Roadrunner Baseball will open its Spring 2024 season Saturday, Feb. 17, at Division II Southern Maryland College in the most enviable position possible -- as defending NJCAA Division III National Champions!
So it is no surprise that Coach Rob Valli and his squad enter the campaign with the highest of expectations.
Following a 2024 season in which the Runners earned the program's 8th overall D III national crown -- and the second for Coach Valli -- the Runners look very much like national contenders again. Valli, with a large contingent of sophomores, has reloaded the roster with a solid recruiting class of freshmen and transfer prospects.
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Valli -- who has 582 career wins as a Roadrunner coach in 14 seasons and 694 career wins – will feature plenty of depth and experience throughout the lineup as his squad takes on the enormous challenge of repeating as national champions. The team, which enters the 2024 season No. 1 nationally in the NJCAA Division 3 National Rankings, will face a tough challenge in their opener against Southern Maryland College Saturday afternoon.
See season preview below.
2024 Season Preview
Head Coach: Rob Valli; 15th season at RCSJ-Gloucester; 582-131-2 record at GCC/RCGC; former head coach at Temple University; career record of 694-343-2.
Assistant Coaches: Greg Chew (pitching coach), Austin Darrow (assistant coach).
Last Season 53-5 overall, NJCAA Division III National Champions; GSAC Champions, North Atlantic District Champions.
2024 Outlook: Preseason No. 1 in NJCAA Division III National Rankings; District and GSAC preseason favorites.
Opener: Saturday, Feb. 17th, at Southern Maryland College, game time at 1:30 pm.
Home Opener: Friday, Feb. 23rd, vs. Camden County College, start time at 1:00 pm.
Returning Pitchers: Thomas Goldberg, SO., LHP, Kingsway Regional; Tim Hartman, SO, RHP, Rancocas Valley; Danny Kerr, SO, RHP, Bishop Eustace; Ethan Price, SO, LHP, Mitchell HS (South Dakota); Patrick Taney, SO, LHP, Cherry Hill West; Lucas Hampel, SO, RHP, Kingsway Regional.
New Pitchers: Peter Dempster, FR, RHP, Glassboro; Enzo Descalzi, SO, RHP, Cumberland Tech; Mason Dobbs, FR, RHP, Haddon Hts.; Ben Harris, FR, LHP, Middle Twp,; Patrick Karbach, FR, LHP, Eastern Regional; Doug King, FR, RHP, Paulsboro; Giancarlo Lamberti, FR, RHP, Raritan; Anthony Magliozzi, FR, RHP, Union; Joey Ruffino, FR, LHP, Washington Twp,; Zach Stichweh, FR, RHP, Don Bosco Prep.
Catchers: Ethan Evans, SO, Cumberland Tech; Wyatt Hoffman, SO, Eastern Regional; Andrew Lombardi, FR, Middletown North; Andrew Marx, FR, Kingsway Regional.
Infielders: Ethan Burbage, FR, 3B, Kingsway; Augusto DelCarmen, FR, SS, City AS HS (Bronx); Caden Dulin, SO, SS, Williamstown; Edwin Hernandez, SO, Olney; Ernesto Polanco, SO, Memorial HS; Gabriel Reyes, FR, SS, Elizabeth HS; Joe Spaccavento, FR, 1B, Northern Highlands.
Outfielders: Max D'Alessandro, SO, CF, Lenape; Gavin Degnan, FR, CF, Donovan Catholic; Angel Martinez, FR, LF, Camden Tech; RJ Mustaro, FR, CF, Gloucester Catholic; Juan Peralta, SO, LF, Clifton.
Season Outlook: The Runners begin the season No. 1 in the NJCAA D-III preseason rankings. Valli's team will be the favorite to win the Garden State Athletic Conference crown and the favorites in both District and National Tournament competition.
As always, Coach Rob Valli's roster will feature a solid balance in pitching and hitting throughout the lineup. On the mound. The Runners also will face some of the top competition in the nation in both Region 19 and in non-region games. They will be tournament tested prior ro beginning post-season competition.