NEW NEW JERSEY JERSEY EDITION EDITION SUMMER SUMMER VOL. VOL. II 2011 2011
Hackensack Stephen Mozia
LETTER Letter From The Editor
I am very excited to introduce Ultimate Athlete Magazine’s inaugural Northern New Jersey edition. We have brought our coverage, known for bringing you the most compelling stories behind the athletes and teams in New York City, Long Island and local colleges, across the George Washington Bridge, where high school sports are a way of life. I’d like to welcome the fans of Northern New Jersey high school athletics to our readership and look forward to quickly expanding our coverage of the Garden State to be the premier source for high school storylines brought to you in the in-depth coverage and vivid, eye-popping designs UA is known for. In this issue, we pick up at the tail-end of an incredible spring season that saw some of the best athletes in New Jersey make history. Athletes who made the major headlines in this year’s softball, baseball and track seasons come off the page and give you a look at what goes on behind the game face. We profile two throwers with once-in-a-lifetime talent that each established a legendary legacy at their respective schools, and meet a hurdler whose limitless potential on the track took a back-seat to an Ivy League education. Our feature on Westfield High School baseball documents their incredible run in the state playoffs that featured an unlikely comeback in every single game and profile a multi-sport athlete at Ridgefield Park High School whose grit will serve as an example for years to come. Join us as we kick off our coverage of a brand new region that is sure to make Ultimate Athlete an integral part of high school sports in Northern New Jersey.
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ultimateathletemagazine.com ultimate Ultimate Athlete Magazine (ISSN 1931-5295) is published 12 times a year by Ultimate Athlete, Inc., 40 Woodbine Avenue, Northport, New York 11768. All contents copyright 2009 by Ultimate Athlete, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or part of the content without the prior written consent of Ultimate Athlete, Inc. is strictly prohibited. All logos and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Although the writers and the publisher have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and the completeness of the information contained in this publication, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. The opinions expressed in all materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Ultimate Athlete, Inc or Long Island’s Ultimate Athlete Magazine.
SUMMER 2011 Volume I
Conten
S T N CONTE
nts Featur Features
10 Hackensack High School Track and Field - Stephen Mozia
16 Pros for Kids
Charity Basketball Game
20 Ridgefield Park High School Stacey Sinclair Defines Grit
26 Morristown
Track and Field - Nick Vena
30 Westfield High School Baseball - Incredible Playoff Run
34 Kent Place School Track and Field - Abrina Hyatt
38 Sports Psychology Breaking the Slump
40 UA Training Balancing Act
44 Myles Mack
Looks Ahead to Career at Rutgers
48 Pro Corner
LI Ducks - Ray of Light
Game Faces Photos highlights from the 2011 Spring season.
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ike bees hovering around their nest, more than 100 throwers, sprinters, jumpers and fans swarm around the cage for this season’s Bergen County Group A discus finals. Stephen Mozia, handsdown the best of the best, is scheduled to compete and no one wants to miss the show. It’s been rumored that the Hackensack shot put and discus ace is larger than a freight train and can chop firewood using just his hands. Some say his throws can even stop the Earth’s perpetual motion. The spectators who are hoping to catch their first-ever glimpse of Mozia, however, are confused. They see athletes in Hackensack’s traditional navy and gold garb, but the fabled giant they seek is nowhere to be found. The whispers begin. “Where is the Mozia kid?” said one puzzled onlooker. “The big guy from Hackensack. Did he throw yet?” “Which one is he?” said another. “I thought he would be easy to find.” Inconspicuosly, Mozia sits quietly along the fence. Headphones blaring, he is hidden among the puzzled onlookers. He hears the whispers, but to him, it’s all background noise. He’s in the zone. As the final group begins warmups, an unassuming Mozia enters the circle first. He’s tall and lean, but finely chiseled and wears the intense expression of a warrior. With a perfect blend of grace and power, his body uncoils in an exposion of kinetic energy. He spins, yells and releases the discus farther than most in attendance believe is humanly possible. The toss is met with applause. Everyone has been officially acquainted with Stephen Mozia. “I hear people at meets asking each other if they know which one is Stephen Mozia, and I’m standing right there,” he said. “It amuses me sometimes. I guess they can’t believe it’s me because I’m so small and don’t look like a typical thrower.”
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Mozia, a senior, is anything but typical. An ordinary thrower does not re-write the school’s annals with such ease, nor does he chase cherished county and individual meet records on a consistent basis as he does.
in a huge program, and half of our school records are county records,” Mozia said, noting that his best recorded discus toss of 189-2 isn’t considered official since it was achieved at a dual meet.
He’s been on the rise ever since his first season as a freshman. Looking back on those days, Mozia pokes fun of himself, especially when he remembers joining the team as a sprinter.
Even with those astronomical marks, Mozia keeps his head planted firmly on his shoulders. He knows continued success is contingent upon his dedication to his sport.
“I was a little slow,” Mozia recalled. “I was also kind of goofy.”
“I’m always working on my technique,” Mozia said. “I’m in the weight room everyday at practice, and I always want to get some throws in. When I’m at home, I’m not going to weight lift, so I’ll just work on my technique.”
This self-awareness prompted Mozia to switch disciplines and pick up throwing after a bit of encouragement from his friend, who saw his potential to be an excellent thrower. “When I first picked up the shot, I thought ‘wow, this is really heavy,’” Mozia recalls. “So, in my first year, I mainly threw discus. As I got stronger, then I started to throw the shot. I wasn’t great in either event.” Mozia topped out at 28 feet in the shot put and 99 in the discus in his freshman year, but he’s come a long way since those days. When he finally puts a stamp on his high school career, he will leave with the school record in winter shot put (62-11 ½), spring shot put (61-7) and spring discus (187-11). His highs, each established in his senior year, rank in the top 10 nationally for 2010-11 and go down as some of the top high school heaves in New Jersey history. “It just clicked with me a couple of days ago, that I have every school record for throwing. I still can’t believe I’m a record holder
Despite being at the pinnacle of his craft, Mozia admits that he has much to learn about throwing, an indication that even greater legends are still in the making. “I’m better at the [shot put] glide today, but I still don’t get it,” he said with a laugh. “I learn something new when I do it and when I spin. Even Olympians don’t get it all the time. People think I have perfect form, but if I did I would be throwing 300 feet. No one actually has perfect form; you just try to be as perfect as you can. You just have to keep working hard.”
“It’s so close. I’ve done it once or twice in practice, but that doesn’t count,” he said. “But when you do it, it’s the best feeling in the world. Your body is like a whip, exploding out. I played football and had a big hit, and you can make the shot in basketball, but those don’t feel as great as throwing the discus.” Mozia’s support network understands his passion and is equally engulfed in it. From friends and family to teachers and his fellow calculus classmates, everyone wants to know how he performed at meets. The modest and humble Mozia said he is the product of that environment, and so often gives the Hackensack community something to remember in exchange. “Sometimes when I’m walking home, I’ll practice my spin. I won’t do it all the way back to my house, but I go through the motions a few times,” Mozia said. “It might look funny to see someone spinning on the sidewalk so I always make sure no one is looking.” Mozia might escape the spotlight on his journey back to his house, but when he’s in the throwing circle, you can guarantee that everyone is watching.
Mozia has worked as hard as anyone else on his team to accomplish the goals, many of which he sets for himself before the season starts. In fact, Mozia said he has met all but one of his personal objectives - the only outstanding mark being a 200-foot toss in the discus. 13 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
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PROS for KIDS take on the madison dodgers football players
Written by: George Hunter
Active and retired N.F.L. players took on youth football players and members of Madison High School’s football team in a series of charity basketball games on May 20 in Madison, N.J. 16 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Photos by: George Hunter
A
Active and retired N.F.L. players took on youth football players and members of Madison High School’s football team in a series of charity basketball games on May 20 in Madison, N.J. Funds raised from the event benefited Madison Dodgers football and Dreams for Kids Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by former N.F.L. wide receiver Lonnie Allgood, who played six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills. The organization and its “Dare to Dream” school program uses current and former professional athletes to serve as role models and inspire youth to establish and work toward goals by making positive decisions and completing their education. Growing up with a father who had a substance abuse problem, Allgood’s mother was a big influence in her son’s life and stressed that education was the number one priority.
graduation from Red Bank Regional High School in Monmouth County, N.J., Allgood went on to play football at Syracuse University. Even though his professional football career was short-lived, he had a college education to fall back on. Allgood formed Dreams for Kids Inc. after being inspired by working with other community groups. Allgood was contacted by Madison High School through its “Madison Huddle Club” to do an event for the area’s youth football players. Through his contacts, he put together a team of professional athletes to come as guests to the high school.
“All the players involved in Dreams for Kids Inc. are college-educated, alcohol and drug free,” Allgood said. “ Under his mother’s guidance, Allgood became a standout student-athlete. Upon 17 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
All the players involved in “Dreams for Kids Inc. are collegeeducated, alcohol and drug free ” Denver Broncos defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker, former New York Jet cornerback Manny Collins, Tennessee Titan cornerback Jason McCourty, former United States Basketball League player Waliyy Dixon, retired Pittsburgh Stealer and Super Bowl XLIII champ Darnell Stapleton and Oakland Raider cornerback Joe Porter formed the team that would challenge the youths. The pros played a series of 10 minute basketball games against the Madison Dodgers football program teams from the Pop Warner to high school level. The games began at 7 p.m., but the pro athletes arrived at 5 p.m. to sign autographs and socialize with the fans. Sports memorabilia and apparel were available for purchase and a silent auction and 50/50 raffle was held during the event. Spectators at the games were treated to some exciting action on the hardwood, as the rotating 18 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Madison teams held their own, despite some suspicion the pros were holding back. The Madison High School football program has worked hard in recent years to mentor the younger upcoming players. The effort to prepare youth football players for the high school level has paid off, as the Madison High School Dodgers accomplished a 12-0-0 season and earned the New Jersey North II Group 2 title—its first in 12 years—with a 28-21 victory over Caldwell at Kean University in December 2010.
Ridgefield Park SCARLETS WRITTEN BY: DARIUS AMOS PHOTOS BY: DARIUS AMOS
3 3 # 20 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
is intent on being i n t e n s e
Stacey Sinclair isn’t a trailblazer. Dozens of three-sport athletes have played before her and countless more have yet to come. The Ridgefield Park High School senior catcher won’t earn All-America status for this spring’s softball season, nor will she mount a championship plaque on her wall when the year is through. Although her four-year high school playing career will come to a close this month rather unceremoniously, “Sinc,” as she’s fondly known in Scarlets Country, will retire leaving a legacy marked by an unparalleled competitive spirit. Her unwavering desire to compete and excel at the highest level has established an unwritten, but highly-sought after benchmark for future generations to reach - an accomplishment worth much more than any trophy.
Softball
“I think most people are going to see a softball player who played hard for 21 outs, played the game the way it should be played and someone who had great success,” said
STACEY SINCLAIR
Ridgefield PaRk’s stacey sinclaiR
Edward “Mook” Iannacone, who coached Sinclair throughout her four years with the varsity team. “I think her legacy will be passed down to the younger players she helped on her teams and they will continue to help and preach what Stacey taught them.” Iannacone said Sinclair’s on-the-field attitude has even rubbed off on some of Ridgefield Park’s opponents. An umpire relayed a story to Iannacone this spring about a candid conversation he had with the starting catcher from one of Ridgefield Park’s league rivals. “She told the ump that she wished she could play like [Stacey],” Iannacone said. “She continued to tell the ump that during their game [against Ridgefield Park], she would watch everything Stacey did. That says a lot about a high school player’s impact on an opposing player.” To Sinclair, however, playing as hard as she does isn’t for the benefit of wowing others - rivals and teammates included - nor is it for the individual accolades and hardware. In her mind and in her heart, the relentless approach to softball is born from the love she has for all sports. Not even a serious knee injury sustained during basketball season in the middle of her sophomore year could derail Sinclair’s high school athletic career. A torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee sidelined her, but she knew that she wasn’t on the shelf for good. 22
“I was devastated but also extremely deterULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
mined because I was not going to let an injury stop me from doing something I love, which is playing sports,” said Sinclair, who missed the entire 2009 softball season as a result of the injury. Itching to get back on the playing field following surgery, Sinclair participated in a furious rehabilitation program that included physical therapy three times a week and off-day workouts with her family. “I was in my basement or outside with my dad doing every possible thing I could do to get back to basketball and softball,” she said. “It was a tough road, but I never took a day off and I came back stronger.” Stronger might be an understatement. Throughout her junior and senior years, Sinclair played with a physical and mental toughness that propelled her team to new levels. As the basketball team’s hard-nosed point guard, Sinclair led Ridgefield Park to within a game of the league championship this past winter. On the diamond, the dynamic backstop guided the Lady Scarlets back to the Bergen County Tournament, where they lost a slim, 2-0 decision to perennial power Ramapo. “Stacey has been a huge asset to our program not just on the field but off it as well. Her leadership and hard work is only what people not directly involved in our program see. What Stacey does behind the scenes is probably more important, such as helping the younger players improve, al-
The type of dedication that Sinclair has displayed over the years runs in her family, she said. Her older sister, Melissa, starred for the Ridgefield Park crosscountry, basketball and softball teams, and Sinclair’s intensity mirrors that of her sister when she wore the scarlet and white. Naturally, a playful yet competitive rivalry developed between the two. “I tried to be better, stronger and faster than her. I learned from this that you are your own person and to never try to be someone else. I learned from my sib-
CAPTAIN
Stacey Sinclair
ling rivalry to work hard for goals you want to achieve,” Sinclair said. If battling an older sister wasn’t enough, motivation to succeed also came from her father, who instilled not only lessons in athletics but also in life. “Growing up in the Sinclair household, not playing hard is not an option. My dad always taught me if you’re going to do something, you give it 100 percent all the time. He is where I get my strong sense of pride, and I would not be where I am today without him,” she said. And exactly where is Stacey Sinclair at this point of her athletic career? Consider it a crossroads where she is still the student but also the teacher, the Charlie Hustle of her generation and an athletic role model for a lifetime.
CARLETS
ways wanting to take extra BP or extra throws down to second base. She has also worked hard with the pitching staff; she is like an extra coach on the field,” said Iannacone, adding that Sinclair was also vital in the team’s fund-raising efforts for its spring break trip to Myrtle Beach.
23 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
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‘Puts himself in Discussion for best new Jersey athlete
By Matt Sugam
H
is six-foot-four, 270-pound athletic frame is a high school football coach’s dream, but football was a desire Morristown’s Nick Vena never had. The one and only time he was approached by the football coach his freshman year, he turned down the offer to play under the lights on Friday nights. He had other athletic interests. By the time he started high school, Vena already had a sport that garnered his full attention: track and field—particularly the shot put. During his freshman indoor track season, Vena turned a few heads. By the time he finished his career this past spring, he had the entire state looking. He holds virtually every single state record possible, eight Meet of Champions titles (four indoor and four outdoor) in the shot put and a Meet of Champions title in the discus his sophomore year. He’s also won four indoor national championships and is a Junior National’s Champion.
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Photos by Dave ConarD John Dunphy Mike Dennis
In other words, he’s widely regarded as the greatest track and field athlete in New Jersey high school history and arguably the best high school athlete the state has ever seen. “I never really thought of it that way. I do [shot put] as something I enjoy. I never think of it as I’m the best of anything,” Vena said. “I guess if you put it that way, I’m very honored that I’d be considered that. That’s a very great honor to be considered that high up in the standings in New Jersey.” While Nick now throws the 12-pound ball over 70 feet on a regular basis, the sport didn’t always come easy. Starting the sport as a third grader, it wasn’t love at first throw. Like other little kids, Vena wanted to run around playing sports with his friends; not do an individual sport like the shot put. “You don’t really enjoy it until you get older and really understand it,” Vena said. “When I was younger, I didn’t understand and I got fidgety a lot and it was hard to keep my focus.” By middle school, he gave up soccer and basketball. It was time to concentrate on track and field. Vena traveled with his parents Michelle and Victor to a few different events in the winter and spring prior to competing in a handful of meets in middle school. It was his parents’ plan all along. “He was still young and it was something new that we were introducing him to and if he took to the sport we didn’t want to burn him out,” Michelle said. “A lot of parents flew their kids all over…we still wanted him to be a kid and have a childhood.” The result of Michelle and Victor’s careful cultivation of Vena’s career is an athlete who is far from worn out. Now, Vena is working harder than ever. His workout regimen includes lifts three times a week on different muscle groups, running and core exercises. He also throws two or three times a week depending on where he is in the season. Then, there is the daily technique work along with film study of him and his competition. Vena’s commitment and diligence goes well beyond the throwers circle. He studied his way to being one of the top students in his class and graduated from Morristown High School with a near perfect GPA. “Once he got into high school, the same discipline he gives towards the shot put he puts forth in the classroom. He always wants to give it his best effort. He never does anything less than that,” Michelle said. “We didn’t expect him to pull straight A’s like he did. We were just hoping for A’s and B’s.” Vena’s uncommon work ethic has left little time to revel in his accomplishments. For him, it’s all business. “When he won the Meet of Champions that Monday night, he came home, had dinner and then immediately went into his room to study for a final,” Michelle said. Nick will take that same work ethic to the University of Virginia this fall, where he will move up to a 16-pound ball and deal with more grueling academics. 27 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
With all that on his plate, events like the Olympics are the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, he’s looking to get his school work in order and do what his coaches—Jason Vigilante and Carrie Lane—tell him to do to become a better shot putter in the fall. While the humble teenager brushes off the idea of Olympic aspirations, he does have a post-career plan. He wants to be a gym teacher. Sure, wearing a sweat suit instead of a dress suit is a nice perk for a kid who was too fidgety to focus on shot put, and he knows he wouldn’t be able to sit in an office all day, but he also has a larger, more important purpose for his goal. “I’m also seeing it a different way with obesity being a big thing throughout the country and with gym teaching as a way to help prevent it,” Vena said. “Help give kids a different light on the whole physical activity. Hopefully, show them how to enjoy it, introduce it to them and give them a whole different perspective on things and hopefully do something about the obesity epidemic.” And maybe break a few more records and go to a couple of Olympics along the way. 28 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
Story and Photos by JR Parachini
Westfield Baseball
S
ometimes, it takes more than just quality pitching, good defense and timely hitting for a baseball program to reach its first ever state championship game. For the Westfield Blue Devils, it also required an unbelievable knack for never feeling like they were out of the game. No matter what the deficit was, or how late it might have been in the game, Westfield always believed that it was going to find a way to triumph. It was this never-say-die attitude that fueled the Blue Devils’ most successful state tournament run ever. Words like “unbelievable,” “incredible” and “magical” were uttered from players and coaches during a six-game stretch that saw Westfield score the deciding runs in its final at-bat in five straight state tournament wins before finally being defeated its first state title game. Even in defeat, Westfield managed two impressive comebacks before one of its most successful seasons--which resulted in a fine 25-5 record--came to a conclusion. Westfield has captured the most county championships of any school in Union County with 12, many of which with Bob Brewster, one of the winningest coaches in state history in his 29th season, at the helm. However, during the state tournament, Westfield would not replicate its success of the county level. Before this year, the Blue Devils had only captured North 2, Group 4 on the field once, back in 1988. The program’s only other sectional title came in 1949. Westfield’s march to a first state championship game included an unprecedented string of seventh and eighth inning heroics.
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Here’s a look at the state tournament run Westfield and its fans will always remember:
May 23 – North 2, Group 4 first round game at Westfield: Westfield 5, Franklin 4 Game-winning hit: Matt Varakian Westfield earned the 2nd-seed for the North 2, Group 4 playoffs and opened with a first round game against 15th-seed Franklin, which had a record of just 8-12. In a game that many thought Westfield might win by the 10run mercy rule, the Blue Devils had to rally in the bottom of the final frame to advance. Franklin, sparked by a fine pitching performance from its starter, snapped a 3-3 tie by scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on a home run. With two runners on, No. 5 batter Matt Varakian became the first post-season hero for Westfield. The righty-swinging power hitter smacked a double that drove in the tying and winning runs, avoiding what would have been a huge first round upset, in addition to gaining their 20th victory.
May 27 – North 2, Group 4 quarterfinal at Westfield: Westfield 5, Phillipsburg 4 Game-winning hit: Tim Younger Four days after their first dramatic comeback, the Blue Devils found themselves in the same predicament against an 11-11 Phillipsburg squad. Once again, the Blue Devils trailed 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh. This time, it was against junior left hander Anthony Ciavarella, who looked very sharp for the 10th-seeded Stateliners and had Westfield down to its final out. James Barry, the No. 9 batter, was just looking to get on and keep the inning and Westfield’s season alive. Instead, he blasted a homerun over the left field wall, tying the game at 4. “I just wanted to pick a good pitch and put the ball in play,” said Barry, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. “I knew every pitch he was throwing. The second pitch was a good one and I had a good approach on it.” With the Westfield bench still buzzing from Barry tying the game, leadoff batter Tim Younger stepped up to the plate and blasted a nearly identical homerun over the left field wall, winning the game 5-4.
Westfield needed going into the bottom of the inning trailing 2-1. This time, the Blue Devils had the top of the order ready to go. Like in the game against Phillipsburg, Younger was previously 0-for-3 with a ground out, a line out and a fly out. Also like against Phillipsburg, Younger came through big-time in the clutch. He led off the inning with a single to left, finding the hole between third and short. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Westfield had its top two hitters up next: No. 3 batter A.J. Murray and cleanup hitter Dan Kerr – one of the most powerful 3-4 senior combinations in the state. Murray, who will continue on scholarship at Georgia Tech and was drafted this year by the Houston Astros, singled hard past the third baseman to score Younger and tie the game at 2. Kerr finished the job by smoking a single to bring in the game-winning run. “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever been a part of,” said Kerr, who was 2-for-2, with two intentional walks. “I was just looking for something over the plate, something to put in play.”
“It was so frustrating being 0-for-3 against him,” Younger said. “Coach (Brewster) said to get focused and also said to me that I would get up with a runner on and get a hit to win the game.” “This is what you live for as a kid and dream about,” Barry said.
June 3 – North 2, Group 4 final at Perth Amboy: Westfield 9, Perth Amboy 7 Game-winning fielder’s choice: James Barry Brewster used three right handed pitchers in this one, with senior Justin White starting and going 5 and 2/3 innings. In the top of the seventh, James O’Rourke led off with a sharp single up the middle followed by a single by senior catcher A.J. Murray and a walk by Kerr to load the bases with nobody out.
May 31 – North 2, Group 4 semifinal at Westfield: Westfield 3, Hunterdon Central 2 Game-winning hit: Dan Kerr Westfield senior right hander Matt Rivera pitched well for six innings, allowing just one earned run on seven hits. He got 10 batters to ground out for a total of 11 outs when you include Westfield’s inning-ending 6-4-3 double play in the first. “My fastball was my best pitch until I was able to get my curveball over in the later innings,” Rivera said. “I got the ball down low and was able to get them to hit it on the ground.”
Barry, who was moved up from ninth to fifth in the order, then hit a ground ball to short. The shortstop threw home, but made the catcher jump to bring it in, with O’Rourke sliding underneath the catcher’s tag and scoring to put Westfield back ahead for good. Westfield put three more runs across to make the final 9-5. Another celebration ensued, this time for capturing its first sectional championship since 1988. “Our motto is ‘Win and Survive’,” Brewster said. “We don’t care what it looks like. We’ve played four state games and so far we’ve outscored the opposition by a grand total of five runs.”
Westfield relief pitcher Mike Mondon picked off the runner at first base when Hunterdon Central had runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the seventh, which was all the momentum 31 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
June 7 – Group 4 semifinal at Kean University in Union: Westfield 8, Morris Knolls 5 (8 inn.) Game-winning hit: Will Riggs There’s an unwritten rule in sports that says never let the other team’s best players beat you. With one out and the Group 4 semifinal tied in the top of the eighth, Morris Knolls head Coach decided to intentionally walk Barry to load the bases. Murray and Kerr were already on second and third. That brought up Riggs, who was previously 0-for-4 on the day with two groundouts and two strikeouts. Morris Knolls dared Riggs to end their season. Riggs was ready this time and made them pay. On the first pitch he saw, Riggs drilled a fastball into right field for an opposite field, two-run single that gave Westfield the lead for good. A shutout bottom of the eighth inning by Mondon sealed another dramatic, come-from-behind state tournament victory as the North 2 champion Blue Devils downed the North 1 champ Golden Eagles 8-5 in the Group 4 semifinal. For the first time in the history of the program, Westfield advanced to a state championship game. “You go up there thinking that there’s no option to fail,” Riggs said. “With Riggs it was all guts,” Brewster said.
and two outs, the Blue Devils – down to their final out – received a clutch, two-run single by O’Rourke to pull Westfield to within 16-8 and extend the game until at least the sixth. At that moment, an NJSIAA official had to put the trophies, which he was preparing to hand out to Manalapan, away. Westfield wasn’t done. With O’Rourke’s hit knocking out their starter, the reliever tossed a wild pitch that allowed Murray to make it to first base on a strikeout. Then Kerr, who struck out his first three times up, came through with a clutch, two-run single to right to make it 16-10. Barry followed by drilling a three-run homer over the right-center field fence - smacking the ball off the brick field house - to pull the Blue Devils all the way to within 16-13. Riggs then got hit with a pitch, with the tying run on deck. After trailing 11-0 and then 16-6 with one out to go before losing in five innings, Westfield rallied all the way back to put a major scare into Manalapan. “We kept battling back,” said O’Rourke, who was 1-for-3, with two walks, two RBI and a run. “Down 11-0 we knew we had to chip away. At 16-13, we were thinking it was a new game and we had the momentum. “To be on the first Westfield team to play in a state championship game and make it here is something I will always be proud of.”
June 11 – Group 4 final at Toms River South in Toms River Manalapan 29, Westfield 14 Although the scoreboard read Manalapan 29, Westfield 14 at the completion of the Group 4 state championship game at Toms River South’s Ken Frank Stadium, the Blue Devils had produced a victory of their own by the way they refused to quit. Westfield trailed 11-0 going into the bottom of the second, but it felt like 51-0 the way Manalapan was hitting the ball. Brewster could only say “wow,” as the Braves produced 11 of their 32 hits in the first two frames. The Blue Devils scored their first two runs in the bottom of the second and then No. 9 batter Jonathan Gribbin blasted a grand slam over the left field fence in the bottom of the third to pull Westfield to within 11-6 heading into the fourth. Manalapan answered with five runs in the top of the fourth to take a 16-6 lead. Westfield, still down 16-6, needed a run in the bottom of the fifth to avoid a loss by the 10-run mercy rule. With the bases loaded 32 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
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Abrina Hyatt Jumping Life’s Hurdles with Her Mother, Coach and Mentor by Her Side
F
or most people, watching the Olympics on TV every two years is entertaining and exciting. For Abrina Hyatt, it was a life changing experience. As 11-year-old Hyatt watched American Joanna Hayes win the gold medal in the 100m hurdles, she realized that she wanted to start hurdling just like Hayes. From that moment on, track became a major piece of Hyatt’s life. After running for a local club team, Hyatt began hurdling for her High School team at Kent Place School, an all-girls prep school in Summit, NJ. She quickly realized that Kent Place did not have a coach who specialized in hurdles, which worried the young runner about her development. Cue Abrina’s mother, Andrea Hyatt.
A dedicated hurdler throughout her own four years of high school, Andrea Hyatt was the perfect mentor and coach for her 34 daughter. Hyatt explained that even though the culture of track ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
in the 1980’s was much different than it is now, her mother used her experience and knowledge regarding hurdling and training to jumpstart her high school career. “The decision to run track was definitely an individual one,” Hyatt said, “but my mom was always encouraging and helpful after I began running and hurdling and needed a coach.” Her mother received her USATF coaching certification and began working with Hyatt at her Kent Place hurdling practices. With her mother on the sidelines, Hyatt’s career took off. As a young freshman in 2008, Hyatt set her personal best in the 100m hurdles with a time of 16 seconds flat. From then on, competitors in Northern and Central New Jersey knew that she was a force to be reckoned with.
K ent Place School Where Girls learn to lead
resolute. This past spring, she received her letter of acceptance from the University of Pennsylvania where she will attend next fall as a potential economics major. Even though Hyatt ultimately separated track from her college decision, she is still toying with the idea of walking on to the UPenn track team. Once again, her mother will serve as both a coach and best friend throughout her decision making process. “My mother still facilitates conversations about walking onto the UPenn team,” Hyatt said. “I see the times that they run and I know I can run them. I just need to run this summer and see if my passion for the sport strengthens.” Even though Hyatt may be too modest to admit it, one can almost be certain that her siblings look up to her as a mentor. Just like her mother, she will not impose track on her future children. “I’m going to let them do whatever they want because my parents never forced track upon me. I will expose my kids to lots of things and let them decide.” “Think about the fact that your mind can never be taken away from you,” she said. “If you get injured one day, track can go out the window. Even if you are a professional athlete, you can be injured one day and be done. Your mind can never die out. You’ll always need to have your brain as an asset, and you have to look at the long-term.”
In her sophomore year, Hyatt was the Mountain Valley Conference Champion in the 55m hurdles, the 400m hurdles, the 200m dash and the 400m dash. She was also the New Jersey Prep School Champion in the 400m hurdles. She set her personal record for the 400m hurdles in 2009 at the Meet of Champions, with a time of 1:05:09, placing her 19th in the entire state. When the spring of her junior year rolled around, Hyatt began receiving letters of interest from many Division I track programs, such as Louisiana State University and Bucknell. She soon realized, however, that there were more important things in her life than hurdling. While her decision not to pursue track in college was not easy, focusing on academics was her top priority. “The summer of my junior year was the first summer where I didn’t run because I was busy focusing on academics,” she said. “Not running made me realize that there are more important things in life that I want to explore.” Hyatt’s next “hurdle” was breaking the news to her coach, mother and role model. “I was actually kind of shocked that my mom fully supported me when I told her I didn’t want to run in college,” she said. “Even though she’s my coach, she’s always stressed that I can talk to her about anything. She will be honest with me and fully support me in my decisions.” The bond between Hyatt and her mother is clearly one of unbreakable understanding and love, which was reassuring to Hyatt throughout the college selection process. Despite continuing with track through her senior year, Hyatt’s dedication and devotion to academics was unwavering and
35 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
The NFL Youth Football Fund and USA Football salute the players of the 2011 Empire Challenge High School Football All-Star Game. Football teaches its players, coaches and participants valuable life lessons that can be applied both on and off the field. Your participation today is not only a celebration of your all-star season, but also a testament to the perseverance of Empire Challenge Inc. and the Boomer Esiason Foundation. Their tireless efforts in the fight against cystic fibrosis bring those with the disease closer to a cure, and help them live healthier lives.
Psych
Sports Psychology
Breaking
the
Slump
By Dr. Tom Ferraro anD michael lucks
Exclusively for Ultimate Athlete Magazine, Spring 2011
The Dictionary defines a slump as “an extended period of poor performance in a sport.� Athletes define a slump as a long period in hell. This article will discuss the characteristics, causes and cure for the slump.
Characteristics of a slump
You know you are in a slump when you have been underperforming for a long period and you are beginning to lose hope. You know you are in a slump when your confidence is shot and you are no longer enjoying your sport. In fact, a slump is a lot like having depression. The present looks bad and the future looks worse. During the slump you perform below par and your game becomes tight and tentative. Slumps occur in every sport. Champion golfers lose the ability to break 80. Lacrosse stars start to push passes. Elite tennis players will lose their natural rhythm and lose to players who are weaker. Slumps can last for years and can prompt great athletes to quit in despair and disgust. How Confidence is the first thing to go in a slump. does all this happen?
Slumps typically have a real beginning. They may begin with a bad loss, an injury or the arrival of a new coach or new teammate. (Recall when Derek Jeter had a two month hitting slump as Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees.) Slumps can be started by burnout or even a big win. In golf it is not unusual for the winner of a major championship to fall into a slump for about a year. This is because the player develops unrealistic expectations, faces increased demands on his time and is usually tempted into lucrative but inappropriate equipment changes. The combination of these three elements usually produces a slump. And just as slumps are multi-determined, the cure comes in three phases as well.
the Causes of slumps
Sometimes burnout is the cause of a slump with players pushing themselves too hard. 38 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
h o l og y The Cure for the Slump
• The first thing we do when a slumping player, skater or gymnast comes in is to determine how the slump started in the first place. Invariably Understanding the causes, getting rest and the athlete has lost his or her way and is playing tight and with a negagetting back to simple basics is the cure. tive mind set. The slump may have been in place for many painful months and it is always a relief to them to be able to understand its cases. • We then recommend a brief rest period to clear the mind and let the body recuperate from the months of accumulated stress. This also is a welcome relief for the athlete who finally gets to take a break and clear out all that doubt. • In the third phase we get the athlete to familiarize themselves with the mental set and the strategies they used when winning. This mental set is usually a combination of visual mind set, relaxation and ease of movement with little or no verbal process during the swing. Sports are played with the right cortex or the visual motor part of the brain and slumps are dictated and controlled by the left cortex or the verbal part of the brain. When we reestablish the old winning mind set we get them to write it out, drill it in and even use hypnosis to reinforce it.
Slumps in baseball
Slumps are depressing and are also very common in sports. But do not despair. Slump busting works and it does not usually take too long to get back on track. A little understanding, a little rest and a gentle reminder of the way you used to play are all it really takes. Baseball is one of America’s oldest games filled with traditions. Baseball is America’s pastime and the players and fans alike love the numbers. Whether it is batting average, slugging percentage, or home runs, it is the statistics of particular players that ultimately fuel the industry. And statistics allow us to see when a slump occurs. Slumps are fascinating because they happen to even the best hitters in baseball. A slump is essentially when everything is going wrong for a player. No more home runs, no more hits, and especially no lucky breaks. Slumps can vary in time, they can last a couple of games or even months. Some can last a lifetime. This is where psychology comes into play and this is when we are called. The person who is in a slump is usually depressed, and becomes extremely pessimistic. The single most important thing is to stay positive and realize that all slumps come to an end. However, not all slumps are mental, some are undoubtedly caused by mechanical errors in ones swing. The best way to correct a slump is to believe that every time you step up to the plate that you are going to get a hit. The power of the positive. Also, extra batting practice to get Slumps happen to the best of them. ones confidence up cannot hurt. The best thing about a slump is that almost everyone gets out of them in time.
Bios: Dr. Tom Ferraro is a noted sport psychologist located in Mid-Nassau County. Michael Lucks is an undergrad at Syracuse University majoring in Psychology. He plans on becoming a sport psychologist in the future. We can be reached at drtferraro@aol.com. 39 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
UA
TR
UA Tr aining
Balancing Act
Walking the fine line between stability and mobility. Story By Mike Mejia, CSCS | Photos By Adil Borluca
Q
uick! If I asked you to name the best way to improve athletic performance and avoid injury, what would you say? Strength training? No doubt it can help, but it really depends on how you do it. The way young athletes often hoist weights around, sometimes it does more harm than good. Speed and agility work? Another good one, although if you have any existing strength and flexibility imbalances you could actually be increasing your risk of injury. Plyometrics? Ditto the previous warning, only multiply your chances of getting hurt about tenfold. One thing you probably wouldn’t even think to mention is working on improving the unique interplay that exists between stability and mobility. And that’s too bad, because while it’s important to be strong and have good range of motion, it’s striking the right balance between the two that will ultimately have the greatest impact on your athletic success.
The Body Athletic The human body is made up of a series of muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues that work together to produce movement. In order for these movements to occur, especially those of a more athletic nature, certain parts of the body need to provide stability (i.e. strength) to allow for the mobility (motion) of others. Take kicking a soccer ball for instance; it’s not just about what the leg striking the ball is doing (although you will require a certain amount of hip mobility to cock that leg back and then effectively follow through afterwards). Your opposing leg and core also have to work extremely hard to stabilize your position. If that stability isn’t there, the result will be a weak, misdirected kick. The same can be also be said for things like swinging a golf club, throwing a ball, or making a quick change of direction. If there isn’t an ongoing give and take between mobility and stability in different areas of the body, things can go wrong in a hurry. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a lack of hip mobility, or knee instability, not only prevent an athlete from making a play, but often become seriously injured. That’s why I thought it would be a great idea to highlight some of my favorite drills for building a more sound athletic foundation. Before we dive right into the actual drills though, you need to understand that although certain areas of the body require more in the way of stability, while others need to be more mobile, this isn’t something that’s set in stone. Take the core for example, which although usually associated with 40 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
stability, also needs to allow for enough range of motion to swing a bat, or serve a tennis ball. Just as the ankles, which typically need to be more mobile, also need the muscles surrounding them to be stable enough so that you don’t injure yourself every time you try and plant your foot to make a quick change of direction. The bottom line is, by understanding the interaction between these two elements, as well as where your individual limitations lie, you’ll be able to more effectively train to correct them.
The Ankles: As I mentioned above, a lack of ankle mobility is a big problem for young athletes. So, my drill of choice here is something called Wall Ankle Mobilizations. To do these: Stand facing a wall with one foot several inches away from it and your other leg behind you. With your front heel staying in contact with the floor at all times, begin bending your lead knee until it makes light contact with the wall. Then simply bring it back to the starting position and repeat for 8-10 repetitions.
AINING *Note: How far you position your foot from the base of the wall depends on how mobile you are. Start about six inches away and then make alterations from there, moving either closer, or further away until you feel the proper amount of stretch. Over time, your goal is to get progressively further away from the wall as your ankle mobility improves.
In terms of helping to improve stability around the feet and ankles, the Balancing Ankle Set is one of my favorites. Here you simply balance one foot, while keeping your knee slightly bent, for anywhere from 30-60 seconds at a time. Need more of a challenge. Try standing on a large couch cushion, or a balance disc to increase the difficulty level.
The Knees:
The Hips:
Since a lack of stability is usually the big issue here- especially among female athletes- a drill called Excursions offers the perfect fix. With these, you get the added bonus of simultaneously improving stability in the hips and ankles. Begin by balancing on your right leg with your knee slightly bent. From there, sit back into your hips and squat as you reach your left leg out in front of you, as if trying to touch an object about two to three feet away. After squatting as close as possible to parallel, push back up and then squat down again as you reach your left leg out to the side another two to three feet. Finish by squatting one last time, as you reach your left leg two to three feet behind you. That entire sequence equals one repetition. Continue until you’ve completed 3 to 5 repetitions with each leg.
Here’s a great drill that will help increase both strength and range of motion. They’re called hip circuits and can be a challenge for athletes of all levels. Begin down on all fours with your shoulders positioned directly over your wrists and your hips over your knees. Keeping a nice neutral spine, begin by bringing one leg in underneath you, then out to the side and then extend it back behind you. Continue this sequence in a large, sweeping movement until you’ve completed 8 repetitions. Next, reverse the movement by extending your leg back and then brining it around wide (with your inner thigh as close to parallel to the ground as possible) and finally back underneath you. After completing another 8 reps, bring your leg directly out to the side of your hip and lift it up 8 more times. Then complete the entire sequence to the other side. Throughout the entire drill, the lower back should remain as still as possible.
For more great strength and training information from Mike Mejia, Visit his website at www.basesportsconditioning.com
41 WWW.ULTIMATEATHLETEMAGAZINE.COM
UA Training The Shoulders: For mobility we’ve got Band Scarecrows. Grab a light resistance band and secure it to a low, sturdy object. Then, grab the handles and with your elbows out away from your torso, keep your upper arms still as you rotate your forearms from being pointed down, to pointing up, as close to perpendicular to the ground as possible. Keep the upper arms still as you lower your forearms back down and repeat until you’ve done 10-12 reps. For stability, try Scaptions. Get in a pushup position and keep your arms straight as you alternate between pinching your shoulder blades together and then separating them by rounding your upper back. Do 12-15 repetitions.
The Lumbar Spine: Here’s a drill that trains both stability and mobility- it’s called a side plank with reach under. Begin by lying on your right side by stacking your feet, hips and shoulders directly on top of each other. With your core tight and your right elbow positioned directly beneath your shoulder, brace your core and prop up on your forearm, lifting your entire torso and legs off the ground. Once in the top position (a side plank), take your left arm and reach underneath and behind your body as you turn your hips and shoulders- you will be staying up in the side plank position as you do this. Then return the motion back to the starting position and repeat for 6-8 reps per side.
The Thoracic Spine:
42
The Thoracic Spine: Not much need for stability here since most young athletes tend to be at least somewhat restricted in this area. That’s why Open Books are such an effective warm-up drill. Begin by lying on your left side with your legs bent about 90 degrees out in front of you and your arms stacked at shoulder height. Keeping your knees together, begin by bringing your right arm up and over to the other side of your body in a wide arcing motion. Strive to get the entire back of your right arm and shoulder down onto the ground, without allowing your knees to separate. When you reach your furthest point, pause there for a second before returning to the start position and repeating until you’ve done 8-10 reps- trying to go a little bit further with each repetition. ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
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Basketball
Myles Mack
While it took a while for reality to sink in, it didn’t take long for other high schools to begin pursuing the 5-foot-9-inch point guard’s talent. “The day they announced the school’s closing, we arrive home and the phone rings and there’s already another high school, which was Montrose Christian, which heard about the school closing and offered him an opportunity,” Sandy said. Myles took his time choosing a new school. He wanted to go somewhere he felt comfortable and had a basketball coach and program that would benefit him as much as his skill set would benefit them. After some soul-searching, the answer was clear: Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley and his nationally-recognized St. Anthony’s High School. The choice paid dividends. Not only did Mack improve his defense and thicken his skin under Hurley, he led the team to an undefeated season, which culminated in a state and national championship. “He’s a command style coach,” Mack said. “So I had to get used to that because that was the first command style coach that I had. He taught me the angles on defense, so I think that’ll help a lot on the next level.”
T
he tiny gym at St. Rose High School in Belmar was standing room only. The packed bleachers were peppered with scarlet, and the game had a championship vibe despite being only the first night of the Jersey Shore Basketball League season. The team the Rutgers faithful had come to see boasted the Scarlet Knights’ entire incoming freshman class; a class that is the highest-ranked in the program’s history. The fans have embraced Rutgers head coach Mike Rice, who won despite an undersized and under-talented roster in his first season. With a highly talented freshman class on the way, there’s an unfamiliar buzz around the program still with five months before the start of the season. While many of the Garden State’s basketball fanatics were seeing these Rutgers basketball players for the first time, there was one familiar face on the floor: Myles Mack. The Paterson native is the state’s top-rated point guard by most recruiting services, and the most highly anticipated Rutgers recruit in years. After a decorated high school career at Paterson Catholic, Mack moved to St. Anthony’s for his senior year. However, he didn’t want to leave his hometown high school—the one he dreamed of playing at—but had to. The June before his senior year, the school closed down. “I didn’t know what to think at the time. I didn’t know it was true,” Mack said. ”I couldn’t really do anything about it. I was emotional for a couple weeks, but I got over it.” The senior-to-be had trouble coming to the realization that his high school dream would not be fulfilled the way it played out in his head. “He just couldn’t fathom the thought that the place that he dreamed of was actually closing its doors,” said his mother, Sandy Mack.
Defense is key in Rice’s style of basketball, but what the head coach has really become known for is intensity and tough love. Mack got a good taste of that from Hurley, which will prepare him for what he will experience with Rice over the next few years.
When asked if playing under Hurley for a year will acclimate him to Rice’s style, Myles responded “yeah,” with a grin and small chuckle. “It’s going to help a lot,” he said. “When [Rice] says something to me I won’t really get nervous or have a quick reaction to say something back.” Rutgers wasn’t on the national radar under old regimes, but when Rice took over in May of 2010, Rutgers quickly became a relevant member of the Big East. Mack, and Rutgers fans everywhere, noticed how Rice had turned a mid-major in Robert Morris into a back-to-back NCAA Tournament team in just three seasons after an 18-year drought from the big dance. After a couple conversations with Rice, Sandy felt her son could play and benefit from a coach with his passion and expertise. If there’s a next level for her Myles, Sandy feels Rice is the one who can help him get there. Still, Sandy was a bit surprised her son would choose a program that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament in two decades when he could have gone to UConn, UCLA and just about anywhere in between. But the kid who dreamed of playing for his local high school had his reasons. “If I go to Rutgers I can be a home town kid,” Sandy recalled Myles explaining to her. “If I go to UCLA, someone else is the hometown kid, so why not stay where I already have fans, a lot of people know me, and I’m going to get the support.” And that’s exactly what he is, which has led to the lofty expectations before he steps onto the court in a Rutgers uniform.
As the lone incoming recruit from the University’s own state, Myles has already been labeled as the ambassador for Rutgers to bring in New Jersey’s top talent. The humble point guard is aware of the pressure that has been put on his 160 pound frame. ”I’m going to try to live up to my expectations and try to play well this season,” Myles said. Not surprisingly, his new head coach hasn’t anointed him anything. “Until he goes and does it, then nobody is the face of New Jersey. He now has to perform on a different level. I’m very confident that he can, but I’m not putting that on anybody,” Rice said. “He’s certainly somebody who I’m going to rely heavily on, but I’m not going to say to anybody that he’s the face of anything right now until he actually produces at the Division I level.” Even still, the fan base has already put Myles on that pedestal, and the anticipation for the most decorated recruiting class in school history is an NCAA Tournament berth despite not yet having a practice under Rice. “Until I get with them and until they embrace the level of demand and the coaching and playing with one another it’s hard to say,” Rice said. “I think they’re a talented group that will help us break the drought to the NCAA Tournaments. It’s hard for one guy. I’m not going to say Myles is the guy that’s going to get us to the NCAA Tournament or not.” But fans will. And they already think Myles is that guy.
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PRO C Pro Corner: lI Ducks
Ray of Light Local Product Navarrete Has Been a Bright Spot for the Ducks
By Joe Pietaro
T
hroughout the history of the Long Island Ducks, there have been a number of popular players that have come through the door. Justin Davies may not be a household name around the country, but he was certainly ‘The Mayor’ of Central Islip. Davies broke in with the team in their inaugural Atlantic League season of 2000 and stayed until announcing his retirement in May of 2006. Ray Navarrete has taken it to the next level, though. Coming from nearby Port Washington, the 33-year-old returned to the Ducks for his sixth season on Long Island. The Seton Hall product has been named to the Atlantic League All-Star team in four consecutive years and was welcomed back with open arms. “It’s exciting to bring back such a polished player,” said Ducks president/general manager Michael Pfaff. “Ray is a terrific player who makes us better on and off the field.” Away from the game, Navarrete has established himself as a clothing designer with his own line called “Digmi.” The idea began while he was in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system and it has continued during the Seton Hall product’s tenure on Long Island. That began in 2006, which just so happens to be the same year that Davies left. Coincidence? Maybe so, but no matter how you look at it, Navarrete has been the perfect replacement for the former centerfielder. That first summer was cut short when Navarrete was signed by the Mets and finished the year at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Norfolk. When his contract was up, the Teaneck, 48 ULTIMATE ATHLETE MAGAZINE
o rner New Jersey native found himself back with the Ducks. A breakout year ensued, with the infielder being named to the All-Star team and hitting .307 with 42 doubles and 18 home runs. Navarrete made it to another All-Star Game in 2008 but really came into his own the following year. Not only did he make it three consecutive All-Star nods, but also won the Atlantic League MVP Award by batting .309 and adding 25 home runs and 96 RBI. “We’re very happy for Ray and proud of his accomplishments,” Ducks CEO/principal owner Frank Boulton said at the time. “[He] has been our MVP for several years now and now he is the league’s. This is a well-deserved honor.” Last summer, Navarrete dealt with injuries and played in only 86 games. But his production – while suffering somewhat – didn’t disappear. He managed to hit .275 with 13 long balls and 54 RBI and was part of his fourth mid-summer classic, Atlantic League style. This season, Navarrete has had a slow start and was hitting only .238 through the first 37 games. But the Ducks have possessed an explosive offense and maintained a slim lead in the North Division. Navarete’s power numbers have been a big part of that, with his seven home runs, six two-base hits and 21 RBI. In a June 14-1 win over the Barnstormers at Lancaster, Navarrete took sole possession of first place as the Ducks’ all-time leader in runs scored with 427. In case you couldn’t guess, he surpassed none other than Davies.
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