Toughest game: In addition to a rigorous regular schedule, Don Bosco will play in a tournament where it will face New York powers Tottenville (Staten Island) and George Washington High (New York City). Rooney says their strategy in those two games will be no different than any other.
Mike Gomez
Photo by John Meore
Local outlook: The Ironmen don't begin play until March 1 and the first scheduled regular season game is not until April 2. Don Bosco Prep players likely have April 5 circled on their calendars, however, as that is the rematch with Bergen Catholic, the team that knocked the Ironmen out of the postseason last year after 25 straight victories.
Non-Public Group 4 figures to be a battle again this year with returning champion Pope John XXIII and Seton Hall Prep, last year's runner-up, both in the mix along with the Ironmen.
Overall outlook: Rooney is well aware of the pressure that he'll face coaching a big-time high school program.
"The pressure of coaching is no different than that of being an educator or a parent," he said. "We strive to create environments where student-athletes can pursue their goals while maintaining the strength of character that allows them to call themselves Don Bosco Ironmen."
Coach quote: "Our goal in every game is to compete on every pitch this season and to execute the game of baseball to the best of our ability.
- Mike RooneyJon Buzby is the sports columnist for the Newark Post, a freelance writer, and on the broadcast team for the 1290AM The Ticket High School Football and Basketball Games of the Week. You can reach him at jonbuzby@hotmail.com.
