South Jersey Baseball Preseason Top 11-25
11 Bishop Eustace 25-7 The Crusaders must rebuild their pitching staff a bit but return a potential ace in senior righthander Jon Cole, who was 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and was masterful in the Diamond Classic title game. Senior Nick Steele is a top catcher, and senior Kevin Lammers is an speedy outfielder. Sophomore Sky Duff is one of several young players to watch.
11 Bishop Eustace
25-7
The Crusaders must rebuild their pitching staff a bit but return a potential ace in senior righthander Jon Cole, who was 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and was masterful in the Diamond Classic title game. Senior Nick Steele is a top catcher, and senior Kevin Lammers is an speedy outfielder. Sophomore Sky Duff is one of several young players to watch.
12 Shawnee
10-13
TThe Renegades are another team with a potent 1-2 at the top of the rotation in seniors Jake Miller, a Binghamton recruit, and Zach Amisano, a Shippensburg recruit. Senior first baseman Mike Welsh and senior outfielder Dean Austin lead the lineup.
13 Lenape
12-13
The Indians have one of South Jersey's top juniors in shortstop Tommy Gardiner, a Maryland recruit. Junior outfielder Ben Harris and senior outfielder Ryan Shuts are top bats. The Indians will look to senior leftys John Szwaikowski and Andrew Stagliano to handle the big moments on the mound.
14 Northern Burlington
27-5
The Greyhounds return several top players, led by Rutgers recruit Kevin Welsh, a top infielder and dependable pitcher, and La Salle-bound Zack Wright, who had 47 hits as a junior. Senior Mike Wainwright is another veteran who will move behind the dish.
15 Millville
13-12
The Thunderbolts might have South Jersey's best all-around player in junior third baseman/pitcher Buddy Kennedy, a North Carolina recruit. Senior infielder Paul Harris and senior outfielder Andrew Richter are dependable veterans.
16 West Deptford
18-9
The Eagles have a pair of top pitchers in senior righthander Derek Wakeley, a Stony Brook recruit who fashioned a 2.40 ERA with 49 strikeouts, and junior Maryland-bound lefty Drew Wilden, who was 5-1 with a 1.10 ERA. Senior infielder Erik Ainsley, who batted .370, and seniior infielder Matt Britt lead the lineup along with junior catcher Ryan Baglivo, who batted .373, and junior outfielder Kyle Garrison, who hit four home runs.
17 Seneca
13-11
The Golden Eagles return a veteran squad led by seniors such as infielders Zach Evans and Brad Jankowski, catcher Wyatt Thomas, and outfielder Brett Barnes. Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Nick Decker has committed to Maryland. The development of the pitching staff will be key.
18 Camden Catholic
14-10-1
The Irish have a strong pitching staff with seniors such as Jake Mackara, who also is a top hitter, and Jay Crusemire, who struck out 39 in 33 innings. Senior Joe Hahn is a top outfielder and reliable pticher, and senior shortstop Nolan Gerold batted .346.
19 Kingsway
16-10
The Dragons return virtually their entire pitching staff, led by seniors Zach Listro, who was 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA, and Matt Blaszczyk, who was 5-2 with a 1.24 ERA. Junior Mike Biasiello, who was 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA, is another top arm along with sophomore Erick Riley.
20 Holy Spirit
14-16
The Spartans return most of the team that won the Non-Public B state title in dramatic fashion last season. A loaded junior class includes pitchers Billy Kral and Bob Spicer, who were a combined 5-0 in the state tournament.
21 Rancocas Valley
12-11
The Red Devils have a top junior hitter in Tyler Dearden along with a pair of senior pitchers in Jeff Lee and Matt Kelty.
22 Haddon Heights
18-8
The defending South Jersey Group 1 champions have an ace in lefty Adam Laskey, a Duke recruit. Senior catcher Tom Daly batted .389 and senior infielder Ryan Lynch batted .357. Sophomore Billy Watson, who batted .455 as a freshman, is a young player to watch.
23 Wildwood
20-12
The Warriors have a top two-way player in junior Brendan Bean, a Penn recruit who hit .538 with six triples and 25 RBIs and also struck out 74 in 60 innings pitched. Senior pitcher Chris Mormile, a Wagner recruit, was 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA.
24 Audubon
13-8-1
The Green Wave have a couple of top junior arms in Dan Wilson and Andrew Fehr and a top defensive shortstop in junior Dillon Tassi.
25 Delran
12-15
The Bears have a top catcher in senior Ben Youngberg, who batted .405 with 11 doubles. Senior outfielder Wilson Seville batted .304, and senior pitcher Joe Grilli had a 1.86 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just six walks in 24 innings.
Under consideration (Listed alphabetically): Cinnaminson (18-7), Delsea (16-8), Haddonfield (24-5), Holy Cross (18-10).
- Phil Anastasia