Pitching leads the way for baseball team
Kean’s Baseball team on the field
By Jaime Alicea III
Baseball is a game of focus and defense, and if there’s one position that exemplifies both those qualities, it has to be the pitchers. The Kean mens baseball team is stacked full of throwers that are ready to step up on the pitching mound at any given moment. To create a strong pitching rotation, you need to have leadership in place, especially to help out the young gunslingers. No one on the Cougars embodies leadership more then senior pitcher Charles Thielmann.
“Charles is a great leader whether he’s pitching, leading the cheers, or picking people up when we’re struggling.” said relief pitcher Vinny Zanfordino.
Thielmann is a 6’3 right handed thrower whose leadership on and off the field has bettered his teammates. His play and behavior is the epitome of his coach’s philosophy of “just winning now”.
“I just love baseball for the love of the game and the overall grind. You just have to love it.” said Thielmann. “And being a leader, what I really try to let the young guys know, is that not everything is handed to you. What happens when nobody is around is what separates you from the rest, so just stay humble and work hard.”
Zanfordino is another blue chip product of coach Ioverio that has really come into his own game. He’s already recorded 3 saves and 6 strike outs to start the season.
“Baseball is my therapy.” said Zanfordino. “It’s what I do when I’m home, not happy. I continue to play for my grandpa. We have what it takes not just for NJAC title but for a national title. It’s like coach tells us every practice, you have to stay calm before the storm.”
The team is currently ranked 6th and continues to consistently protect their home field advantage with just one loss out of 10 games at home. The Cougars maintain the mentality Ioverio has instilled onto his players of throwing strikes, staying calm before the storm, and just going out there and winning.
“This is the best chance I’ve had in four years at making a championship run.” said Thielmann. “We have a few kinks to work out, myself included, but once everybody is healthy and ready to go I think we are a really scary team to take the field against.”
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