BY MARK J. CZERWINSKI
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
James Dolaghan is getting ready to hit.
And these days, that’s a big deal.
The Rutherford junior catcher searches the dugout, making sure he finds the same batting helmet he’s been wearing all season. He steps into the batter’s box, pumps his bat three times and then rests it on his left shoulder.
When you have seven hits in your last seven at-bats, you don’t want to change even the slightest detail.
“I have a lot of confidence right now,” Dolaghan said with a laugh. “But I’ll keep the same routine until I cool off.”
Hot is not strong enough a word to describe Dolaghan’s start for the Bulldogs (2-1). In three games, he has nine hits in 11 at-bats (.818 average), including two home runs, a double, four runs scored and 10 RBI.
Throw in a couple of walks, and the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has reached base nine straight times.
“That’s being on a tear,” Rutherford coach Carmen Spina said. “He’s a very strong hitter. When he swings, when he makes contact, he just crushes the ball.“What he does well is being disciplined enough to drive the ball the other way. He’s just tough.”
The Bulldogs are on spring break this week, and Spina gave the team Thursday off a day after a 10-3 victory over Lodi. But Dolaghan still went down to Memorial Field with some of his teammates and took extra batting practice.
North Jersey’s newest hit machine isn’t about to let even a speck of rust settle in.
