, Linden managed to score a run with two out in the tenth inning to edge South 2-1. A proud Eagle team left Mercer County College knowing full well that Mid- dletown South had, once again, made Township history. OPPOSITE PAGE - Pitching and sliding were two of the basic fundamentals executed very well by Middletown South during the entire season. THIS PAGE TOP - The 6'6 frame of Junior John Kolacki is stretched the limit to produce an out for the opposition. BOTTOM - Senior Bill Josko eyes the outfield in deciding whether or not to risk a try for second base. 237 BASEBALL

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UPPER LEFT - Brian O Latte is about to release the ball and the infield isanticipatingfan easy out LOWER LEFI' - Can it be? The base has actually been sucked up by Mother Earth? Doug Scales searches while the Middletown North 1st Baseman wonders in amazement. MIDDLE RIGHT - Offen- Varsity 19.9 sive baseball takes on a new meaning for the basemnner. LOWER RIGHT The passivity of the Eagles Belleville Belleville Rantan Neptune Howell Middletown North Long Branch Red Bank Catholic Matawan Rantan St John Khanney Rumson Neptune Ocean Howell Middletown North Matawan Toms River North Wall Brick Toms River North Watchung Hills Hunterton Central Monmouth Regional Piscataway Hamilton East Jackson Linden bench masks the intensity of the moment. SQUTH OPPONENT 2 . 8 . 2 . 6 1 1 12 ' Y -W 9 .7 . 6 8 . 1 . 21 5 8 0 6 . 2 2 . 239 BASEBALL