Montclair fielded its first American Legion team in decades last June, in addition to an American Junior Legion squad. The Junior Legion team is gone in ’08 - with good reason.

Montclair High coach Ron Gavazzi and his staff decided to allow players from the Montclair High varsity club, who would normally fill the American Legion roster, to play for MHS assistant Bobby Jones and his South Bergen Mets AAU squad. Others are lacing up their cleats for the Pro Performance travel squad.

Younger players, primarily sophomores- and juniors-to-be next school year, are getting a chance to play up on American Legion. The experience, and the lumps they will absorb, will be invaluable when spring ’09 rolls around.

"This is a great opportunity to get the younger guys up to speed during the summer, not at the beginning of the school season," Legion coach John Antonucci said. "Our varsity guys, as two large groups, are playing the best competition the state has to offer.

"The players on my team are seeing pitching and playing at a speed they normally wouldn’t get until next year. It’s great."

"Energy" is a buzzword for Antonucci and Gavazzi, high school teammates at Clifton and two men responsible for the resurgence of baseball at the high school level in Montclair. During this past Tuesday’s game, a 5-0 loss to a varsity Livingston squad, Antonucci’s enthusiasm never wavered. His teaching didn’t stop, either.

"My job this summer is to make sure these guys show up for practice next spring playing baseball the right way," said Antonucci. "They are going to be pushed and challenged, but wins aren’t as important during the summer as doing things right."

Montclair’s catcher this summer is current junior Dave Reichman, who, according to Antonucci, has a shot to start for the Mounties’ big squad next April. Playing third base against Livingston and someone who will also see time behind the dish for the Legion squad is junior-to-be Morgan Thinger.

At first is Thinger’s classmate, Justin Wright.

Antonucci said, "[Wright] has been our hardest hitter and will find a role on the high school squad next year."

Second base is patrolled by incoming junior Mike Pagan. Scrappy and quick, Pagan will hit second in the batting order this summer. Turning double plays with Pagan is current freshman Chris Pignatello.

"Chris has a great shot to pitch varsity next year, and all of his breaking stuff is above the freshman level right now," Antonucci told The Times.

Junior-to-be Mike Ziobro roamed the outfield in center on Tuesday. Antonucci called him his "do-everything player." Ziobro displayed his versatility when he went behind the plate in the fourth inning against Livingston.

Other outfielders include incoming sophomores Jalen Frasier, Anthony Paradiso and Kabir West. Frasier is a rarity in that he throws left and hits right, and Antonucci has been impressed with his ability to track balls in the outfield. Kyle Gayle, who has been mainly a pinch runner for the MHS varsity squad during his freshman and sophomore seasons, is also in the mix in the outfield.

"As a staff, we are thinking this is the year that Kyle will blossom on the varsity level," said Antonucci. "Coach Gavazzi and I are excited that this will be a great summer for him and that he can roll it into next season."

Sophomore-to-be Rich Duchin will be a dangerous bat off the bench for Montclair.

Current sophomore Sam Campeas, who won four games for the Mounties at the varsity level this year, and junior Steven Santangelo will gobble up innings on the mound for Montclair.

Montclair is 0-3 to start the season, a record that doesn’t surprise its skipper.

"Right now, it’s literally men against boys, but I’m fine with that," Antonucci said. "The main thing is to come to the field with a positive attitude and be ready to learn. Interaction is big to me, so I’m not just going to speak to the kids, I’m also going allow them to speak so everyone is on the same level.

"The big-picture idea is to make sure each player gets better."

Montclair takes on South Orange today at Woodman Field in a 5:45 p.m. start.