The Hawthorne High School varsity baseball team is looking to start off the 2013 season with a bang.

Even after their tough, heartbreaking losses to Lenape Valley in the State Sectional Tournament and to DePaul Catholic in the Passaic County Tournament last season, the Bears remain optimistic with seven returning starters. Among those are top pitchers Kenny Tousignant, Tommy Walls, and Jimmy Contrini–all four year lettermen. Tousignant says the squad is hoping to capture both a county and state title after posting an 18-6 record and placing 4th in the Colonial A Division in 2012.   

There are many high expectations for the Bears this season, especially from their own ace right hander Tommy Walls. Walls stated, “Not only did we have a very successful season last year, but our experience as a team is at its greatest, and we look forward to showing it throughout the season.” Pitcher/shortstop, Jimmy Contrini, agreed adding, “Every position we did lose [from 2012] is getting filled with a player just as good or better.”

Experience and prior success should make the Bears frontrunners in the Colonial A Division and a strong contender in the state and county tournaments. The promising group of young players is hoping for an opportunity to bring a league title back to Hawthorne. To top everything off, the Bears will debut new uniforms this season, giving them a new look and feel heading into the spring.