Following a brilliant 2019 season in which they finished as NJCAA Division III national runner-up, coach Rob Valli and the Roadrunner baseball team are ready for even more success. And this time, the highly-respected Valli and his talented club hope to leap over the pack and bring home the coveted NJCAA Division III crown.
"Our goal remains the same going in to every season, win a national championship," said Valli. "Our roster is filled with very talented players who are fully committed to Gloucester Baseball and their baseball career."
Yes, the Runners look very much like National Championship contenders. Valli, with 23 seasoned sophomores, has reloaded the roster a solid recruiting class of freshmen pitching and hitting prospects.
While most programs might experience a letdown following a national runnerup season and an impressive 42-11 overall record, Valli -- who has 443 career wins as a Roadrunner coach in 10 seasons – knows his squad has plenty of depth and experience to return to the National Championship Tournament.
"We are confident in our roster of players," said Valli. "We believe there is a good balance of hitting, pitching, and the ability to play defense. Athleticism is a strength and it gives us the option of moving players around the field in order to play the best lineup. It should be another exciting season. We will miss 11 scholarship and 2 professional draft picks from last year's team, but this group has the potential to be as good or better."
Aside from another strong schedule loaded with Division 1, II and III teams, the Runners' toughest competition will likely come from with Region XIX as Northampton and Cumberland start the season ranked nationally in the preseason polls.
The Runners open their 2020 season Saturday on the road vs. No. 19 ranked Division II Delaware Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
See season preview below.
2020 Season Preview
Head Coach: Rob Valli; 10th season at RCSJ-Gloucester; 443-116 record at GCC/RCGC; former head coach at Temple University; career record of 555-322.
Assistant Coaches: Greg Chew (pitching coach), Chris Rollins (assistant coach).
Last Season: 42-11 overall; No. 2 nationally, NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2020 Outlook: Preseason No. 1 in all national rankings; Region XIX and GSAC preseason favorites.
Opener: Saturday, February 29, at Delaware Tech, 1 pm.
Top returnees: Jack Billings, So., RHP/3B, St. Augustine Prep/Virginia Tech; Jose Correa, So., SS/2B, LEAP Academy; Erick Duran, So., RHP, Passaic; Dauri Genao, So., INF, High Tech; Ryan Gray, So., C, Pennsville; Joe Marino, So., LHP, St. Joe's Hammonton; Lorenzo Morello, So., OF, Washington Twp.; Connor Van Dine, Fr., INF, Kings Christian.
Additional second-year players: Liam Anderson, So., OF, Cherry Hill West; Angel Cespedes, So., RHP, Passaic/Howard JC; Cole Chesnet, So., C, Archbishop Carroll; John Cristino, So., C, Haddonfield; GianCarlo Palmieri, So., IF, Hammonton; Mitchell Peers, So., OF, Boyertown (PA); Rich Racabaldo, So., RHP, Washington Twp.; Marcus Eusebio, So., RHP, Passaic/U. Tennessee Martin; Dan Frake, So., RHP, Shawnee/Salisbury U.; Aryed Garcia, So., RHP, Paterson/Bergen CC; Tommy Gibson, So., SS, Williamstown/Penn State; Isaias Guzman, So., 3B, Passaic Tech/Post U.; Adam Holland, So., OF, William Penn Charter/Rutgers U.; Edinson Sanchez, So., RHP, Passaic/Monroe College.
Newcomers: Jacob Addis, Fr., RHP, Williamstown; Starlyn Arias, Fr., OF, Bayonne; Roberto Bonifacio, Fr., 3B, Pennsauken; Radelvis Paulino, Fr., RHP, Rahway; Shawn Dougherty, Fr., OF, Clearview; Mike Guzzardo, So., 1B, Bishop Eustace/Campbell U.; Nick Nocella, Fr., 1B, Gloucester Catholic/PSU Abington; Ron Silvestro, Fr., Eastern/Kutztown U.; Jim White, Fr., INF, Cardinal O'Hara.
Season Outlook: The Runners begin the season as the No. 1 team in all preseason polls. Valli's team is loaded in every part of his lineup, both offensively and defensively. Sophomore Jack Billings will be a key contributor throughout the season both on the mound and with his timely hitting. The starting rotation is loaded with some of the top talent in the country, and Valli will also rely on a top group of middle relievers and closers.
Offensively, the lineup will be strong with veterans Billings, Dauri Genao, Jose Correa, and All-American Lorenzo Morello (.411 BA/48 RBIs/11 stolen bases) leading the way and complemented by a strong group of freshmen sluggers.
Coach Rob Valli on his 2020 Roadrunners: "Our strength is the depth we have at each position. This pitching staff might eventually produce 6 or 7 future professional pitchers; 7 of them have shown impressive fastballs 90-95 every time out. We feel good about our ability to score runs in different ways. There is a lot of athleticism among an aggressive group of hitters; they afford us the ability to platoon and create advantageous matchups."