Sporting News Template
3/9/12

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - There's value in 6 a.m. practices on a Saturday morning. And, as Mercer County Community College baseball players learn, it extends way beyond throwing strikes, hitting pitches and fielding grounders.

"I demand a lot," Vikings fifth-year head coach Matt Wolski says, "and when they start to demand nearly as much of themselves as I do, then it becomes easy."

That is the team identity Wolski seeks as MCCC prepares for the 2010 season.

The Vikings, who finished 27-15 in 2009, already have a focus - pitching. "Our arms are going to carry us," says Wolski, though he wouldn't mind if his offense tries to catch up.

Sophomore right-handers James Page (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and Russ Stupienski (Mansfield, N.J.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent with Saint Peter's College for the fall. The strapping 6'4" Page fronts MCCC's rotation and Stupienski is at the back end as the team's closer. In addition, freshman right-hander Brian Sigle (West Windsor, N.J.) joins the roster from nearby West Windsor-Plainsboro North, and sophomore right-hander Shawn Reindel (Ringoes, N.J.) returns after missing the 2009 season because of surgery. As a freshman in 2008, Reindel went 5-1 and started an elimination game for MCCC when it won the Region XIX Tournament.