By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Belleville High School head baseball coach Joe Sorce professed that his Buccaneer squad would be much better in 2013 than the 7-20 squad that took the field a year ago. However, no one could have ever predicted by how much. The Buccaneers have gotten off to a flying [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Although Harrison graduated five seniors from last year’s team that won 12 games, veteran head coach Dave Nankivell feels like his young team could be improved over a year ago. “We are very young and have only one senior starting,” said Nankivell. “But a lot of our young [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Veteran Nutley High School baseball coach Bob Harbison knows when he has a competitive team and when he’s in for a long season. After last year’s 15-12 campaign that featured a run to the Greater Newark Tournament finals and a berth in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer The Kearny High School softball team lost some quality players to graduation, especially pitcher Ashleigh Amadeo and doeverything performer Sarah O’Neill, from last year’s team that went 15-12. “They were quality players who are hard to replace,” said Kearny head coach Jim Pickel. However, it just may be [...]

Wins second straight; solid all-around athlete at 8   By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Ask the latest state wrestling champion from Kearny how he wants to be known and he honestly doesn’t know. He’s known as James Mullen to his third grade teachers at Garfield School. The principal has announced his name over the [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Elaine Catanese cannot downplay what her Lyndhurst High School softball team accomplished last season. “Winning 19 games is huge in Lyndhurst history,” said Catanese, who begins her fourth season as the Golden Bears head coach. “We went far last year, but we hope to go a little further [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer The Harrison High School baseball team enjoyed another year of success in 2012, winning 17 games and advancing in both the Hudson County and NJSIAA North 2, Group I state playoffs. But several members of that team have moved on thanks to graduation. “We lost seven players to [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer Ask Butch Servideo and the veteran Lyndhurst head baseball coach and athletic director will certainly tell you. He’s been pretty blessed over the years. No need to mention the 2008 dream season that culminated with the Group I state championship. That year is somewhat in the rearview mirror [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer North Arlington High School’s baseball team posted a 6-18 record last season and sixth-year head coach Paul Marcantuono didn’t know what to take of that mark. “I think last year, we had players in new positions they never played before and guys with no varsity experience,” Marcantuono said. [...]

  By Jim Hague Observer Sports Writer The Kearny High School baseball team had a very uncharacteristic 8-15 record in 2012. That mark is expected to change a year later. Frank Bifulco is over the nervous jitters that come with being a first-year head coach. Like his young team, Bifulco chalked up last season to [...]