As the high school baseball season is underway, the Cougars are doing well. Through 13 games out of the 23 total, Cresskill faced a tough early schedule, earning seven wins and six losses. Here’s an early outlook on the team and a spotlight on the senior captains. 

The Stats:

Record: 7-6

League: 2-3

Team Leaders: 

Batting – Hits: Jimmy Connelly (P, IF) (15)

Batting – Runs: Jimmy Connelly (P, IF) (18)

Pitching – Strikeouts: Luke Kopczynski (P, IF) (19)

Batting – Home Runs: Robert Feulner (OF) (2) 

Batting – RBI: Ronald Presta (P, IF) (16) 

Statistically, as a team, the Cougars are batting a very healthy .336 batting average and a .514 slugging percentage tagging along 35 extra-base hits and 106 total runs. Hitting and getting on base have been very important this year as the team has 85 walks and 41 stolen bases. 

As for pitching, the team averages a 4.48 ERA this season and has allowed 95 hits and 86 runs. Along with these scores have been the 51 errors that have tormented the Cougars. The Cougars have struck out 79 batters. Freshman Luke Kopczynski and Sophomore Tyler Manarang lead the way with a 2.68 and 1.75 ERA. 

Senior Captains:

Robert Feulner

AVG: .359

SLG: .692 

Hits: 14

SB: 8

Runs: 13

RBI: 14

HR: 2

BB: 10

Senior captain, Robert Feulner (CF), has been outstanding this season as he leads the team off in the batting order and returns to the outfield for the second consecutive season. When asked about the difference in this year’s season compared to the last, he said that “the energy level is just better” and added, “The confidence has been great.” Feulner leads the team in home runs and is a shutdown in the outfield. 

Joey Anastasatos 

AVG: .467

SLG: .833

Hits: 14

SB: 0

Runs: 11

RBI: 14

HR: 1

BB: 11

Senior Captain, Joey Anastasatos (RF), has been outstanding at the plate this season. The returning starter in the outfield has the highest slugging percentage on the team, earning six extra-base hits. 

Jimmy Connelly 

AVG: .500 

SLG: .800

Hits: 15

SB: 3

Runs: 18

RBI: 12

HR: 1

BB: 13

Senior Captain, Jimmy Connelly (P, 1B), has been mashing at the plate this year. Returning for his third consecutive start this season as a pitcher and first basemen, Connelly leads the team in batting average, runs, and hits. Connelly said that the “expectations would be to have a winning record and make it far in the state playoffs,” he added that this year “the team has a lot of experience, and last year it was almost everyone’s first time playing varsity baseball.”