Bergen Community College Bulldogs Welcome New Baseball Coach

By: Head Coach Jorge Hernandez

The Bergen Community College baseball team will begin its 2008 season with a fresh start. In 2007, the team had several tight games against nationally ranked teams and finished 5-15. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs come into 2008 having lost valuable two-year players including starting pitcher Derek Greenstein, catchers Zach Licato and Jorge Pardo, right fielder Melvin Francisco and left fielder Junior Lewis.

The 2008 season brings new faces and talent from across the Bergen County area. Dom Malanga returns for his second year as the Bulldogs right fielder, along with pitcher/third baseman Matt Royland.

First-year pitchers for the Bulldogs include starting pitchers Mark Balbach (Belleville), Gerard Baratta (Emerson), Tony Campanelli (River Vale) and Erick Golomb (New Milford). The lineup will feature freshmen infielders Steve Caracena (Memorial), Brian Ferreiras (Saddle Brook) and Michael Cassese (Belleville). Outfielders Pedro Ruiz (Maywood), Marty Mirkovic (Fair View) and Jose Padilla (Bergenfield) round out the first-year players.

The Bulldogs also secured terrific transfers in Tim Swift (Delaware), Justin Coca (Kingsboro CC), Danny Scoppetta (Sussex CC) and Mike Horn (William Paterson).

The Bergen baseball team is led by Head Coach Jorge Hernandez. Coach Hernandez is confident that the Bulldogs will be a force in the Garden State Athletic Conference this season. He feels the Bulldogs have improved on both offense and defense. Coach Hernandez expects to be very competitive during the 2008 season. He also knows that after last year’s performance … the conference will not take the Bulldogs for granted.