For their first win this year, sophomore Paul Davis pitched five solid innings and helped the Rams defeat Schalick. In the second victory, sophomore Dave Larsen and freshman Tomas Rivera combined to strike out 11 as Gloucester Catholic cruised past Sterling.

Before the season is over, Gloucester Catholic coach Dennis Barth said, he could have six freshmen see varsity action on the mound: Rivera, Robert Humes, twins Cody and Casey Brown, Mark Jankowski, and Bill Mendek.

"It's one of the best freshman classes I've ever had," Barth said.

That's not good news for the rest of South Jersey.

Since the NJSIAA statewide tourney started in 1971, Gloucester Catholic has won 13 state titles - the most of any area team.

This year's team is anchored by Mike Eliasen, a senior righthander who has signed with Fairleigh Dickinson. When senior lefthander Beau Gallagher returns from a shoulder injury later this month, the Rams' staff will gain some experience. But based on the early-season developments, it looks as if Barth will lean heavily on his freshmen and sophomores - and not feel as if he's rolling the dice.

"They have some moxie about them," he said.

In other words, the present and the future both look bright. And it could get even brighter if Gloucester Catholic builds a new school, which would dramatically affect its enrollment and aid its already strong athletic program.

Gloucester Catholic has an enrollment of 765 students in grades nine through 12; the enrollment is expected to climb to between 1,200 and 1,500 if a new school were to be built in Mullica Hill on Route 77.

More students translates into more athletes, which means Gloucester Catholic - which had the most successful Non-Public B program in the state last year - could become even more dominant.

Gloucester Catholic moved to a larger classification, Non-Public A, this school year; it has been back and forth between the A and B sections in recent years. But if a new school is built, it will be firmly entrenched in A.

A feasibility study will be sent primarily to Gloucester County residents in coming weeks and, according to Gloucester Catholic Principal John Colman, the study will play a major role in determining whether the Diocese of Camden purchases the 100 acres in Mullica Hill and builds a $65 million school.

A new school would keep Gloucester Catholic's sports teams from being the vagabonds of South Jersey.

As it stands, most of Gloucester Catholic's sports teams play "home" games on fields throughout South Jersey, including sites in Brooklawn, Deptford, Glassboro and West Deptford.

"Amazingly, it hasn't hurt us, even though we're all over the place," athletic director Tony Powers said. "Our kids and coaches don't complain about it; they just go about their business, and it's a tribute to them."

But Powers said that a new school would be beneficial.

"It would absolutely be great to look out the window and see all the facilities in one spot - and cut down the transportation costs," he said.

The baseball team plays in Brooklawn. If the diocese decides to build the school in Mullica Hill - it could take as long as six months before a decision is made, Colman said - this year's talented freshmen could have a field at their school by the time they're seniors or, perhaps, juniors.

Bishop Joseph Galante "is very supportive of the project," Colman said, "and if the feasibility study shows that genuine support is there, I think the diocese will go in this direction, but there still are no guarantees."

Here's one guarantee: The longer the project is put off, the higher the construction costs, along with the costs to transport South Jersey's most well-traveled athletes.