Rangers baseball team looks to improve from last year
HAMBURG — With the winter in the rear-view miror and the spring in front, sports fans are getting geared up for baseball.
Ready or not, the spring outdoor sports season has arrived and one local program with plenty of promise on the diamond is the Wallkill Valley High School baseball team.
The Rangers captured nine overall victories last season and they were 7-7 versus Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference competition. They also advanced to the NJSIAA North I Group II Sectional Tournament as the No. 12 seed and lost a two-run game to fifth-seeded Pequannock in the opening round.
Wallkill Valley features a lineup rife with players who not only have varsity experience, but who have competed quite well against varsity-level opposition.
Key returning players for the Rangers this season include Mike Armstrong (senior, shortstop/pitcher, .389 batting average and 17 RBIs in 2014), Joe Colosimo (senior, first base/pitcher, 2.42 earned run average, 2-2 record, 42 strikeouts and six walks in 2014), Sean Endres (senior, third base, .359 batting average and 18 RBIs in 2014), Travis Hill (senior, catcher/pitcher, .333 batting average and 11 RBIs in 2014), Kyle Rosencranz (senior, second base/pitcher, .333 batting average and eight stolen bases in 2014), Rich Stecher (junior, outfield/pitcher, .316 batting average and 12 RBIs in 2014) and Wes Walton (junior, outfield/pitcher, 3-2 record, 3.21 ERA, 27 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched in 2014).
Promising newcomers to the varsity lineup include Jimmy Moffitt (senior, outfield/catcher) and Dylan Harlos (freshman, outfield/pitcher/catcher).
Colosimo was an NJAC Freedom Division All-League pitcher and Armstrong was an NJAC Freedom Division All-League second baseman last year.
“I have nine seniors on my roster so the seniors lead the program," Wallkill Valley coach Kevin Lukich said. “Mike Armstrong and Kyle Rosencranz are two players who have stepped up and have become leaders in the program on and off the field."
The Rangers are scheduled to begin the regular season with three straight road games at Hackettstown, Lenape Valley and Pequannock on April 1, 2, and 4.
Wallkill Valley’s first regular-season game is scheduled On April 6 against Morris Hills.