Spotlight: Clearview senior Nick DeFrank

Clearview hasn't faced many lefthanded pitchers this season, so Nick DeFrank hasn't taken many righthanded swings.

But in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against Gloucester Catholic, DeFrank slashed a single to left field in one of his few righthanded at-bats of the season.

"I think that might have been only my third or fourth time I batted righthanded," he said.

A rare switch-hitter at the high-school level, DeFrank also is versatile in the field. He started the year at second base but moved to shortstop when senior Evan Emerich was lost for the season with an injury.

DeFrank is among the South Jersey leaders in doubles (10) and triples (four). He also is 23 for 23 in stolen bases.

"He's been terrific," said Clearview coach Rocco Cornacchia, whose team will face Atlantic City in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament on Monday.

DeFrank said he started switch-hitting as an 11-year-old.

"I wasn't hitting and I went to the field with my dad and I just started swinging lefthanded," he said. "Ever since then, I've been a switch-hitter. It's a big advantage."

DeFrank has signed to attend the University of Maine on a baseball scholarship.

"I visited in September and just loved it," he said. "I knew it was the place for me."

DeFrank played at Paul VI as a freshman and sophomore. He hopes to finish strong as a senior at Clearview.

"We have some young guys, but we've played some really good games," DeFrank said. "I think if we play up to our potential, we can go far."

   - Phil Anastasia