Roadrunner Baseball will open its Spring 2025 season Sunday, Feb. 23, at Chesapeake College with a doubleheader in the most enviable position possible -- as two-time 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 9th overall D III national crown -- and the third 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 633 career wins as a Roadrunner coach in 15 seasons and 745 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 2025 season No. 1 nationally in the NJCAA Division 3 National Rankings, will face a tough challenge in their opener against Chesapeake College Sunday afternoon.
See season preview below.
2025 Season Preview
Head Coach: Rob Valli; 16th season at RCSJ-Gloucester; 633-139-2 record at GCC/RCGC; former head coach at Temple University; career record of 745-351-2.
Assistant Coaches: Greg Chew (pitching coach), Austin Darrow (assistant coach).
Last Season 51-8 overall, NJCAA Division III National Champions; GSAC Champions, North Atlantic District Champions.
2025 Outlook: Preseason No. 1 in NJCAA Division III National Rankings; District and GSAC preseason favorites.
Opener: Sunday, February 23, at Chesapeake College, Game 1 first pitch at 12 pm.
Home Opener: Wednesday, Feb. 26th, vs. Monroe College Bronx, start time at 2:00 pm.
Returning Pitchers: Patrick Karbach, LHP, Eastern Regional; Joey Ruffino, LHP, Washington Twp,; Zach Stichweh, RHP, Don Bosco Prep/U. of Maryland; Mason Dobbs, RHP, Haddon Hts.; Anthony Magliozzi, RHP, Union; Giancarlo Lamberti, RHP, Raritan.
New Pitchers: Kevin Bezick, LHP, Middletown South; Tommy Bradley, RHP, Monsignor Bonner; Landon Edwards, LHP, Kingsway/Coastal Carolina; Emmanuel Fernandez, LHP, Copiague HS; Matt Hewitt, RHP, Rancocas Valley; Bryson Kirby, RHP, Point Pleasant Boro; Scott Lynch, RHP; Audubon/Albany U.; Carson Magill, RHP, Kings Christian/Queens U.; Devin Malvasio, RHP, St. Joe's of the Sea (Staten Island)/St. John River CC; Victor Oquendo, RHP/1B, Timber Creek; Zack Wallace, RHP, Monroe Twp.
Catchers: Andrew Lombardi, C, Middletown North; Andrew Marx, C, Kingsway; Kyle McSorley, Old Bridge/Iona U.
Infielders: Gabriel Reyes, SS, Elizabeth HS/Felician U; Alex Apicella, 3B, Sachem HS East (NY)/James Madison U.; Sebastian Aponte, SS. Perth Amboy; Steve Scarfone, 1B. St. Joe's By the Sea (Staten Island); Joe Maier, SS, Donovan Catholic; Nick Slogik, 1B, Bishop McDevitt/East Carolina U.; Gavin West, Hammonton/Monmouth U.
Outfielders: Matt Brunner, CF, Red Bank Catholic; Kai Hutchins, OF, Pemberton/Manhattan U.; Nicco Maribo, OF, Brick Memorial; R.J. Mustaro, OF, Gloucester Catholic; Luca Reyes. CF, Bergen Catholic.
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 to beginning post-season competition.