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He was main man for the Mustangs

Law came up big for the Cape-American II champs.

At 6-foot-7, Mainland pitcher Charlie Law is an imposing sight for those who step into the batter's box.

"You see a lot of arms and legs coming at you," Mainland coach Gary Hegh said.

Not to mention a fastball that has reached 92 m.p.h. and a blossoming change-up that became an extremely effective part of his arsenal.

Law used those pitches masterfully this spring, compiling a 5-0 record and a 0.66 ERA while striking out 66, issuing 11 walks and allowing just 27 hits in 42 innings.

Only four of the hits he surrendered went for extra bases.

In addition, he batted .394 with four homers and 19 RBIs and had a .608 on-base percentage, steering Mainland to a 16-8 record and the Cape-Atlantic American II title. The Mustangs were 8-0 in conference games.

For his accomplishments, Law has been named The Inquirer's South Jersey baseball player of the year.

"Charlie is very sound mechanically because of his dad; his dad was a pitcher and played at Monmouth, and he was his mentor," Hegh said.

Jonathan Law, Charlie's dad, set a Mainland record by striking out 16 in a 1965 game. Charlie broke his dad's record by whiffing 17 in a 2-1 win over St. Joseph last year.

Law, a second-team all-South Jersey selection last year, was a combined 12-3 over his last two seasons.

"He's not just a [hard] thrower. He knows how to pitch," said Winslow Township coach Keith Regn, whose team was blanked by Law, 7-0. "He throws his breaking ball for strikes. He's a complete pitcher."

Because he was deemed to be a player who would be difficult to sign, Law wasn't selected in the first-year players' draft until the 44th round. The Phillies selected him and said they would follow his progress in summer leagues.

Law is expected to bypass the Phils and attend Rutgers on a baseball scholarship.

"The Phillies said they'd follow him and make an offer on the last day they can sign him - Aug. 15," Jonathan Law said. Charlie Law is expected to have a tryout at Citizens Bank Park that day.

"His adviser thinks he can be a first- or second-round pick if he waits until he's a [college] junior," Jonathan Law said. "He told Charlie not to short-change himself and not to jump at the first thing he sees. The ball's in his court."

The slender Law figures to increase his velocity as his body fills out.

"He's 6-7, 225 and he's hit 92 [on the radar gun]," Hegh said. "What will he throw when he's 250?"

Law, who was also a key player on Mainland's basketball team, is anxious to begin his collegiate baseball career.

"I cannot wait to play under Coach [Fred] Hill," said Law, who had a 3.2 grade point average in high school and is leaning toward majoring in sports medicine. "Rutgers is the greatest school, and all I'm thinking of is putting the Scarlet Knights' jersey on and stepping on the turf field. I can't wait. I met the players on my visit, and they're the greatest kids in the world."

Law has fond memories of watching his older brothers, Jason and Ian, play baseball at Monmouth and Lafayette, respectively.

"The college experience," he said, "is almost priceless."

The same can be said about watching Law pitch.