“Stefano is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coached,” said MKA head diamond mentor Mike Sasso, who was nj.com’s Super Essex Conference Coach of the Year last spring. "His curve ball has a lot of spin and drops to the floor, and he really throws gas in the 85-88 range.

“He is a 15-year-old lefty with a tremendous upside and will be a top pitcher to watch in Essex County for the next three years!”   

Outfielder Owen Borelli is another freshman to watch for MKA after he saw extensive action for Sasso and Co. this spring.        

West Essex’s Drechsel and Fiss blended in seamlessly into the lineup for first-year head coach Anthony Genchi and his Knights, and both freshmen prospects helped bolster a strong defensive alignment for the North Caldwell regional school’s diamond program.

“Thomas and Ethan are advanced players for their year in school and they earned their starting jobs in our lineup,” said Genchi. “Losing in the state sectional quarterfinals is tough, but I do believe our younger players will gain a great deal from the experience they’ve had all season with us.”

Drechsel, who is the nephew of former Cranford standouts and ex-Millburn coaches Dave and Chris Drechsel, batted a solid .328 in his rookie high school season while knocking in 13 runs and showing a good eye at the plate with 19 walks.

He also was superb on the mound with a 1.64 ERA while allowing 15 hits in 21 1/3innings pitched.

Fiss batted .235 with 11 runs and will almost certainly build on his offensive numbers next spring while continuing to play stellar defense as a standout middle infielder for the Knights.

SHP’s Vargas entered recent action with a .200 batting average and 13 runs scored while also playing a solid brand of defense on the Pirates’ infield and forming a reliable double play combination with veteran senior shortstop Xavier McKnight.

“Noah has a lot of skill,’ said SHP coach Shep, Jr. “I have seen improvements in Noah’s play as the season has progressed.”

The fourth-seeded Pirates saw their season end on Tuesday (June 2) with a 2-0 loss at top-seeded Delbarton in the Non-Public, North A state sectional semifinals.

At Montclair, veteran coach Ron Gavazzi will look forward to three more years with Hart (.329 BA, 17 RBI) and Hodari (.279 BA, 16 RBI) as the Mounties eye a bright future.              

Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister