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BOUND BROOK – First-year Plainfield High School baseball coach Waldy Arias and his Cardinals made the nine-mile trip west to Bound Brook’s Billian Legion Park a good one.
Plainfield beat Bound Brook 7-3 Wednesday in a non-conference game played on a drab, blustery day that seemed much colder than temperatures in the low 40s being reported.
More: Baseball April roundup: Results, analysis, links for GMC, Skyland and area Union County
More: Baseball: Vote for your pick for reader’s choice Player to Watch in Central Jersey
Senior Ben La Paz started and went 4 2/3 innings for the win. Senior Andrew Cabrera relieved and went 2 1/3 to finish the game. Plainfield won its first season opener since 2021.
The Dominican-born Arias, 25, was an outstanding infielder at Plainfield, graduating in 2018. He went on to play four solid seasons at Campbell University (NC). His roommate at Campbell was Los Angeles Angels’ shortstop Zach Neto. His road game roommate was pitcher Thomas Harrington, recently called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arias replaced his high school coach Sean Radu, who left to take the position at East Brunswick Magnet. Arias was an assistant coach for Radu last year when Plainfield finished 4-13.
Like Bound Brook, Plainfield is facing the challenge of playing inexperienced players, some whose first taste of the sport is when they get to high school.
One bright spot is 6-foot-6 first baseman Jasiah Wynn, who backed up center Najai Hines on the Cardinal’s state Group 4 championship team. Junior left fielder Dayyan Beverly is another inexperienced player who is starting. He played football in the fall.
“I’m gonna try to be involved in the summer leagues – in previous years we have been without a feeder program, they come into high school never having played before,” said Arias. “Once they are introduced to the sport, they’re too old.”
Plainfield led 2-0, were tied 2-2, went ahead 3-2, were tied 3-3 and then scored the last four runs of the game.
“I thought overall it went well for our first game,” Arias said. “We need to fix certain things, I thought our pitchers threw well, we gave up two walks. We have to be better at hitting with two strikes. We struck out eight times especially with runners in scoring position with less than two outs, but I think the kids played hard until the end. “
Bound Brook, meanwhile, is extremely young.
The Crusaders started freshman righty Ryan Cunha. Senior catcher Lucas Coleman had a couple of hits for Bound Brook. Coleman is a very important part of the team, entering his fourth varsity season. He played shortstop, pitched and caught during the game.
“We are starting two freshmen, three sophomores and a junior who hasn’t played baseball since he was in grammar school and three seniors – two who have significant varsity playing experience,” said Bound Brook coach Dave LePoidevin, whose team went 5-11 last season. “The kids are working hard and getting better each day.”
Bound Brook will open its Skyland Mountain Division schedule Tuesday at home against Belvidere. Plainfield opens the Union County Conference Valley Division schedule Thursday at home against Linden.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball: Plainfield tops Bound Brook in season opener
Continue reading...
Plainfield beat Bound Brook 7-3 Wednesday in a non-conference game played on a drab, blustery day that seemed much colder than temperatures in the low 40s being reported.
More: Baseball April roundup: Results, analysis, links for GMC, Skyland and area Union County
More: Baseball: Vote for your pick for reader’s choice Player to Watch in Central Jersey
Senior Ben La Paz started and went 4 2/3 innings for the win. Senior Andrew Cabrera relieved and went 2 1/3 to finish the game. Plainfield won its first season opener since 2021.
The Dominican-born Arias, 25, was an outstanding infielder at Plainfield, graduating in 2018. He went on to play four solid seasons at Campbell University (NC). His roommate at Campbell was Los Angeles Angels’ shortstop Zach Neto. His road game roommate was pitcher Thomas Harrington, recently called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arias replaced his high school coach Sean Radu, who left to take the position at East Brunswick Magnet. Arias was an assistant coach for Radu last year when Plainfield finished 4-13.
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Like Bound Brook, Plainfield is facing the challenge of playing inexperienced players, some whose first taste of the sport is when they get to high school.
One bright spot is 6-foot-6 first baseman Jasiah Wynn, who backed up center Najai Hines on the Cardinal’s state Group 4 championship team. Junior left fielder Dayyan Beverly is another inexperienced player who is starting. He played football in the fall.
“I’m gonna try to be involved in the summer leagues – in previous years we have been without a feeder program, they come into high school never having played before,” said Arias. “Once they are introduced to the sport, they’re too old.”
Plainfield led 2-0, were tied 2-2, went ahead 3-2, were tied 3-3 and then scored the last four runs of the game.
“I thought overall it went well for our first game,” Arias said. “We need to fix certain things, I thought our pitchers threw well, we gave up two walks. We have to be better at hitting with two strikes. We struck out eight times especially with runners in scoring position with less than two outs, but I think the kids played hard until the end. “
Bound Brook, meanwhile, is extremely young.
The Crusaders started freshman righty Ryan Cunha. Senior catcher Lucas Coleman had a couple of hits for Bound Brook. Coleman is a very important part of the team, entering his fourth varsity season. He played shortstop, pitched and caught during the game.
“We are starting two freshmen, three sophomores and a junior who hasn’t played baseball since he was in grammar school and three seniors – two who have significant varsity playing experience,” said Bound Brook coach Dave LePoidevin, whose team went 5-11 last season. “The kids are working hard and getting better each day.”
Bound Brook will open its Skyland Mountain Division schedule Tuesday at home against Belvidere. Plainfield opens the Union County Conference Valley Division schedule Thursday at home against Linden.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball: Plainfield tops Bound Brook in season opener
Continue reading...
