Three Blue Devil Juniors Play in Union/Essex All Star Baseball Today

 Westfield baseball standouts Tim Younger, A.J. Murray and Dan Kerr – all juniors – were selected to play in this Saturday's first Union-Essex Underclassmen All-Star Game.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Kean University in Union.

The game includes freshmen, sophomores and juniors only and is designed to give players in those classes an opportunity to excel in front of college scouts.

"We want to make this a game where college coaches can come see prospects," said Governor Livingston head coach Chris Roof, who is one of the Union County coaches involved in putting the event together.

Here are their goals:

To create collegiate exposure for the most talented players in Union and Essex counties.

To exploit the existing rivalry of both counties.

To provide a true all-star experience for the underclassmen.

To provide an all-star game contrary to the North-South game, which is for seniors only and will be played this Thursday at Jack Cust Field in Flemington.

Younger, a steady fielding shortstop, proved to be one of the top leadoff batters this season. He started a rally by getting hit by a pitch in the helmet and then shaking it off in Westfield's Union County Tournament comeback semifinal win over Johnson.

Murray and Kerr proved to be among the top 3-4 batting lineup punches in Union County this season, helping lead the Blue Devils to a big 4-3 win at Scotch Plains on April 16 and to a third consecutive Union County Tournament championship game. Westfield was the only team to beat Scotch Plains in Union County Conference-Watchung Division play, with the Raiders winning the division title.

Westfield finished 18-9, with its season ending in a 12-3 loss at Bridgewater-Raritan in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals.

It was disclosed Tuesday by Roof that Kerr will not be able to play in the game because of other scholastic commitments. He was one of two first basemen selected along with GL junior Joey DiSarno.

Murray was one of two catchers chosen, with the other being Elizabeth freshman Martin Tavares.

The first infield warmup session is scheduled for 11:50 a.m. and the second for 12:15 p.m.

A nine-inning game will then follow.

HERE ARE THE ROSTERS FOR SATURDAY'S

FIRST UNION-ESSEX UNDERCLASSMEN ALL-STAR GAME

SET FOR 1 P.M. AT KEAN UNIVERSITY IN UNION

UNION COUNTY

PITCHERS:

Matt Hennie, Roselle Catholic, junior RH

Mark Wilson, Johnson, junior RH

Anthony Fischetti, Johnson, junior LH

Mike Cranston, Gov. Livingston, junior RH

Jeremy Montanez, Roselle Park, junior LH

Alex Reyes, Elizabeth, sophomore RH

Devin Zimmerman, Union, sophomore LH

CATCHERS:

A.J. Murray, Westfield, junior

Martin Tavares, Elizabeth, freshman

FIRST BASEMEN:

Dan Kerr, Westfield, junior

Joey DiSarno, Gov. Livingston, junior

MIDDLE INFIELDERS:

Tim Younger, Westfield, junior

Sean Trotter, Cranford, junior

John Jennings, Gov. Livingston, junior

THIRD BASEMAN:

Marcus Rivera, Scotch Plains, junior

Hennie

OUTFIELDERS:

Nick Oristanio, Summit, junior

Corey Ryan, Johnson, junior

Will Ingram, Linden, junior

Eric Walano, Cranford, junior

Greg Matlosz, Cranford, junior

Fischetti

Zimmerman

DESIGNATED HITTERS:

Matlosz

Montanez

COACHES:

Dave Kennedy, Johnson

Chris Roof, Gov. Livingston

Tom Baylock, Scotch Plains

Dennis McCaffery, Cranford

ESSEX COUNTY

PITCHERS:

PJ Lawless, West Essex

Mark Gualtieri, West Essex

Zeb Smith, Bloomfield

Jimmy Murphy, Columbia

Sam Ackerman, Montclair

CATCHERS:

Stephen Halibej, Seton Hall Prep

Mike Cayli, Belleville

FIRST BASEMEN:

Rob Fonseca, Seton Hall Prep

Brian Drapeau, Livingston

SECOND BASEMAN:

Jared Guglieamino, Bloomfield

Adam Seltzer, Newark Academy

THIRD BASEMEN:

John Brondo, Belleville

Gabe Rivera, Belleville

SHORTSTOP:

Matt Rehm, Livingston

OUTFIELD:

John Norwood, Seton Hall Prep 
Steve Raum, Cedar Grove 
Jimmy Kenny, West Essex 
Anthony Liaci, Nutley 
Mike Carter Jr., Bloomfield

Dave Webster, Newark Academy

COACHES:

Scott Illiano, West Essex 
Bob Harbison, Nutley

Joe Sorce, Belleville

Mike Sheppard Jr., Seton Hall Prep