1996 BASEBALL TEAM YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2011 In 1996, the Steinert baseball team made a clean sweep and captured the Colonial Valley Conference, Mercer County Tournament, Central Jersey, and Group III championships. Evan Beach, Rich Brooks, Chad Bochenek, Chris Bubny, Carlos Cabrera-Brackley, Kris Cacciabaudo, Gino Cortina, Chris Ernst, Greg Gorla, Jerry Herrera, Mike Hurley, Joe Montague, Rich Nelson, Darren Pandolfini, Bryan Rogers, Matt Sadowy, Matt Wolski, Tim Young and Mike Zefutie led the Spartans to a 27-4-1 record. Two classic games at Waterfront Park stand out. In the MCT title game, the Spartans knocked off then-No. 1 Hamilton, 6-2, in front of a crowd that numbered close to 4,000. Less than two weeks later, the Spartans ended Hamilton's dream season, scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh to post a memorable 4-3 win in the Central Jersey Group III title game. The roll continued as one week later the Spartans captured their first Group III state title since 1992 as Rogers pitched a complete game in Steinert's 4-3 win over Nutley. For Rogers, in particular, it was a spring to remember, as the county's ace pitcher finished with a 10-0 record and established a then-Steinert record for ERA with a sparkling 0.68 mark. Sharing the excitement that year was a tight-knit group led by coaches Rich Giallella, Jim Benedict, Ron Yacyk, Frank Gatto and Brian Giallella and with Rich Pingitor as the manager. It was a talented team led by Rogers, the MVP and Bob DeMeo Award winner, and Gorla, the recipient of the Steinert Booster Club Scholarship Award, that year. Bochenek and Herrera shared the Most Improved Player honors Click Here to enlarge the team photo. RETURN TO THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS PAGE