HOME OF THE CHARGERS

Dzuro GMC's hottest hitter

Published in the Home News Tribune 04/16/05 -
 By GREG TUFARO STAFF WRITER

The toughest player to get out in the Greater Middlesex Conference this season has been Spotswood outfielder Brian Dzuro. A senior left fielder, Dzuro hit safely in 11 consecutive at-bats and leads the GMC with an .813 batting average. With six doubles and two homers, he boasts a 1.563 slugging percentage. Incredibly, Dzuro has been so hot that his batting average exceeds his on-base percentage. Despite walking six times and getting hit by a pitch, Dzuro only owns an .800 on-base percentage. Dzuro's two sacrifice flies on the year actually hurt his numbers in that department.

At any rate, Dzuro was perfect at the plate against Woodbridge, Dunellen and Middlesex. He went 3-for-4 against Colonia and 2-for-3 against Metuchen. He homered twice against Highland Park. He leads Spotswood with 12 RBI. For his efforts, Dzuro has been named the Home News Tribune Boy Athlete of the Week.

"I want to call him unheralded," Spotswood coach Glenn Fredricks said. "He is the kind of kid who just shuts his mouth, goes out and does his business. At the end of the day you look up and he's 3-for-4 every game."

As an assistant at New Brunswick last season, Fredricks coached against Dzuro. Fredricks said he and the New Brunswick staff determined that Dzuro was prone to chasing the high fastball. Fredricks said his leading hitter is now able to lay off the high heat. "He doesn't do that anymore," Fredricks said. "Now he's got a legitimate approach every time he steps to the plate. He will not chase that pitch out of the zone."

Dzuro was the third best returning hitter in the Blue Division this season and the 10th best returning hitter in the GMC. A year ago he batted .424. But Dzuro isn't all about hitting. "On that side of the field, as a pure left fielder, I haven't seen anybody better," Fredricks said. "His niche is left field and he's getting really good at it. He's good at cutting the ball off down the line, chasing balls in the gap and very rarely, if ever, does he miss the cutoff man." Dzuro has an outfield assist, throwing a runner out at the plate earlier this season. "He's become versed in all aspects of the game," Fredricks said.

"He's made it a point to become a complete baseball player."

Dzuro hopes to play at Ramapo University next spring.