High school baseball - South Jersey preseason Mean 15

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Many of these teams in the South Jersey Preseason Mean 15 are familiar names. A number of last year’s dominant teams are expected to continue their stellar play.

Here's our first Mean 15 rankings heading into the season.

South Jersey Preseason Mean 15​

1. Northern Burlington (last year’s record: 28-2, last year’s final ranking: 3). The Greyhounds have an experienced group from last year’s Group 3 state championship team. Catcher Liam Velit (.376), a Fordham commit was a third-team all-South Jersey choice as was senior pitcher-third baseman Cole Marchetti (.476, 1.63 ERA). Other key veterans include junior infielder Brett Walulak (.338), a Marist commit and senior pitcher Jordan Gigglio (.300 ERA), a righthander who is committed to Wagner. Junior right-hander Logan Downey (0.30 ERA), a Villanova commit, will be another key member of the pitching staff.

2. Gloucester Catholic (24-3, 2). The three-time defending state champs are not showing signs of slowing down. Leading the offense is Courier-Post Player of the Year, senior catcher Braeden Lipoff, an East Carolina commit. Senior shortstop Noah Danza (Mississippi State) along with outfielder and Seton Hall commit Henry Pancoast add to the strong offense. Second-team All-South Jersey pitcher Jude Morgan (6-0) heads up the pitching staff. Third baseman Guy Lynam, an Auburn commit, is possibly out for the season due to injury, which is a major blow to the offense.

3. Cherokee (28-3, 1). The defending Group 4 champions were hit hard by graduation, but should still have a strong offense led by first-team all-South Jersey senior second baseman Brett Jackson (.452) along with senior outfielder Steve Barbagiovanni (.373). The Chiefs suffered a big setback when junior Alex Odud, a third-team all-South Jersey selection and Arkansas commit, recently suffered a season-ending injury. He played outfield last year but was the projected starting catcher. Junior left-hander Cooper Burti, a Mississippi State commit, had a 1.43 ERA in 14.2 innings, but should have a greater role on the staff with the graduation of All-South Jersey pitchers Henry Radbill and Brett Gable. Other key pitchers include Jackson (0.00 ERA in 9.2 innings), senior right-hander Drew Dreby (1.05 ERA, 20 innings) and junior left-hander Parker New (2.05 ERA in 20 innings).

4. St. Augustine (18-8, 4). A South Jersey Non-Public A semifinalist last year, St. Augustine will play one of the more difficult schedules in the state. Penn State commit and second-team All-South Jersey selection Alex Weingartner is a major threat as a pitcher or hitter. Junior left-hander Ethan Suppi, a Miami commit who struck out 28 in 18 innings last year, should have a greater mound role. Old Dominion commit Brady Jackson will move from second base to shortstop after hitting .352. Catcher DJ Lloyd, an NJIT commit, and third baseman Adam Williams (Bucknell) are among other key players in the lineup.

5. Eastern (20-7, 8). The Vikings return almost every key player from last year’s South Jersey Group 4 finalist. They must replace pitcher-shortstop Logan Dawson, who signed with the Phillies after being drafted in the 16th round. Senior shortstop Vinny Milillo (.465) leads the offense and will be among the key pitchers after recording a 1.40 ERA. Junior outfielder Matt Gryskiewicz (.500) is another two-way player who had a 0.72 ERA in 9.2 innings. Other key offensive players include senior outfielders Rich Iuliucci (.359) and Carson Michalski (.286), senior first baseman Sean Karbach (.282) and senior catcher Anthony Cataldo (.357). Other key pitchers include Iuliucci (19 strikeouts, 22.2 innings), and juniors Jake Tulman and Will Martin.

6. Shawnee (14-12, 9). The Renegades have five returning starting position players and four pitchers from a South Jersey Group 3 semifinalist. Pitchers Timmy Dougherty, who missed time last season due to injury, and Kayden Maybury (2-0, 2.77 ERA) will head up the staff that also includes senior Fordham commit Chase Yakabosky and senior lefthander Lleyton Coughlin (4-4, 3.18). Speedy sophomore centerfielder Cole Anderson (.288, 10 stolenbases) and Coughlin (.286) are among the key offensive players.

7. Bishop Eustace (22-7, 7). The South Jersey Non-Public B finalists should have an experienced offense led by senior second-team All-South Jersey shortstop Dante Bell (.427), senior infielder J.J. McLaughlin (.327), senior infielder Max Sullivan (.326), senior outfielder Roman Faiola (.320) and junior outfielder Dante Matarese (.299). Leading the pitching staff is senior right-hander Dan Passalacqua (1.22 ERA, 34.1 innings). A tough situation occurred when senior righthander Cole Williams who would have been one of the top pitchers, suffered a season-ending injury. McLaughlin will pick up some innings as will senior righthander Max Sullivan, a Fordham commit, and junior right-hander Chris Romeo.

8. Kingsway (20-7, 12). A South Jersey Group 4 semifinalist last season, Kingsway returns three veteran pitchers, plus adds Paul VI transfer Tyler Rogers, a Charleston Southern commit. The returning pitchers are three righthanders – Delaware commit Nate Bott, senior AJ Aimis and junior Kevin Magsam, who was 4-1 with a 0.80 ERA. There are seven returning position players, led by two seniors, outfielder Kyle Shields (.444) and second basemanBrayden Thorp (.324).

9. Clearview (17-10, 14). The Pioneers return eight starting position players and five pitchers from a team that earned a win in the Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic and also a regular season victory over Gloucester Catholic. The staff will also receive a boost with the return of right-hander Andrew Pron, a Fairleigh Dickinson commit, who missed last season due to injury. Sophomore right-hander Josh Yurgin (45 strikeouts, 37 innings), is another key pitcher. Junior shortstop Sawyer Wood (.282, 22 walks, 13 stolen bases, is a returning first-team all-conference selection. Junior outfielder Chase Cardille (.375) is another key returning position player.

10. Haddon Heights (16-10, NR). The Garnets have seven returning position players and six returning pitchers from last year’s South Jersey Group 2 semifinalist. Two seniors, catcher Kevin Clark (.342) and outfielder Jaxon Motta (22 RBIs) are among the offensive leaders. Junior Tennessee commit Jack Nicholls (47 strikeouts, 37 innings) and senior Rutgers Camden commit Jack Dillon (2.88 ERA) head up the pitching staff.

11. Mainland (17-10, 5). The defending Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic champions lost quite a bit to graduation, but still should be a formidable team, especially once gaining some experience. A big addition is senior centerfielder Jake Blum, who missed last baseball season due to injury. Senior outfielder Anthony Nodado (.419) is a Division II Dominican commit. Classmate Colton Donahue is an outstanding defensive shortstop. Senior Will Hickman (39 strikeouts, 25.1 innings) is the most experienced returning pitcher.

12. Cherry Hill East (12-13, NR). The Cougars have a strong pitching staff, headed by junior right-hander Mike Fekete, a Virginia Tech commit (2.35 ERA), senior right-hander Cole Haddock (3.97), an FDU commit, and senior right-hander Kyle Fisher, a Ursinus commit. Senior shortstop centerfielder Rohan Muttahil anchors the defense, while also batting .306 last season. Among other key position players are senior shortstop Brody Connors (.301), a Rutgers Camden commit; junior leftfielder Dillon Haddock (.293) and senior catcher Steve Longo, a Rowan commit.

13. Vineland (16-11, NR). The South Jersey Group 4 semifinalists return nine position players who saw sufficient time, headed by junior outfielder Ernie Bernhardt (.302) who coach Kyle Jones calls “the fastest player in South Jersey.” Among other key offensive performers are senior shortstop Xavier Etheridge (.282), and senior first baseman Carlos Santiago (.272, 13 walks). Senior righthander Mario Toro (2.26 ERA) heads up an experienced staff that includes Ehteridge (2.51 ERA) and will be boosted by newcomer Jake Garton, a senior lefthander.

14. Haddonfield (24-6, 6). The defending South Group 2 champions must replace five key seniors but return six starters among position players led by junior first baseman Jackson Gayer (.433), senior outfielder James Rowe (.344), junior shortstop Dan Keenan (.337) and senior infielder Will Solak (.341, 20 RBIs). Solak (1.81 ERA) and Gayer (13 strikeouts, 16 innings) head up the pitching staff.

15. Schalick (22-3, 11). The defending South Jersey Group 1 champions bring back five returning positions players led by junior catcher Ricky Watt (.389), senior outfielder Evan Sepers (.425) and junior third baseman Jamari Whitley (.351), who also had a 1.54 ERA in 36.1 innings. Senior Cole Hartley had a 1.66 ERA in 25.1 innings is another key pitcher forthe Cougars.

Marc Narducci is a freelance reporter for the Courier-Post. He can be reached by email at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey preseason Mean 15 for high school baseball

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