Baseball Delivers Monumental Season
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The Cardinal Vol. LXXIII No. 5 Pompton Lakes High School June 2013 Baseball Delivers Monumental Season The Pompton Lakes baseball team celebrates after defeating Lakeland in the finals of the Passaic County ournament.T By ZACH PAGLIARONI The Cardinals then found themselves on the counties “We have fantasized our entire high school careers to Entertainment Editor biggest stage playing a tough Lakeland team in the final. win the county championship and to come back and win Although the Cardinals were trailing, 5-1, after three today it is unbelievable,” he said. innings, senior Sean Lindberg changed the momentum After a lopsided 14-0 win in the Group I semi-finals Despite losing for a second consecutive year in the when he roped a triple to clear the bases and tie the game against a hyped Dayton team, the Cardinals faced a pow- Group I finals, the baseball team has a lot to celebrate this at 5. Coss, known for his heroics on the mound, crushed a erful Middlesex squad with multiple Division I athletes. season after winning a league, Passaic County, and North three run home run in the top of the 6th to give Pompton After taking an early 2-0 lead due to a Sean Lindberg I, Group I championship. Lakes a chance at its first Passaic County title in 17 years. home run, the Cardinals struggled in the top of the second After losing to Audubon, 6-1, in the finals last season, “I consider myself an OK hitter, but I really just want- allowing 5 runs to cross the plate. After numerous missed the Cardinals made it their mission to make it back to the ed to come through in the clutch there,” he said. “I got a opportunities, including loading the bases twice and group final and also pick up the school’s first county title good pitch to hit, on the inner half, and ripped it. I didn’t failing to capitalize, the Cardinals fell once again in the since 1996. With 9 varsity players returning from last think it was going out at first. It looked like it was going Group I final, 9-5. year’s team, including junior lefty pitchers Mike Coss to hit the fence, but when it went over I went crazy.” “That loss stung, but looking back on our accom- and Kevin Magee as well as senior catcher Jon Steele In the bottom of the 7th, Lakeland put pressure on plishments like winning a county and sectional title, and and senior second basemen Sean Lindberg, the Cardinals’ the Cardinals by scoring a run to make it 8-6 with a man having the most wins in school history, this season was goals were certainly in reach. on second and third. Coss, however, had different plans not a failure. For all of us, it will be one we will cherish “We set high goals because we had high expectations,” and was able to finish the game, resulting in the Cardinal for the rest of our lives,” said Lindberg. said Magee. “We had plenty of talent and knew reach- players rejoicing in celebration on ing those goals was definitely obtainable. Anything less the mound. would be a disappointment.” The celebration was short lived, The Cardinals started off hot by winning 9 of its first however, because less than 24 11 while producing 8 runs per game over that span. With hours after the win, the Cardinals losses to only parochial powerhouse St. Peters Prep and faced New Milford in the North I, a talented Rutherford team, Pompton Lakes proved they Group I sectional championship. belonged with the big boys. Junior Kevin Magee threw a gem “At that point of the season we were really swinging by going 7 scoreless innings while the bats well,” said Lindberg. “We work very hard at striking out 14 batters. The Car- practice every day and in the off-season so it was nice to dinal bats offered plenty of run see it pay off.” support with Coss teeing up a grand After a hiccup loss to West Essex, the Cardinals rattled slam to finish off New Milford, 7-0. off 5 straight wins going into county play where they beat The win gave the Cardinals their their first and second round opponents by a combined second consecutive state sectional score of 24-0. This then set up a showdown with a very title. talented Wayne Valley team who boasted an impressive “Winning both the county title record with a rigorous schedule. Junior Kevin Magee and the section title is something pitched a complete game four-hitter with 12 strikeouts. that not many teams can brag about Senior outfielder Jose Arroyo smacked a three run homer so picking up those two titles is to seal a victory for the Cardinals, 7-3. definitely something to be proud “We got hot at the right time,” said Steele. “I knew of,” said senior third basemen with Mike and Kevin on the mound and our tremendous Connor Lavin. power behind the plate we would be a tough team to Jon Steele echoed that senti- Eric Moeltner (center) and Dan Foote (right) take pleasure in giving Coach Tanis (left) beat.” ment. a Gatorade shower after the victory. 2 The Cardinal NEWS June 2013 Mr. Flynn Wins ‘Teacher of the Year’ district. impact in such a short time. Anyone who has witnessed “Through his leadership and instruc- his teaching at work, whether it be the Spring Musical, tion, the music department at PLHS the Concert Band, or Concert Chorus, will agree with me. has been invigorated in pursuit of new Charming humor, intense focus, and undying dedication heights,” said Principal Vincent Przyby- are all traits that define Mr. Flynn, traits that the students linski. of PLHS are fortunate to have found in an educator.” According to the central office of the The process of selecting a “Teacher of the Year” starts school district, the distinguishing contri- when each member of the faculty names up to three butions that get a teacher awarded are the deserving candidates. The current teacher of the year then following: they use effective, instructional tallies up the names. Mr. Przybylinski receives the top techniques and methods, create produc- three vote-getters and, with the assistance of the teach- tive classroom climate and rapport with ers’ department chairmen, writes separate narratives that students, and instill feelings of self-worth summarize the accomplishments and qualities of each and love of learning within students. teacher. Lastly, the narratives are sent to the district com- Starting his position at PLHS in the mittee, who select the winner. fall of 2011, Mr. Flynn has since proven The winner also has the opportunity to win “Passaic himself versatile in his department after County Teacher of the Year,” for which Mr. Przybylinski becoming assistant marching band direc- submits another, more succinct narrative to the county Mr. Flynn jams out in celebration after being awarded “Teacher of the Year.” tor and co-director, vocal director, and pit office. instructor of the musical. To his students, In addition to the honor, Mr. Flynn also was given By ERIK ABDALLAH Mr. Flynn is a funny, hard-working man who is dedicated a certificate from the governor’s office by the Passaic Assistant Editor to meeting the needs of his students. His philosophy as a County Education Association. teacher is to constantly try new things and get new ideas. “It was a humbling experience more than anything,” “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the title Flynn said. “It’s nice to know that I have the respect of In May, Mr. Chad Flynn, a music teacher at Pompton ‘Teacher of the Year’ than Chad Flynn,” said Michael my colleagues.” Lakes High School (PLHS), was surprised to receive the Dzuiba, a junior at PLHS and student of Mr. Flynn. “No “Teacher of the Year” award after just two years in the one in Pompton Lakes High School has made so large an PLHS News Briefs FBLA Headed to Nationals To apply for such a prestigious schol- teachers along with Mrs. Hoffman. Poetry Recitation Contest: arship, one must fill out an application, Mrs. M. Hoffman, former adjunct pro- Robert Alfano : German Beginner, First The Pompton Lakes High School complete a student resume, write an essay, fessor, was once again one of the judges Place (PLHS) Future Business Leaders of Amer- and submit a letter of recommendation for this contest. Angel Trajcevski : German Intermediate, ica members are headed to Anaheim, Cal- written by the principal and an activity “Each student worked very hard and Second Place ifornia to compete at Nationals from June advisor. A committee in the NJPSA then came regularly to practice their delivery Kelvin Jimenez : French Advanced 25 to July 1 where they will participate in reviews the applicants’ profile and nar- of their poems. We are all very proud of Veena Viju : French Intermediate a variety of business oriented tests. rows down the winners. them,” Hoffman said. Atid Malka : Spanish Beginner During their State Leadership Confer- “Jess works hard for the benefit of The following students participated in Tatiana Arroyo : Spanish Native ence on March 14 and 15, 12 members others and never seeks accolades,” Przy- the William Paterson Foreign Language placed in the top two in the state for their bylinski added. respective test. At Nationals, FBLA mem- Accardi is not only senior class pres- bers will participate in three projects, con- ident, but also ranks in the top 10 of her sisting of community service, American graduating class. She will be attending enterprise, and partnership with business Clemson University in South Carolina this The Cardinal along with the other corresponding tests.