Jaguars baseball starts the season on a hot streak
Jackson Memorial has 10-2 mark
BY MIKE WHITE Staff Writer
With four victories last week, the Jackson Memorial High School baseball teamimproved its overall record to 10-2. The Jaguars knocked off Brick Memorial, Toms River North, Southern andMiddletown South en route to picking up its 10th triumph of the season.

Coach Frank Malta, who returned this week after being sideline with appendicitis, cites his team's pitching and timely hitting as the reason for the early-season success.

"We're playing well, no question about it," Malta said. "It seems that everything is going our way.We have a couple of guys who are swinging hot bats and our pitching has been steady.We still have room for improvement. I think that we're beginning to feel comfortable and confident."

The latest win was a 10-5 victory over Middletown South last Saturday. After falling behind 3-0 early, Jackson's potent lineup rallied for 10 runs in the final three innings to register the victory.

"We let them jump on us early but we never panicked," Malta said. "I think that's where our confidence has kicked in.We're confident thatwe are going to score runs at some point in the game. We've been patient and took advantage of opportunities."

Junior Kevin Needham led the offense, going 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Needham, who is also the team's No. 1 pitcher, has been one of the hottest batters in the Shore Conference this season. He owns a gaudy .600 batting average and has supplied Malta and the Jags with numerous clutch hits.

"He's been on a tear," Malta said. "Opposing pitchers are struggling to get him out. Last year as a sophomore, we knew he had the capability to be a real good player. His bat this season has been a pleasant surprise."

Needham is 3-2 overall, which includes a 5-3 win over Toms River North earlier in the season. He has struck 35 batters in 27 innings. What's more impressive from Malta's standpoint is Needham has issued just one walk this year.Ayear ago as a sophomore, Needham showed all the signs of being able to pitch at the varsity level as he finished the season with a 4-1 mark.

"He is a strikeout pitcher,"Malta said. "He has pinpoint control and gets ahead early in the count. His breaking ball has been real effective, too. He is tough on batters. He seems to get the ball in a lot of our big games."

Jackson's pitching staff consists of Needham, Pete Kelich, Wil Wardell, Paul Aivear and KevinMathews.Malta praised the work of his hurlers.

"They're pitching within themselves and avoiding trouble by throwing strikes," Malta said. "We're not overusing guys. Most of the time we're splitting games between a couple of guys."

Edgar Jennings, who is hitting .400 for the season, was two for four in the Middletown South game, which included a two-run triple.

"He is another guy who has provided us with a lot of punch offensively," Malta said. "Between Kevin and him we have a couple of guys who can deliver in a big spot for us. And so far this season, both of them have come through time after time."

The Jags had another busy week with games against Brick, Toms River South, Toms River East and St. Joe's ofMontvale.

"The competition doesn't let up,"Malta said. "But that's a good thing. We want to be playing against the best teams out there. It should prepare us for the end of the season tournaments. Right now we're looking to take one game at a time."