Year of the pitcher again in South Jersey

Mike Vasturia was the rangy righthander.

Billy Chillari was the athletic lefthander.

That was true when Vasturia and Chillari became teammates as 10-year-old members of the South Jersey Young Guns travel squad.

That remains true today, as Vasturia and Chillari prepare to begin their final season together as senior leaders for the St. Augustine Prep baseball team.

"In school, on the field, we're basically best friends," Chillari said of his relationship with Vasturia. "We've been together so long. We know we can count on each other."

The partnership that has helped to push and prod and produce two of South Jersey's best pitchers will end in late May or early June, when St. Augustine plays its final game and Vasturia and Chillari peel off those pinstriped jerseys for the last time.

Vasturia is a University of Maryland recruit. Chillari is headed to Duke University. They both are one step away from big-time college baseball.

But they have unfinished business in high school, as both are determined to lead St. Augustine to its first state championship since 2011.

"I don't know how we could be any hungrier," Vasturia said.

The Hermits' pair of aces are part of another live-arm-loaded senior class in South Jersey.

It's the Year of the Pitcher. Again.

It's the latest in a line of seasons seemingly dominated from the scrimmages in March to the Diamond Classic games in mid-May to the sectional and state championship games in early June by the guys on the mound.

Look around. Vasturia and Chillari are just two of several South Jersey pitchers who are slated to join big-time college programs, unless they follow in the footsteps of recent fireballers, such as 2014 St. Augustine graduate Joey Gatto and 2015 Bishop Eustace graduate Tyler Phillips, and jump right into professional baseball.

"I don't remember this many high-level guys," said a South Jersey coach who used to serve as a professional scout. "There are just so many good arms."

Gloucester Catholic righthander Tyler Mondile is headed to Florida State. Haddon Heights lefty Adam Laskey is a Duke recruit. Williamstown lefty Denny Bentley is a North Carolina State recruit.

Ocean City righthander Sean Mooney and Washington Township right-hander Rich Racobaldo are both bound for St. John. Paul VI lefty Shane Kubrak is a Wake Forest recruit.

Mainland righthander Kyle Gerace will attend Rutgers. Highland righthander Christian Scafidi is a Penn recruit. Shawnee righthander Jake Miller is headed to Binghamton. West Deptford righthander Derek Wakeley is a Stony Brook recruit.

The list goes on and on. And that's not even counting the long line of juniors and sophomores - such as West Deptford 11th-grade lefty Drew Wilden, a Maryland recruit - ready to step into the spotlight.

And that's also not counting the fact that the projected No. 1 overall pick in the draft - by the Phillies, remember - is Barnegat lefthander Jason Groome, whose team competes in South Jersey Group 2.

"I think guys are getting more educated pitching instruction," Chillari said. "I also think the offseason helps. You get to shut it down for a while and rebuild your body. Down South, there really isn't an offseason."

Vasturia thinks "competition" is a big reason for the plethora of big-time arms in the area.

"Guys push each other," Vasturia said. "Everybody works hard to stay on top."

That competitiveness is a part of the reason that Vasturia and Chillari have emerged as two of South Jersey's top pitchers.

"They are both fierce competitors," St. Augustine coach Mike Bylone said. "I like the determination they both have. They want the ball."

Bylone said both athletes have been named team captains and have embraced the responsibilities that come with the status.

"They've waited their turn, and this is their team now," Bylone said. "I've had seniors who weren't comfortable with that and others who were OK with it. These guys want that."

Although they both were recruited as pitchers, both athletes also are top hitters who play another position when they are not on the mound. Vasturia often plays third while Chillari is an outfielder.

Vasturia was 6-3 as a junior with a 1.18 ERA and 50 strikeouts with just 10 walks. He might have been the hard-luck pitcher of last season, as his losses were by scores of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-1.

"His mentality," Chillari said of Vasturia's greatest strength on the mound. "He just doesn't want to lose. He's all about winning."

Vasturia raves about the 6-foot-1 Chillari's "mechanics" and "smooth" pitching motion. Chillari battled some minor injuries as a junior, but he's healthy now.

The athletes often throw bullpen sessions next to each other. Sometimes, they'll take out their cell phones and film the other in slow motion, to later analyze.

"It's a blessing to have another pitcher who works so hard to make your better," Chillari said.

Vasturia, who lives in Medford in Burlington County, said the two will compete with each other in the bullpen, "throwing side by side, trying to go pitch-for-pitch with each other."

Chillari, who lives in Newport, a tiny town near Fortescue in Cumberland County, said things haven't changed that much since he first met Vasturia at practice for that travel team of 10-year-olds.

Vasturia was the rangy righthander.

Chillari was the athletic lefthander.

They became friends, but they always pushed each other to be better, too.

That was true in 2008, and it's still true today.

"We both want to be the No. 1 pitcher," Chillari said. "We're basically the same. We both don't ever want to lose."

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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