Team Preview:
ACS / Above All Landscaping - Class D
When a slowpitch softball season comes to a bitter end or a rewarding one, teams always need to look themselves in the mirror and decide what can they do to improve. Does a team need a complete overhaul or minor adjustments? Well this years 2012 Pre-season ranked #1 D team in NJ did some minor adjusting. ACS/Above All Landscaping is coming into this season as the D level team to beat and will be the inaugural team preview article for slowpitchNJ.com.
ACS/Above All Landscaping , just to give you some background, are sponsored by two of the most generous and down to earth sponsors a team could have. Andy Caraballo, owner of (ACS) Audiovisual Concepts & Solutions, a company that installs high end custom Home Theaters for Nite Clubs and Restaurants and Joe Benanti, owner of Above All Landscaping, a company dealing with decorative stone and designs. Andy and Joe treat their players with professionalism and respect and to keep the environment pressure free the occasional after party doesnt hurt. The camaraderie amongst the players and the "Drama Free" atmosphere, as stated by Sponsor Joe Benanti, only enhances to the success of ACS/Above All Landscaping. Andy and Joe make sure their team is assured of having the best equipment, gear, and especially quality players. Andy and Joe have gone out and improved an already successful team for the 2012 season and generated a very competitive schedule as well.
When a slowpitch softball season comes to a bitter end or a rewarding one, teams always need to look themselves in the mirror and decide what can they do to improve. Does a team need a complete overhaul or minor adjustments? Well this years 2012 Pre-season ranked #1 D team in NJ did some minor adjusting. ACS/Above All Landscaping is coming into this season as the D level team to beat and will be the inaugural team preview article for slowpitchNJ.com.
ACS/Above All Landscaping , just to give you some background, are sponsored by two of the most generous and down to earth sponsors a team could have. Andy Caraballo, owner of (ACS) Audiovisual Concepts & Solutions, a company that installs high end custom Home Theaters for Nite Clubs and Restaurants and Joe Benanti, owner of Above All Landscaping, a company dealing with decorative stone and designs. Andy and Joe treat their players with professionalism and respect and to keep the environment pressure free the occasional after party doesnt hurt. The camaraderie amongst the players and the "Drama Free" atmosphere, as stated by Sponsor Joe Benanti, only enhances to the success of ACS/Above All Landscaping. Andy and Joe make sure their team is assured of having the best equipment, gear, and especially quality players. Andy and Joe have gone out and improved an already successful team for the 2012 season and generated a very competitive schedule as well.
ACS/Above in Fla.
The ACS/Above All Landscaping Softball Team is coming off a very successful 2011 campaign winning 7 tournament titles, which included the NorthEast National (in USSSA represents a regional) in Long Island. As successful as 2011 was the quality of competition throughout the season could be questioned to really testing a team prior to a World Tournament title run. Nonetheless not many, if any at all, walked away as the last team standing in as many tournaments as ACS/Above All Landscaping did. Well the questions can stop, ACS/Above Landscaping have put together a very competitive schedule for 2012 and should certainly bring out the best in this young team.
As stated before, a team is as good as their pitcher and ACS/Above All Landscaping certainly has that covered. Russ Banasiak is the heart of this team and if he is on his game ACS/Above All can and will compete with anyone. Russ brings leadership and experience to a team that can easily feed off of that. Russ is considered one of the top pitchers in the state on all levels and possibly the best on the D level. To back up Banasiak, ACS/Above All Landscaping has brought in some top notch newcomers to aide in the teams resurgence. Chuck Martinez, formerly of (PDR), Jesse Campanelli, (Big Apple), TJ Nacca (PDR), and Bobby Stewart (state of NC) have all been brought on in this ACS/Above All Landscaping transformation. These players will nail down an already solid defense and offer some added power for their much improved schedule, which includes a trip to Peters Creek, NC where teams can hit 11 HR's.
ACS/Above All Landscaping will not only have a youthful look to them but their team defense is very formidable. With the athleticism of Andy Roth and the stability of Dave O'Neil the defense will be the least of ACS/Above All's problems. Having two former minor league ballplayers in Travis Musolf and Mike McTamney in their lineup will also add some swagger to an already solid core. And lets not leave out John Soldo, formerly of Hit and Run and many other quality teams, locking up the left corner of the IF. Once one of the most exciting pitchers in the area, John must feel miles away from the batter in comparison to the mound. The guy is one of the best and as humble as they come. This ACS/Above All team has such versatility that no matter the tournament rules they have a player for player comparison. In tournaments where power is needed Nacca and "Papa" Joe Quenet will let them fly, you need to keep it in the park and run, well Roth, Capanelli, Murano, and Clemente will hit it and run. This team will be exciting and very competitive.
For ACS/Above All Landscaping, this upcoming 2012 season should bring them new challenges and obstacles that can only prepare them for a run at the USSSA D National Tournament in Disney (usually 200+ teams). ACS/Above All will be challenged by either Deluxe Bakery, TNT, B.O.T., and Guttemaster in a minimum of 11 of their scheduled tournaments. That is quite a mountain to climb and if they come away with as much hardware as last season a possible ring sizing party may be on the horizon.
Best of luck to Andy and Joe and the rest of the ACS/Above All Landscaping team this 2012 Season.
As stated before, a team is as good as their pitcher and ACS/Above All Landscaping certainly has that covered. Russ Banasiak is the heart of this team and if he is on his game ACS/Above All can and will compete with anyone. Russ brings leadership and experience to a team that can easily feed off of that. Russ is considered one of the top pitchers in the state on all levels and possibly the best on the D level. To back up Banasiak, ACS/Above All Landscaping has brought in some top notch newcomers to aide in the teams resurgence. Chuck Martinez, formerly of (PDR), Jesse Campanelli, (Big Apple), TJ Nacca (PDR), and Bobby Stewart (state of NC) have all been brought on in this ACS/Above All Landscaping transformation. These players will nail down an already solid defense and offer some added power for their much improved schedule, which includes a trip to Peters Creek, NC where teams can hit 11 HR's.
ACS/Above All Landscaping will not only have a youthful look to them but their team defense is very formidable. With the athleticism of Andy Roth and the stability of Dave O'Neil the defense will be the least of ACS/Above All's problems. Having two former minor league ballplayers in Travis Musolf and Mike McTamney in their lineup will also add some swagger to an already solid core. And lets not leave out John Soldo, formerly of Hit and Run and many other quality teams, locking up the left corner of the IF. Once one of the most exciting pitchers in the area, John must feel miles away from the batter in comparison to the mound. The guy is one of the best and as humble as they come. This ACS/Above All team has such versatility that no matter the tournament rules they have a player for player comparison. In tournaments where power is needed Nacca and "Papa" Joe Quenet will let them fly, you need to keep it in the park and run, well Roth, Capanelli, Murano, and Clemente will hit it and run. This team will be exciting and very competitive.
For ACS/Above All Landscaping, this upcoming 2012 season should bring them new challenges and obstacles that can only prepare them for a run at the USSSA D National Tournament in Disney (usually 200+ teams). ACS/Above All will be challenged by either Deluxe Bakery, TNT, B.O.T., and Guttemaster in a minimum of 11 of their scheduled tournaments. That is quite a mountain to climb and if they come away with as much hardware as last season a possible ring sizing party may be on the horizon.
Best of luck to Andy and Joe and the rest of the ACS/Above All Landscaping team this 2012 Season.
"Drama Free"
Roster: Schedule:
MGR: Ian Hahn 3/3- Peters Creek, NC
Andy Roth 3/10- Flemington
Joe Quenet 3/31- Central Jersey Classic
Joe Benanti (sp) 4/14- Icebreaker, Read.
Justin Doyle 4/21- Razorback, PA
Travis Musolf 4/28- Icebreaker, Lkwd Andrew Materia 5/12- Summer Clash, DE
Andy Caraballo (sp) Rest of May (TBA)
Chris Murano 6/16- Hi-Lo , Lkwd
Mark Nixon 6/22- CT Major
Adam Clemente 7/27- MD Major
Dave O'Neil 8/11- USSSA C CT States
Russ Banasiak 8/12- USSSA D CT States
Chuck Martinez 8/25- Atlantic Coast USSSA
Jesse Campanelli 8/31- ASA D Nationals
9/20- USSSA D Worlds, FLA
10/27- Fall Classic, Lkwd
