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The headline and photo says it all as Steinert walked off with pitcher John Bowen on their shoulders and the 1978 Group IV title in their pockets (scroll to bottom of page for more photos).
Click here to read about thrilling semifinal win over Rancocas Valley
Steinert’s ’78 title looks even better from a distance
By Rich Fisher
Fish4Scores.com
As time has gone by, it has given Chris Pittaro a chance to gain some perspective.
Since he became part of the first state baseball champion in Steinert High history, Pittaro has played in the major leagues, gotten married, had a family, and gained fulltime employment with the Oakland A’s.
After going through all that, when he reflects on the 1978 Spartans – who are being inducted to the Steinert Athletic Hall of Fame this Saturday – he understands now, what he didn’t understand then.
It was one helluva team. 
“I don’t know if you’re aware of things when you’re experiencing them or going through them,” said Pittaro (shown clutching the championship trophy at right), who was the shortstop on that team. “I don’t even know if we knew we were that good. We played together a lot, played together in the summer and then you throw the (soccer playing) Bowen brothers in there, and you look around and say ‘Hey we are kind of good.’
“So when you look back you realize how special it is, but when you’re playing in the game, you’re just trying to make it through one game at a time and figure it out from there. We got on a roll and got hot at the right time.”
‘THE RIGHT TIME’
If you consider the “right time” the entire second half of the season, then yes, the Spartans did pick an opportune time.
Steinert scuffled at the start and was 4-3. They appeared to right the ship, winning four straight, then lost to St. Anthony’s.
After that, they never lost again en route to a 20-4 record and the Mercer County and NJSIAA Group IV tournament titles.
“I don’t know, what happened there at the start,” said centerfielder Dave Gallagher, who led the county in hitting that year and went on to a nine-year Major League career. “Sometimes you lose games, and I don’t know if a team presses. It was just happening early on.
“I don’t remember any one instance of us turning it around. Just, as a team, we kind of did what we expected of ourselves. There was no one incident.”
Pittaro agreed.
“I think it just kind of took us a while to find a rhythm or a groove,” he said. “We kind of scuffled through the first quarter of the season, first third of the season. But we finished up real well.”
THE PLAYERS
Things suddenly began to click and the Green & White won its final 12 games.
John Bowen, along with twin brother Jim, became nearly unhittable. Baseball was a hobby for the two, who went on to play soccer at Princeton University. But they were good at their hobby.
The talented staff also included Jimmy Maher, who is reportedly speaking on behalf of the team at the HOF dinner, and will be getting the hook if his speech goes on as long as it did at Hamilton West’s dinner. Also on the staff were the late Jim Rivera, Brian Binns and Bob Kelly.
The position players featured catcher Bobby Miranda, first baseman Jim Radvany, second baseman Joe Capone, shortstop Pittaro, third basemen Jim and John Bowen, leftfielder Chris Moran, centerfielder Gallagher and rightfielder Jody Adams. Reserves were Rich Marolda, Pete Capone and Ken Ridge.
“We just had really good athletes,” Gallagher said. “It wasn’t just a team of baseball players. They were all competitors. And we had a very good blend. It was a team with a lot of baseball smarts, and the make-up was very good.
“We had a lot of pieces, and we needed everyone.”
It was also a group that became quite intimidating as the season went along.
“What other high school team would you see. . . .we had a boom box and our team song was ‘Cocaine’ (by Eric Clapton),” Gallagher recalled with a laugh. “Think about that. And we would walk in unison as a group to that song and look at the other team, get our spikes on, take infield. We were good and we knew it.
“And, he just kind of let us do our thing.”
THE COACH
“He” was head coach Ken Rauba, who is also being inducted as an individual Saturday.
Rauba was one of a kind. His coaching strategy had baseball minds shaking their heads, but it usually worked.
More than anything, he worked hard to learn the game and got every ounce of talent out of his players.
“Sometimes his way of teaching was things he would look into,” Gallagher said. “I know his big thing was swimming, that was really his sport.
“When he took over the baseball team it was a lot of research and doing things on his own to teach us, which I appreciated. The one thing he was good at was motivating, he pulled us together.”
Rauba would tell his players they bled Spartan Green and worshiped the Great Spartan in the Sky.
“He was out there,” Gallagher said. “But we were young, and when you’re easily influenced like we were, that kind of stuff worked.”
“It was a religious experience, let me tell you,” quipped John Bowen. “Some guys, he really intimidated and pushed them to the edge. I just had fun with it, he didn’t really bother me that much.”
“When you look back, it was all in good fun,” Pittaro said. “I think he motivated us the best way he could and we responded to it. We got on a roll.”
THE PITCHER
It was a roll made possible by one of the greatest two-week pitching performances in Steinert history.
The Spartans had to win six state tournament games to earn the ultimate prize, and the Bowens won all six.
Jim beat Ewing, and John took care of all the rest. John Bowen went 5-0 in the states, pitched 38 innings and allowed just two runs. He threw shutouts in the Central Jersey Group IV title game, the state semifinals, and the championship game.
If the word “clutch” hadn’t been invented yet, that would have been its origin.
“He was our number one on the mound and basically carried us,” Gallagher said. “He had pinpoint control. Some of us were telling him he better throw a ball once in a while so they wouldn’t get comfortable.
“Both of the Bowens handled themselves with so much composure in athletics, both in soccer and baseball, and it really showed itself in that tournament run.”
For his part, John Bowen just felt it was a case of getting hot at the right time.
“That’s what happens sometimes,” he said. “It would happen during games, where I just got in a groove. You’re comfortable, you throw a pitch and you’re so confident.
“I had such an incredible team behind me, I just let guys hit the ball. I didn’t have to strike guys out.”
Bowen’s best effort was a 10-inning shutout of Rancocas Valley in the Group IV semifinal, in which he shut down a powerful lineup until the Spartans could eke out a run.
The finals were almost anticlimactic as Steinert rolled to a 9-0 win over Teaneck, when Rauba had Gallagher squeeze with the bases loaded and no one out in the first inning.
Not a move a lot of people would make, but it resulted in two errors and three runs and the Spartans were on their way.
A SPECIAL TIME
One might think that when players like Pittaro and Gallagher went on to Major League careers, their high school days would get lost in the shuffle.
On the contrary.
The spring of 1978 has become even more special over the years.
“It’s just so different,” Gallagher said. “I talk to my wife (and high school sweetheart Jayne) all the time and say ‘I always wanted to be a major league player but the reality was it was always just an unbelievable thing to try and make a living like that. It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world for me.
“I never had an extended contract. I had 17 years of one-year contracts and it’s really hard as it’s happening, when every year you’re trying to figure out how to support your family.
“That’s what makes it different. Winning a high school championship with your buddies . . . these are the guys you grew up with, you hang out with. You talk about it all week, you have a history together. There’s nothing like it.”
Gallagher re-lived it vicariously three years ago, when his son Logan won a state title with Allentown.
“When they got the final out and I watched him jumping up and down on the field, I got really emotional,” Gallagher said. “I don’t know where it came from. . . my feet or what. But I couldn’t believe I was watching my son do that.”
More than likely, the emotion came from within, from similar memories of long ago.
Emotions Pittaro can now relate to.
“I played on a World Series champion (with the Twins),” he said. “But keeping everything in perspective, I feel more connected with this team than I do to that team. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the importance of what the other team did, that will always be the highlight of my baseball career, but I feel more connected to what we did as a team at Steinert than what I did then.
“I think it’s the other things that make it nice. We played with and against each other, as all high school teams do. But growing up and playing little league and Babe Ruth and legion in the summer, it makes it even more special. And when you look back on the accomplishment and what was achieved, that’s pretty heady stuff.”
And now -- looking at it from a comfortable distance of 32 years -- is the time when that stuff is most appreciated.
The SHS Hall of Fame Banquet is April 24 at the Hamilton Manor. Cocktail hour is at 5 p.m. and the dinner begins at 6:30. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by calling 609-890-1243 or 609-631-4150, ext. 6. Other inductees are the 1975 soccer team, Randy Jacobs, Todd Jacobs, Bill Povia, Jim Rivera, Jack Blair Sr., Jack Blair Jr., Dennis DeSanctis, Rich Henrie, Katie Roche-Marland, Robert Rostron, Sam Steinert, Kristin Voorhees, Doug Martin and Ken Rauba. 
The Trentonian photo caption at upper right says it all after Steinert made school history. 
Sporting some snazzy duds and even snazzier haircuts, the Spartans proudly show off their Group IV championship trophy. Jim and John Bowen flank the prize, with (from left) Dave Gallagher, Jody Adams, coach Ken Rauba and Bob Miranda standing in the rear.
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FISH TALES
(Also known as
Rich Fisher's blog)
May 7, 2012
Thanks go out to
Mollie, Ms. Quinn,
Alu, Nancy Mac
and other great
F4S contributors
May 7: Just want to start out by thanking Steinert senior Mollie Coyne and GALARE teacher Tracy Quinn for having me in as a guest speaker on Friday. It was a tremendous experience with a great group of kids.
Mollie extended the invitation, Ms. Quinn made it happen and it turned out to be a great morning.
Being a guest speaker is always a crap shoot. You go in and talk for a little bit and hope you spark an interest that will lead to some questions. If there are little or no questions, it can get pretty embarrassing because I don’t have a heck of a lot to say after five minutes. . . on anything!
But the GALARE gang took care of that by asking some thought-provoking, intelligent and inspiring questions. They made me think of things I haven’t thought of in years and also made me think of things I take for granted all the time and never give much thought to. It also gave me a chance to experience a nice give-and-take relationship with the students other than a quick interview after the game.
It’s kind of cool to see what kind of things young adults think about in this day and age, and I have to commend this group for being attentive and, not to sound like a britsh woman at Sunday morning tea, quite delightful!
And I have to give props to Cat Castaldo, whose dad John put her up to a prank question that she didn’t even understand, but asked it anyway and had me laughing like crazy. Good job Cat! But don’t let your dad drag you down to our level too many more times!
And Sydney, thanks for overlooking my Yankee dislike. Glad we could come to terms!
* * *
Congratulations also go out to Quinn and Robyn Korchick Lucchesi, both standout hoop players from the township, for their upcoming induction into the Mercer County CYO Hall of Fame. Both are quite deserving and are products of Joe O’Gorman’s knowledge of the game.
Also, happy birthday to Tracy one day late, and happy anniversary to Robyn, who’s celebrating her 18th year with husband Frank today. All good stuff!
* * *
More thanks go out to Phil Alu and Nancy McManimon.
When this site started over two years ago, I billed it as a “community sports” website, with the accent on the community. I have a few guys helping out but for the most part I’m still on my own and need help from the members of the community and the coaches of each team.
I have certainly been getting that, as the influx of youth sports results has been better than ever this spring, as has the reporting of results from the high school coaches.
But on Friday Phil took it to a new level. I couldn’t make it to the Hamilton-PDS game due to some other issues I needed to deal with. I really wanted to get there because so many township kids played on PDS.
So Phil agreed to text me updates each inning, which he did a fabulous job of. And Nancy provided several pictures of the game, although that’s not news because she has done that often in the past.
Now, skeptics will say this was only done because both their kids had big games. But they offered to do so before the game even started, no matter what the end result.
It worked out great and I just want to thank them both. . .and thank everyone else for all the contributions you have been making this spring and, of course, in the winter, fall and summer.
* * *
It’s hard to believe Marshall Harden isn’t in the Steinert lineup. Few programs can lose a guy like that and do what the Spartans are doing.
Speaking of Steinert baseball. . . .how tasty is that 7 p.m. match-up against Robbinsville. Rarely do you get last year’s finalists meeting so early in the tournament. Steinert owes the Ravens some payback from last year, but Robbinsville is on fire.
Should be awesome. * * *
Here’s a little unfortunate news to report.
Just call it “Bad Ending II”
Steinert grad Angela “Pit Crew” Marinos’ had her outstanding collegiate softball career come to a gruesome end on Sunday.
With Mercer County Community College playing Morris in the Region XIX Tournament Sunday, Marinos swung at a high and inside pitch on a hit-and-run play. She fouled the ball directly into her mouth, and blood exploded everywhere.
Marinos was rushed to the hospital. There was no fracture but twor front teeth were pushed back, and it took over 25 stitches to seal all the wounds.
This marks the second dark ending to a career for the popular Marinos. (To quote HGSA legend Tara Lavin “Who doesn’t like Ange?”). Her career at Steinert ended due to a broken ankle.
Get well soon Ange. There are engines to overhaul!
* * *
Fish4Scores “Phase 2” is on the horizon.
After making sure this was a site that was going to last and gain interest, I now want to take it to the next level and begin selling banner advertising to local businesses. The process will probably take a month or so to get started, but if you are a business owner out there looking to promote your venture and support local athletes all at once, please give it consideration.
If you are a sponsor and want to upgrade to a banner ad, you will obviously have a lower rate since you’ve already paid into it.
More details will be forthcoming, but just putting it out there.
* * *
There is another exciting promotion for Fish4Scores in the works, but things haven’t been finalized yet so let’s wait until they are before we talk about it. But in getting it started, it will involve fun help from the community.
* * *
My dislike of the Yankees is no secret to anyone who reads this blog, but here’s hoping Mariano Rivera can make a successful return next year.
There is no way anyone in the world can not like this guy. He is humble, modest, keeps a lower than low profile and just happens to be the greatest player at his position that ever lived playing for a franchise that is nearly impossible to stay low profile with.
A guy like Mariano deserves to go out on his terms. He deserves to have a farewell tour around the league and let everyone cheer him. He probably doesn’t want that, but he deserves it.
In my mind, he is the absolute key to this Yankee dynasty in the era of the closer.
Get well and get back Mariano. You deserve it! * * *
My Flyers are down 3-1. My Sixers are up 3-1.
I predicted Flyers-Devils would go seven games with four of them going overtime. I didn’t predict the winner, just the length. Well, change that from my prediction to my prayer.
As for the Sixers, I thought they would hang with the Bulls after Derrick Rose went out, but didn’t think they would win. But Chicago is getting killed with other injuries too, so what the hell, might as well take advantage of it!
* * *
Mike “The Meatball Master” Papero continues to show his versatility, as he ran the clock flawlessly during Hamilton West’s girls county lacrosse game with Robbinsville Saturday. The Master also announces at hoop games, coaches football and coaches golf.
Where there is time for meatballs, I will never know.
April 28, 2012
Township athletes
should be making
us proud during
period of adversity
Apr. 28: As much as everyone in the area likes Jimmy Hines, I’m afraid I overstayed his welcome at the top of this blog. No less than three people this week said “Hey, isn’t about time for a new blog, I’m a little sick of Jimmy Hines.”
Well, OK, a month might be a little too much, so here we go on to the land of the Hines-less.
* * *
We all know what’s going on in Hamilton Township these days and it is not casting us in a very good light around the area.
But we can’t help what our leaders do, we can only do what we do.
That’s why this township should be proud of some of the young athletes at Hamilton West High School this week.
In case you missed the stories posted on Fish4Scores earlier this week (and still on the home page), a group of Hornet football players helped out at the Miracle League by playing baseball with individuals with disabilities, and Hamilton West softball catcher Brianna Castellano has gotten her teammates and Nottingham’s softball team to “Play for Pink” Monday night during their game at HGSA.
Granted, these aren’t the only high school kids from the township that do nice things. It happens at all three schools.
But during a week of total upheaval in our township, the timing of these athletes could not be better to make us feel good about ourselves. Isn’t it nice to know that there are some young kids among us who aren’t just thinking about themselves, but are looking out for others?
Show them how much you appreciate it.
Prove to them you’re proud of what they have done during this bleak week.
Come to the HGSA complex Monday night and donate to breast cancer. And watch a good softball game while you are there.
* * *
Megan Cibree is about as much of a lacrosse expert as you can get when it comes to the sport in Hamilton Township.
The Steinert senior has played in the Spartans program since she was a freshman and Steinert was a club team. Her boyfriend plays on the Steinert boys’ team.
If she’s not playing lacrosse with the girls, she’s watching it with the boys.
So who better to ask if the sport is catching on in Hamilton.
“Oh yeah, definitely,” she said during a recent boys game that was very well attended. “You really see it at the boys’ games. I’m not sure if it’s catching on with the girls as much, because there really is more action in the boys’ games.
“But we’re still getting better crowds. People are really starting to get into it more.”
It helps that the Steinert boys and Hamilton girls have been winning a few games this year, which always helps pump up interest.
Granted, they are playing weaker schedules than the best teams in Mercer. But New Egypt coach Jay Corby, a township resident who has done an outstanding job out there in Plumstead, says that’s the way to go.
“If you’re trying to build a program, you have to have some success first,” Corby said. “You have to go out and win a few games, and get the kids some confidence. Then other kids in school see that the team is winning and maybe they want to come out.
“Once all that starts happening, then you can try and get a tougher schedule. But for now, let them enjoy some wins.”
* * *
Whoever knew this township was such a rugby factory?
Believe it or not, no less than four former high school athletes are playing club rugby at their respective colleges. Steinert’s Garrett Braddock is at Syracuse, Nottingham’s Mike Elberson is playing at Ursinus, Steinert’s Jonathan Pulley plays at Albright, and Hamilton West’s Amanda Rossi just went to the collegiate club championship game with Pittsburgh before the Panthers fell in the finals in chilly Ohio.
When somebody finds out where this feeder system is, please let me know.
* * *
You may have noticed that I am trying to run game by game results of various sports.
You may also have noticed that they are like, really crooked. They kind of swerve their way downward.
You may not care. Or, you may wonder why.
My answer is, I do not know why. They are straight when I type them in and proof them and all that. Then when the site publishes, they are crooked.
One of life’s little mysteries I suppose.
* * *
I’m not a huge hockey fan. I used to be, back in the day of the Broad Street Bullies winning Stanley Cups, but there’s just too many teams to try and keep track of the regular season.
BUT. . . I don’t know if any sport’s playoffs are more exciting than the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The NFL playoffs and NCAA tournament are gut-grinding because they are one-and-done. But as far as best-of-seven series, the emotions of these hockey playoff games are incredible. It seems like so many of them are one goal games, down to the wire with a goalie out.
I think one of the big differences in hockey and the NBA is that with hockey, barring a penalty, the game plays out in a rhythm with few stoppages down the stretch. In basketball, foul shots and timeouts in the final few minutes pretty much stall things. In hockey, you never get the chance to catch your breath, which is what makes it so cool.
I don’t even care about some of the teams in these playoffs and I’m all edge-of-my-seaty at crunch time. It’s good stuff. And it’s gonna be pretty wild around here in the next few weeks with Flyers-Devils.
Let’s go Flyers!
* * *
Speaking of playoffs, I am a Sixers fan, but it kills me to see Derrick Rose out for the rest of the playoffs.
Part of what makes any post-season game great is watching the stars go head to head and see who rises to the top. For the Bulls to lose their best player, that just cheats everybody. Will the Heat feel good about beating a Rose-less Bulls?
Actually, with that crew, who knows?
* * *
I guess there’s something wrong with me, but I just can’t get into the NFL draft. I don’t know why. Maybe I’ve just seen too many hyped guys fall flat, so watching all this stuff and all these interviews and everything just doesn’t do much for me because you really never know what’s going to happen.
I can understand people doing it. It’s a great haven for hard core football fans. I’m a big fan, but I’m more a fan of just watching the games. I’m not a fantasy guy, I don’t play pools, I just love to watch it.
What does make me laugh, are the people who sit there and watch the 86,000th pick with the same intensity as the top 10. “Ohhh, how can they take that guy when that receiver at Saskatchewan College is still available. That kid’s a sleeper!”
* * * *
Congratulations to College of New Jersey coach Sharon Pfluger for becoming the first Division III women's lacrosse coach to win 400 games. Sharon is not from Hamilton, but she's a friend, a great person and a great coach and I'm happy for her.
