As the fourth of March slowly rumbled around this year, Tenafly baseball had limited expectations. Following the graduation of seven of their nine everyday starters from the previous season, the Tigers looked to ride the success of talented senior captain Aljo Sujak.

But “there ain’t no I in team,” and for this reason the anticipation of a winning season remained reserved. Following an unpleasant 3-7 start filled with fingers being pointed in many different directions, Sujak made a decision. Calling a team meeting after a game that was blown in the final inning and that handed the team its seventh loss of the season, the captain reminded the young team to stay determined and to play loose.

In a matter of two and a half weeks, the team turned things around, finding itself with an impressive 9-7 record and some marquis wins against top-tier competition. “I felt that the way the team meshed together and came together as a family allowed us to go on the streak we did,” Sujak said. “Everyone picked up each other.” The Tigers would go on to earn a county and state tournament berth for the first time in six and ten years respectively, shattering all expectations. Yet, this comeback story would be incomplete without discussing the record-setting season completed by Sujak himself.

At the plate Sujak got a hit nearly every other time he appeared, posting a batting average of .465. For comparative purposes, the best batting average at the professional level this year is .347, a meager figure in the shadow of Sujak’s 2017 season. His prowess as a hitter is even more impressive when you consider the eleven home runs he hit, a total that puts him right near the top in the entire state. Sujak attributes his success as a hitter this season to his ability to stay relaxed at the plate. “I was never nervous or anxious up there and that really allowed me to just have fun with it and help the team win,” he said. Beyond the batting performance was the dominance that Sujak demonstrated all season on the mound. With a 5-2 record and an earned run average (ERA) of 2.25, Sujak is also considered one of the premier pitchers in North Jersey. And with a win in the first round of the county tournament, Sujak became the first Tenafly player in over a decade to accomplish this feat.

Sujak’s success this season was so clear and impressive that he went on to win North Jersey Baseball Player of the Year, an honor given to the best outright player in the entire northern half of the state. Next year, he will continue his education and baseball career at Division I William & Mary in Virginia, a program for which he originally expected to pitch exclusively. However, following the incredible success as a hitter this season, the coaching staff of this college team may utilize his multitude of talents as a ballplayer, giving him an opportunity to hit. In light of all his recent success Sujak remains focused and determined. “My hope for next year is just to continue to represent myself, my family, and my town to the best of my ability,” he said. “By the end of my time at the collegiate level I want to say that I’ve done everything I can to help my team win and make a name for myself along the way.”

Tenafly wishes Aljo Sujak the best of luck at the next level, and we all look forward to seeing where his baseball journey continues.