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Schools

Chargers' Robinson Ready for 'Center' Stage

DJ Robinson will play baseball for Marshall University when he graduates, but first he hopes to lift up the Timber Creek program.

With a dozen juniors on his varsity roster, it is easy to see why first-year baseball coach Art Alessandroni is excited about what the future could hold. He envisions the Chargers making solid strides forward this season and really making a run at contention a year from now, when his lineup will be full of seniors.

“There’s about 12 juniors on varsity and this is their year to come together and they have a plan for this year, but an even bigger plan for next year,” he said. "Our senior group, we want to win for them this year and then see if we can really make some noise next year.”

Not everyone can wait for the 2013 season. For seniors, like DJ Robinson, the future is now.

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Robinson, who is committed to Marshall University, is the heart and soul of this Chargers’ squad. A five-tool player with great closing speed and an even better arm in center field, Robinson expects big things from himself and his teammates this year.

“We have a bunch of great players here and a lot of people stepped up,” said Robinson. “We’ve got good pitching, good hitting and good fielding. We are going to wreak some havoc and surprise some people this year.”

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Alessandroni couldn’t be happier to have a player of Robinson’s ilk in the fold. He figures to slot his most complete athlete in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, though that could change.

“He has great at-bats, very rarely does he strike out,” Alessandroni said. “He works good counts. He has great hand speed through the zone. He has great size and speed, and is very capable at succeeding at Marshall. We wish him the best, and we want to make sure he goes out on top.”

Robinson doesn’t have any specific numbers in mind in terms of batting average or RBIs this season—he simply hopes “to get up with people on base, drive some runs in and help us win games,” he said.

And he doesn’t mind that most of his teammates are younger than him. Robinson is excited about the opportunity to help build a winning tradition at Timber Creek and then leaving it in his teammates’ hands.

“Being seniors, you are kind of molding them for next year and guiding them,” Robinson said. “It’s fun. It’s just fun to have people that want to play and are ready to step up and play ball.”

Robinson is also looking forward to his chance to play at the collegiate level. He just has a few things to take care of before that time comes.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Robinson said of the chance at playing at Marshall. “High school helped out and training and hard work got me where I wanted to be. I feel like I am in a good position to go play ball at college. Right now, helping the high school team out is what I would love to do. It’s my senior year and I want to win something.”

Gloucester Township Patch will be previewing all six sports and 18 teams leading up to the full start of the spring season on April 2. Below is the tentative schedule.

Golf: Wednesday, March 28

Boys’ Tennis: Thursday, March 29

Girls’ Track: Friday, March 30

Boys’ Track: Saturday, March 31

Softball: Sunday, April 1

Baseball: Monday, April 2

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