Thomas Askew ‘21
On Friday, May 17th, 2019, the Dunellen Destroyers baseball team competed against the New Brunswick Zebras as one of the final games to determine the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) standings. The game was held at Columbia Park, Dunellen, where the Destroyers defeated the Zebras 7-4.
The Zebras were the first to bat, but did not manage any runs in the first inning. Fortunately, the Destroyers started a promising game with sophomore Drew Johnson getting a home run as the first at bat. The Destroyers followed this performance with an additional six runs.
Runs were scored by sophomore Drew Johnson, freshman Damion Evans, two runs were scored by junior John Ciannello, and three runs were scored by senior Ryan Kerwin. Damion Evans hit two RBIs (runs batted in).
This season has not be the most successful for the team. It has been described as the opposite of last season. Sophomore Drew Johnson began this promising game with a home run as the first person on Dunellen up to bat.
In regards to how he felt going into the game and how he felt after winning, Drew Johnson said, “My mindset going into the game was the same as any other game. I thought about winning and what we needed to do in order to win. After about the 10th game or so, some kids on the team started losing hope…. I always expected to win because that is always my mindset when playing sports.”
The Dunellen Baseball team finished out the season going 5-16, a large upset to the players. Winning this game against New Brunswick was a great victory for the team, boosting morale and team spirit. The performance of the team also affects those on the sidelines who support those on the field.
When asked about the importance of those on the sidelines, Dunellen Baseball Coach Mr. Christopher Osborn said, “The guys on the sideline are a huge part of the team. They are the support system for our guys out on the field. When things are going bad they are there to support and uplift our guys out on the field. When things are going well they are there to cheer and make sure things stay that way. They are always ready to play if needed.”
This victory against the New Brunswick Zebras gave the Destroyers a newfound boost of morale. That, along with the support from those off the field enabled them to finish off the season strong, winning two of their final three games.