Eastside senior right-hander Erimir Vargas got the win in the Ghosts’ 4-2 upset of Passaic on Wednesday. Passaic is ranked No. 8 in The Record Top 25. (PHOTO: MITSU YASUKAWA)
The Eastside baseball team lost eight senior starters from a team that went 10-12 last season.
Standout shortstop Lewis Beato was among those players, but second-year Eastside coach Jose Rojas wasn’t worried about the Ghosts’ ability to compete in the challenging Big North conference this season. We’re starting to see why.
Eastside is 3-1 after shutting out Clifton, 4-0, on Monday in Paterson.
Junior lefty Wilfredo Valenzuela limited the Mustangs to six singles, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter while throwing a complete game for Eastside. Senior shortstop Danny Camilo, a transfer from Monroe High School in the Bronx who has committed to Division I Indiana State, went 3-for-3, including a solo homer, and scored three times to spark the Ghosts’ offense.
Eastside also has beaten Passaic, ranked No. 8 in The Record Top 25, since the season started. Senior right-hander Erimir Vargas provided a strong start in the Ghosts’ 4-2 defeat of Passaic on Wednesday in Paterson (seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings).
Their victory over Clifton marked the first of five games this week for Eastside. To make up rainouts, the Ghosts will play a rare split-site doubleheader on Saturday.
They’ll play a home game against Neptune at 10 a.m. at Larry Doby Field in Paterson. Then Eastside will travel to Montclair Kimberly Academy for a 4 p.m. road game.
Eastside’s week also includes a road game Friday at 20th-ranked Wayne Valley (3-2), the defending Passaic County champion.