Two for Two All-Star Games

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School baseball standouts Joe D'Annunzio and Marcus Rivera will represent the Raiders in all-star games this week.

D'Annunzio will play in the North-South All-Star Game for seniors only, which is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Jack Cust Field in Flemington.

Rivera, a junior, will play in the first Union-Essex Underclassmen All-Star Game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Kean University in Union. It includes freshmen, sophomores and juniors, and is designed to give players in those classes an opportunity to excel in front of college scouts.

D'Annunzio proved to be one of the top left fielders in the state this season. A four-year starter, D'Annunzio batted a robust .539 in helping lead Scotch Plains to a 25-6 record and the Union County Conference's Watchung Division championship.

He paced Scotch Plains in batting average, hits with 49 (49-for-91), runs with 55, RBI with 40 and home runs with six. He also banged out eight doubles and four triples.

D'Annunzio also led the Raiders in slugging percentage at .912, on-base percentage at .591 and stolen bases with 11. He was a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts and he only struck out seven times in 115 total plate appearances.

As tough as he was to get out at the plate, D'Annunzio was just as difficult to run on from his outfield position. In 20 total chances he had 18 putouts and two assists, while not making an error in an entire 31-game performance.

"He can do it all," Scotch Plains head coach Tom Baylock said of the Rutgers-bound scholarship player. "For four years he was as consistent a player as we've ever had around here."

Of the eight position players – not counting the pitcher – Rivera will be the only one returning for the Raiders next season.

"He will be our main guy and we will build around him," Baylock said.

In his second year at third base this season, Rivera batted .384, going 38-for-99 in 31 games. He scored 32 runs, drove in 28 and banged out two doubles and two triples while batting second in the lineup for the team's final 20 games.

On the mound, Rivera was 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA, striking out 12, walking six and giving up 15 hits in 20 innings. He started two games and completed one in seven appearances.

"He did a very good job in the games he pitched," Baylock said.

Rivera played third base as a freshman and second base last year before returning to third this year after Nick Bonadies graduated last year and went on to play at Division 2 West Chester.

"He'll probably be back at second base next year," Baylock said. "He'll be in the rotation as one of our pitchers as well. He'll be the kind of player where we will put him wherever we need him."

The rosters for Saturday's first Union-Essex Underclassmen All-Star Game, 1 p.m. at Kean University in Union:

UNION COUNTY

Pitchers:

Matt Hennie, Roselle Catholic, junior RH

Mark Wilson, Johnson, junior RH

Anthony Fischetti, Johnson, junior LH

Mike Cranston, Gov. Livingston, junior RH

Jeremy Montanez, Roselle Park, junior LH

Alex Reyes, Elizabeth, sophomore RH

Devin Zimmerman, Union, sophomore LH

Catchers:

AJ Murray, Westfield, junior

Martin Tavares, Elizabeth, freshman

First Basemen:

Dan Kerr, Westfield, junior

Joey DiSarno, Gov. Livingston, junior

Middle Infielders:

Tim Younger, Westfield, junior

Sean Trotter, Cranford, junior

John Jennings, Gov. Livingston, junior

Third Basemen:

Marcus Rivera, Scotch Plains, junior

Hennie

Outfielders:

Nick Oristanio, Summit, junior

Corey Ryan, Johnson, junior

Will Ingram, Linden, junior

Eric Walano, Cranford, junior

Greg Matlosz, Cranford, junior

Fischetti

Zimmerman

Designated Hitters::

Matlosz, Montanez

Coaches:

Dave Kennedy, Johnson

Chris Roof, Gov. Livingston

Tom Baylock, Scotch Plains

Dennis McCaffery, Cranford

ESSEX COUNTY

Pitchers:

PJ Lawless, West Essex

Mark Gualtieri, West Essex

Zeb Smith, Bloomfield

Jimmy Murphy, Columbia

Sam Ackerman, Montclair

Catchers:

Stephen Halibej, Seton Hall Prep

Mike Cayli, Belleville

First Basemen:

Rob Fonseca, Seton Hall Prep

Brian Drapeau, Livingston

Second Basemen:

Jared Guglieamino, Bloomfield

Adam Seltzer, Newark Academy

Third Basemen:

John Brondo, Belleville

Gabe Rivera, Belleville

Shortstop:

Matt Rehm, Livingston

Outfield:

John Norwood, Seton Hall Prep

Steve Raum, Cedar Grove

Jimmy Kenny, West Essex

Anthony Liaci, Nutley

Mike Carter Jr., Bloomfield

Dave Webster, Newark Academy

Coaches:

Scott Illiano, West Essex

Bob Harbison, Nutley

Joe Sorce, Belleville

Mike Sheppard Jr., Seton Hall Prep