Brookdale's fine 18-4 start on the baseball diamond is no surprise to head coach Johnny Johnson.

"This is a sophomore-laden team," he said. "I expected them to come out and play quality-level baseball."

One of those sophomores delivering the quality is catcher Keith Weinkofsky, who is proving every game that he is more than a power hitter who catches. He's a catcher who just happens to rip the cover off the ball.

"He's been outstanding," said Johnson. "He caught every inning [when the Blues opened the season on the Florida swing]. We knew he would hit."

Weinkofsky, an Ocean Township High School grad, was batting .478 (33-69) through the team's first 22 games, with 19 RBIs, 10 doubles, one triple and five home runs. Weinkofsky bats third in what is, top to bottom, a loaded lineup. Brian Seres (South Amboy) has been moved to the top of the lineup by Johnson because "he's a patient hitter and a great twostrike hitter." Seres is doing his job, getting on base batting .333. He's driven in 15 runs.

Returning All-American Andy Vega (Queens, N.Y.) bats second in the lineup and he's started the season hot, batting .391. The outfielder has hit 11 doubles, three triples and two home runs and has 18 RBIs.

After Weinkofsky, Kevin Mager (Middletown North) bats cleanup. He's batting .394 with 16 RBIs. The shortstop has five doubles, four triples and four home runs. The freshman has 16 RBIs.

Gabe Torres (West Orange) and Joe Talerico (Toms River), a transfer from Seton Hall University, hit fifth and sixth in the lineup. Torres is batting .350, and Talerico is .424 with 18 RBIs. Talerico has hit four doubles, six triples and three home runs.N

ick Scarillo (South Amboy) and Andrew Small (Long Branch) are rotating at designated hitter. Scarillo, who is hitting .308, bats lefty, while Small (.333 and 10 RBIs) is a right-handed batter.

Frank Mormino (Howell) has played lights-out defense at first base.

At the bottom of the lineup, the Blues have another catalyst in Ivan Rodriquez (Newark). He shakes things up with his speed on the base paths and is one of the reasons why Seres has 15 RBIs. Rodriquez is batting .300 in front of him.

The Jersey Blues don't have the depth of past years, but Andrew Archer (Freehold) is someone Johnson can confidently bring into games. He has the versatility to help out at a variety of positions in the field. He's batted .417.

Brookdale has thus far shown a propensity to strike early and get on the scoreboard first. They've struggled to score in late innings, and although it hasn't caught up to them yet, Johnson would like to see his squad tack on runs in the later innings to make things easier for his pitchers.

On the mound, Brookdale is built for both the long haul and the fickleness of tournament play.

"We have six quality starters, good middle relief and a closer," said Johnson.

"I've never had that depth before."

Jeff Frost (Freehold Borough), Ryan Casey (Manchester), Gerald Menna (a transfer), Connor Smith (St. Rose), Chris Cirlincione (Monroe) and Brian Dudzinski (Middletown) are the starting rotation. Freshman Matt Yuhas (Freehold Borough) gives the team someone who can provide long relief and a spot starter.

Smith is off to a 4-0 start with a 0.931 earned run average. Yuhas is 3-0 with a 0.750 ERA. Casey and Cirlincione are both 3-0.

Alphonso Comello (Staten Island, N.Y.) and 7-2 Frank Szczepank (Linden) are who the Blues call on for middle relief.

Abig key for the Blues is the return of closer Cory Hawes (Monmouth Regional). He had Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and missed the past two seasons. He was the closer when the Blues went to the Junior College World Series, and he's been locking the door.

"He's been unbelievable," said Johnson. "I trust him."

Hawes has appeared in 112 games and pitched 18 innings and recorded six saves. The sidearm slinger has given up just six hits and has a 1.000 ERA.

Defensively, the Blues' veteran infield has been leakproof.

Brookdale is hosting this year's Region XIX Tournament May 8-9. The first round of play, at the home of the highest seed team, is May 2-3.