A New Era in Baseball

By Ed Benkin

A new era is underway for Washington Township baseball.

The old era ended last June, when John Bush decided to retire after 27 years as head coach. Now, a former player at the school is hoping to carry on the tradition his former coach started.

Shortly after Bush announced his retirement, Walt Dzierzgowski was named the team's new head coach. Dzierzgowski played at Washington Township, so he is well aware of the legacy Bush leaves behind.

"When I went to college, I still stayed in contact with John." Dzierzgowski said. "He became one of my close friends. I learned how to play on the high school level from John, and I continued to learn how to coach from him."

Dzierzgowski graduated from Washington Township in 1983. He then moved on to Glassboro State, where he continued with his baseball career until 1988. Just months after his graduation, Dzierzgowski was hired to coach the Washington Township freshmen. Dzierzgowski served as the freshmen skipper for eight years, and also helped Bush with the varsity squad. Last spring, Dzierzgowski became an assistant for the varsity team, which helped prepare him for the head coaching job. Now. Dzierzgowski will be in charge of one of the top baseball programs in the state.

"To graduate from the high school, and come back as the coach was kind of a dream for me," Dzierzgowski said. "You can't ask for anything more. From the administration to the facilities, and the booster club which does a great job."

Dzierzgowski takes over a Minutemen squad which lost most of last year's starting lineup to graduation. However the Minutemen have one of the deepest programs in South Jersey, which means there will be plenty of capable replacements. Perhaps the hardest part of Dzierzgowski 's job is cutdown day, when many talented players are left off the roster thanks to the numbers game.

"After the cuts, I had to talk to about 30 kids who were cut," Dzierzgowski said. "Some of the kids I have in class, and all of them are great kids that we cut. Unfortunately, it comes down to numbers, and it is a difficult thing. It was me that had to look them in the eye this time, which was very, very difficult."

The key to the team's success this season will be pitching. The Minutemen hurlers struggled down the stretch last spring, as Washington Township fell to Cherokee in the Group 4 quarterfinals. Senior Tony Casoli is expected to start the season at the of the rotation, while junior Bryan Bially will be the number two pitcher. Juniors Chris Harrington and Ken Condit should also get plenty of work, and junior first baseman Rob Egan could give the team some innings as well. Last year's ace, Steve Ahrens, is recovering from rotator cuff surgery, but is expected "He's ahead of schedule right now," Dzierzgowski said. "We're hoping to have him hack in the' rotation, but we wont push him. He's a division one pitcher.

We're hoping he will he back by the end of April. We want to get him healthy not just for us, but for college next year

Junior Danny Alexander is expected to handle the catching duties this spring.

With Egan settled n at first base, Taylor Callahan will start at second.

Mike Getty will be at shortstop, while Dom Buonadonns will step in at third for the injured Jamic Huckel In the outfield, Steve Harris is slated to start in leftfield with Bo McKillop in rightfield. At the centerfield spot. Chris Godish is ready to settle in after tearing up American Legion pitching over the summer. Godish will bat third in the lineup.

While many of the Minutemen lack varsity experience, this team is talented to make a run at thc top.

If the players develop on schedule Washington Township will once again be in the thick of the title hunt. Meanwhile, the transition from Bush to Dzierzgowski should be a smooth one, and the new coach can always call the old one for advise.

"John's been there for me." Dzierzgowski said. "He's always there for me, and he’s always been someone I could go to."

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