The Big TUNA/Our feature story for Saturday Rally on Ocean slugger Keith Weinkofsky
TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
It was a blast about seven years ago off the bat of a little leaguer that first caught the attention of Del Dal Pra, Ocean Township High School baseball coach.
The batting practice home run shattered the windshield of his Ford Ranger parked beyond the outfield fence.
And that's how Del Pra met Keith Weinkofsky, who since breaking the glass of the truck of his future coach, has gone on to crack school long ball records and draw within range the Shore Conference all-time home run mark.
With 19 career home runs Weinkofsky, nicknamed ""Tuna'' due to a resemblance to legendary former National Football League coach Bill Parcells, will take his cuts this spring at the conference career record of 27 set by 1994 Jackson Memorial graduate Marc Fink.
But making amends, not making history, was all that occupied the mind of little Keith in the aftermath of the damaged vehicle.
""I was like, "Uh oh, I'm getting in trouble, this isn't good.' '' said Weinkofsky. ""He (Del Pra) said, "Don't worry about it, it was a helluva shot. At least you're doing something good out there.'
""Now it's like every time I hit a home run it's, "Del, where's your car?' ''
Fast forward now to this season and it appears vehicles located anywhere within the vicinity of Weinkofsky's power stroke - he unloaded a home run vs. Wall last year he said was measured at 498 feet - could be in danger.
But there could also be a problem for Weinkofsky in that opposing teams may not offer the 6-4, 220 pound catcher many potential windshield smashing pitches.
""Some coaches have said they're going to walk him or pitch around him,'' said Del Pra.
Fink knows all about being pitched around. ""My senior year in high school I was intentionally walked 36 times,'' said Fink, now a local hitting instructor. ""Once with the bases loaded against Middletown North.''.
""I don't really know what's going to happen but I expect to walk a lot,'' said Weinkofsky. He set the Ocean single season home run record when he belted 11 last season. Fink tagged a conference single season record 14 in '94.
""You can't let a great hitter like that (Weinkofsky) beat you,'' said Wall coach Todd Schmitt. ""He's one of those guys that come along
every now and then, there's been a handful of them in the
nine years I've been coaching. You respect them and try to
figure a way not to let them beat you.''
Weinkofsky said he'd prefer not to talk about the record. ""Just because of a jinx, I don't want my year to go wrong,'' he said. ""I just want to go out there and have some fun my senior year and help my team win.''
That should be a given for the defending Shore Conference champions who return a powerful lineup and deep pitching staff from the 26-7 team that reached the 2006 NJSIAA Group III championship game.
Along the way this season Fink said he feels Weinkofsky ""should hit 20 home runs'' and that Ocean's switch from the Class A North division of the Shore Conference to Class B North will be a factor.
""It would have been a little tougher for him having to face (Class A North teams) CBA and Freehold Township twice in a year,'' said Fink.
Weinkofsky has signed to play in college at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He said he entertained offers from Arkansas, Louisiana State, Central Florida, and High Point (N.C.) University and that an attractive financial aid package and a coaching promise to catch or play first base as a freshman influenced his decision.
But his future plans may also be influenced by Major League's Baseball's June 7-8 First Year Player Draft where he was labeled a ""definite'' selection by a major league scout.
""He's at the top of
our list to come in and see,'' said the scout who declined to be identified. ""You see a lot of guys that can go behind the plate that can catch and throw but
even in the majors - you don't often see power,'' said the scout. ""This year will probably be a sign as to which way he'll keep moving.''
Weinkofsky's father Chuck, a former Ocean Township slugger who played professionally in the Detroit system, appears likely to be very involved in the process.
""What we've told the scouts is we want something fair for my kid,'' said Chuck Weinkofsky. ""Keith wants to play professional baseball, and if it takes going to college for a few years to develop further and then go into pro baseball that would be great.
""I don't want to see him out of baseball at the age of 22.''
Keith Weinkofsky said he hopes his name is called on draft day. ""That's the one dream I've always had, to play professional baseball,'' he said. ""College baseball is another dream I've had. Pro baseball or college baseball is going to be the next step.
""It's going to make me be a better person and a better ball player. Either or, it's going to be a lot of fun.''
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
STAFF WRITER
It was a blast about seven years ago off the bat of a little leaguer that first caught the attention of Del Dal Pra, Ocean Township High School baseball coach.
The batting practice home run shattered the windshield of his Ford Ranger parked beyond the outfield fence.
And that's how Del Pra met Keith Weinkofsky, who since breaking the glass of the truck of his future coach, has gone on to crack school long ball records and draw within range the Shore Conference all-time home run mark.
With 19 career home runs Weinkofsky, nicknamed ""Tuna'' due to a resemblance to legendary former National Football League coach Bill Parcells, will take his cuts this spring at the conference career record of 27 set by 1994 Jackson Memorial graduate Marc Fink.
But making amends, not making history, was all that occupied the mind of little Keith in the aftermath of the damaged vehicle.
""I was like, "Uh oh, I'm getting in trouble, this isn't good.' '' said Weinkofsky. ""He (Del Pra) said, "Don't worry about it, it was a helluva shot. At least you're doing something good out there.'
""Now it's like every time I hit a home run it's, "Del, where's your car?' ''
Fast forward now to this season and it appears vehicles located anywhere within the vicinity of Weinkofsky's power stroke - he unloaded a home run vs. Wall last year he said was measured at 498 feet - could be in danger.
But there could also be a problem for Weinkofsky in that opposing teams may not offer the 6-4, 220 pound catcher many potential windshield smashing pitches.
""Some coaches have said they're going to walk him or pitch around him,'' said Del Pra.
Fink knows all about being pitched around. ""My senior year in high school I was intentionally walked 36 times,'' said Fink, now a local hitting instructor. ""Once with the bases loaded against Middletown North.''.
""I don't really know what's going to happen but I expect to walk a lot,'' said Weinkofsky. He set the Ocean single season home run record when he belted 11 last season. Fink tagged a conference single season record 14 in '94.
""You can't let a great hitter like that (Weinkofsky) beat you,'' said Wall coach Todd Schmitt. ""He's one of those guys that come along
every now and then, there's been a handful of them in the
nine years I've been coaching. You respect them and try to
figure a way not to let them beat you.''
Weinkofsky said he'd prefer not to talk about the record. ""Just because of a jinx, I don't want my year to go wrong,'' he said. ""I just want to go out there and have some fun my senior year and help my team win.''
That should be a given for the defending Shore Conference champions who return a powerful lineup and deep pitching staff from the 26-7 team that reached the 2006 NJSIAA Group III championship game.
Along the way this season Fink said he feels Weinkofsky ""should hit 20 home runs'' and that Ocean's switch from the Class A North division of the Shore Conference to Class B North will be a factor.
""It would have been a little tougher for him having to face (Class A North teams) CBA and Freehold Township twice in a year,'' said Fink.
Weinkofsky has signed to play in college at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He said he entertained offers from Arkansas, Louisiana State, Central Florida, and High Point (N.C.) University and that an attractive financial aid package and a coaching promise to catch or play first base as a freshman influenced his decision.
But his future plans may also be influenced by Major League's Baseball's June 7-8 First Year Player Draft where he was labeled a ""definite'' selection by a major league scout.
""He's at the top of
our list to come in and see,'' said the scout who declined to be identified. ""You see a lot of guys that can go behind the plate that can catch and throw but
even in the majors - you don't often see power,'' said the scout. ""This year will probably be a sign as to which way he'll keep moving.''
Weinkofsky's father Chuck, a former Ocean Township slugger who played professionally in the Detroit system, appears likely to be very involved in the process.
""What we've told the scouts is we want something fair for my kid,'' said Chuck Weinkofsky. ""Keith wants to play professional baseball, and if it takes going to college for a few years to develop further and then go into pro baseball that would be great.
""I don't want to see him out of baseball at the age of 22.''
Keith Weinkofsky said he hopes his name is called on draft day. ""That's the one dream I've always had, to play professional baseball,'' he said. ""College baseball is another dream I've had. Pro baseball or college baseball is going to be the next step.
""It's going to make me be a better person and a better ball player. Either or, it's going to be a lot of fun.''
e-mail tonygsports@aol.com
posted by Tony Graham at 6:46 PM
4 Comments:
he can't hit breaking stuff a good pitcher with stuff can put him down everytime i've seen it happen this spring GO EAGLES
Gebler the next Todd Fraizer in the waiting I think you just put a jinx on the kid NO FRAIZER
I'm with you on the GO EAGLES stance.
From what I saw last year "Tuna" has a 1. Good eye, 2. Doesn't usually go fishing (no pun intended).
Re Gebler... I agree. Only reason he wasn't in Five to Watch is because I went with five seniors, four of whom were All-Shore First Team and another (Laufer -s,) who could have been.
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