The Roadrunner Baseball team opened their 2022 season on a high note by sweeping a doubleheader over host NJCAA Division 1 Louisburg College (NC) Friday by scores of 12-1 and 19-2.
In Game 2, sophomore catcher John Cristino and teammate Felix Diaz each blasted three-run homers to spark the 19-2 triumph. Sophomores pitchers Joe Marino and Isaac Beebe allowed just five hits and two runs.
In the opener, sophomore Shawn Dougherty cracked a three-run homer in the first inning while Cristino added two RBIs in helping the Runners to an early lead and a 12-1 victory. Sophomore hurler Angel Cespedes got the opening day win, scattering three hits and allowing 1 run in six innings.
The Roadrunners will be back at it Saturday in Louisburg, NC as part of a four-game series.
Season Preview: Roadrunner Baseball Ready to Battle for National Title in 2022
Roadrunner Baseball will open its Spring 2022 season today at Louisburg College, NC -- and it is no surprise that Coach Rob Valli and his squad enter the campaign with the highest of expectations.
Following a 2021 season in which the Runners earned a North Atlantic District championship and a spot in the NJCAA Division 3 semifinals, the Runners look very much like National Championship contenders again. Valli, with a large contingent of sophomores, has reloaded the roster with a solid recruiting class of freshmen pitching and hitting prospects.
Valli -- who has 485 career wins as a Roadrunner coach in 12 seasons and 597 career wins – will feature plenty of depth and experience throughout the lineup as his squad eyes a return to D-III the National Championship Tournament. The team, which enters the 2022 season ranked No. 2 nationally in two polls, will face a tough challenge in their opener against Louisburg College, a D-1 team with a 6-1 record to date.
See season preview below.
2022 Season Preview
Head Coach: Rob Valli; 13th season at RCSJ-Gloucester; 485-117-2 record at GCC/RCGC; former head coach at Temple University; career record of 597-329-2.
Assistant Coaches: Greg Chew (pitching coach), Jon Gonzalez (assistant coach), Derek Wakeley (assistant coach).
Last Season 36-6-2 overall, 16-2-1 conference, North Atlantic District Champions, 2-2 in NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2022 Outlook: Preseason No. 2 in NJCAA Division III National Rankings; District and GSAC preseason favorites.
Opener: Friday, February 25, at Louisburg College, NC, start time at 3 pm.
Home Opener: Atlantic Cape, March 4, start time at 2:30 pm.
Opening Day Starting Lineup: Isaias Marte, So., 1B, Woodrow Wilson; Jose Correa, So., 2B, LEAP Academy; Felix Diaz, So., 3B, Immaculata High; Jimmy Bruno, So., SS, Paul VI; Eric Sabato, So., OF, Bishop Eustace; Shawn Dougherty, So., OF, Clearview; Aaron Graeber, Fr., OF, West Deptford; Chris Biolsi, So., OF, Edison; John Cristino, So., C, Haddonfield; Mitchell Balint, So., C, Kennett High/University Delaware.
Starting Pitchers: Tom Kane, So., LHP, Cardinal O'Hara; Angel Cespedes, So., RHP, Passaic; Joe Marino, So., LHP, St. Joe's Hammonton; Ethan Shaub, Fr., LHP, Haddon Twp.
Relief Pitchers: Billy Hoffacker, So., RHP, Timber Creek; Jason Kinnerman, So., RHP, Paul VI; Devin Sweeney, Fr., LHP, Pennsbury High/Univ. of Delaware.
Promising Freshmen: Sean Brown, Fr., SS, Montclair; Krystian Henry, Fr., LHP, Daniel Boone; Kevin Opanel, Fr., RHP, Neumann-Goretti; Ryan Widmeier, Fr., RHP, Cherry Hill West/FDU-Teaneck.
Additional Players: Greg Cristino, Fr., 1B, Haddonfield; Isaac Beebe, So., RHP, Eastern Regional; Sean Colbert, So., RHP, Audubon; AJ Tropiano, Fr., OF, Paul VI; Adam Aquilino, Fr., 2B, Highland Regional; Bryan Sanders, Fr., 3B, Winslow Twp.; Mike Racobaldo, So., RHP, Gloucester Catholic; Steven Maiers, Fr., RHP, Kingsway; Patrick Taney, Fr., LHP, Cherry Hill West; Sean Morgan, So., LHP, Cherry Hill West; Thomas Goldberg, Fr., LHP, Kingsway; Gehrig Fleming, Fr., C, West Chester-Rustin.
Season Outlook: The Runners begin the season as the No. 2 team in the Baseball Coaches Association D-III preseason poll and No. 2 in the NJCAA D-III preseason poll. Valli's team is expected to emerge as the favorite to win the Garden State Athletic Conference crown and a top contender in both District and National Tournament competition.
As always, Coach Rob Valli's rosgter will feature a solid balance in pitching and hitting throughout the lineup. Starting pitchers Tom Kane, Angel Cespedes, and Joe Marino are reliable veterans who will be supported by southpaw Ethan Shaub. Offensively, the lineup will return veterans Jose Correa, Isaias Marte, and Eric Sabato along with slugger John Cristino, who belted 15 home runs and drove in 64 runs last season to finish in the top five nationally in both categories. Outfielder Shawn Dougherty should also provide some power to the lineup.