By: Tom Szieber, Correspondent / Record Sports

Walt Gonzales has always had faith in his players, but he admits that with all the graduation losses he suffered, he was not sure what he was going to get out of his 2017 team. Leonia was 14-12 and made the North 2, Group 2 tournament last season, but with the departure of six senior players from that squad, Gonzales kept his preseason expectations tempered.

Now, ten games into the season, the Lions have given their coach reason to expect more, as a .500 record and some solid performances have shown him that this group is a special one.

“I expected to take a lot of lumps due to the relative inexperience,” Gonzales said. I think what they are doing is that they are playing as a team. I wasn’t exactly sure how they would play together at first, but this is probably one of the most cohesive teams from a personality standpoint I have had at Leonia.”

Pitching has been reliable, beginning with ace Andy Marquardt, a senior righty that also sees time at third base and short stop. The lone twelfth-grader on the Lions’ roster, Marquardt is a tough, gritty hurler that can also produce at the plate. Through ten, Marquardt has gone 16-for-33 at the plate (.485) with three doubles and 16 runs. He has 95 career hits.

In the outfield, junior Ryan Nakajima has been a big asset, able to dish out assists from center. The three-year starter is also third in the Lions’ order. Junior shortstop Tate Irby has been has been on a tear offensively, and is now hitting .375 on the year. He — along with junior first baseman Keith Galpo, junior second baseman Chris Espinosa and junior third baseman third baseman John Weber — is part of an infield that has become adept at making both the routine and spectacular play

Needless to say, the Lions are now shooting for loftier goals from when they began, now looking for a home tournament game and a chance to perhaps go a bit deeper in the state.

“Our next five games will determine whether our season brings that to fruition,” Gonzales said. “This team has already made me very proud. They play well together, and I think that is because they love the game and they’ve played together since little league. They have taken the coaching to the field. They want to learn. They want to know how to get better every day.”