Deptford Twp. – On May 22, N.J. General Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Adam Taliaferro paid the Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) baseball team an early morning visit. The Roadrunners were selected as the No. 1 overall seed as they head into the upcoming 2019 NJCAA Division III World Series, and Taliaferro stopped by to provide a jolt of inspiration.
In 2000, Taliaferro boasted a promising future in football as a top-rated freshman member of Penn State's Nittany Lions, but sustained a career-ending spinal cord injury. Fighting his way to recovery despite the odds, he returned to Penn State as a student-assistant coach, before going on to establish the Adam Taliaferro Foundation to support those with spinal cord injuries, work as a lawyer and a healthcare advocate and serve as a member of the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders until his appointment to the N.J. General Assembly.
Taliaferro congratulated the Roadrunners for all of their accomplishments this season, thus far. Then he spoke to the team about the power of perseverance and the satisfaction that comes from performing to the best of your ability.
"We're all behind you – keep doing what you're doing" Taliaferro urged. "God bless you. Now, go bring home the championship. I'll be watching."
The Roadrunners swept to the Region XIX championship May 17-18, rolling past Northampton, Cumberland and Brookdale. The team will play their first World Series game on May 25 at Pioneer Park in Greeneville, T.N. against No. 8 seed Rhode Island at 7 p.m. Should they emerge victorious, Coach Rob Valli's team will play the winner of No. 4 Herkimer vs. No. 5 Oakton game the following evening beginning at 7 p.m.
The Roadrunners captured their 23rd Region XIX championship in dominating style and are seeing their eighth National Championship in this year's World Series. Pitcher/Second baseman Jack Billings along with tourney M.V.P. Alex Gattinelli led the way in the Region XIX tournament title run. Coach Valli will rely on a deep pitching staff, including Billings and sophomores Nick Yoder, Mike Biasiello and Nick Evangelista, along with freshman Anthony Capasso.
"The talent has always been there at the plate – we picked the right time to showcase it," said Valli following the Region XIX title win over Brookdale. "The pitching was solid again. We are very deep and we have so many people to go to on the mound."
For more information on Athletics at RCGC, and to follow the Roadrunners as they progress through the NJCAA Division III World Series, visit RCRoadrunners.com.
Rowan College at Gloucester County's 250-acre campus is located on Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.