Congratulations to all of our NJIC baseball players selected to the All-State Team
Third team All-State: Joey Castellanos, St. Mary (Ruth.), Sr., 5-10, 165 lbs, designated hitter
Castellanos posted a .537 average with 43 runs and 32 RBI over 95 at-bats. He also tallied 18 walks, 15 steals and 11 extra-base hits – six doubles, three triples and two home runs.
GROUP 1 FIRST TEAM
OF: John Apgar Waldwick, Sr.
OF: Pat Durkin, Haddon Heights, Sr.
OF: Ryan Teschko, Gateway, Jr.
1B: Robert Glocker, Paulsboro, So.
2B: Kevin Teschko, Gateway, Jr.
SS: Nick Pronti, Wood-Ridge, Sr.
3B: Andrew Fehr, Audubon, Sr.
P: Collin Kiernan, Verona, Sr.
P: Hunter DePrimo, North Warren, Sr.
P: Matt Kennedy, Haddon Heights, Sr.
P: Billy Cavender, Pitman, Sr.
C: Matt Carovillano, Middlesex, Sr.
UT: Max Dineen, Pennsville, Jr.
DH: Ryan O’Shea, Highland Park, Sr.
GROUP 1 SECOND TEAM
OF: Michael Hutchinson, Florence, Sr.
OF: Michael Harmon, Dunellen, Jr.
OF: David Lynch, Palmyra, Sr.
1B: Spencer McNamara, Waldwick, Jr.
2B: Jose Correa, LEAP Academy, So.
SS: John Biggiani, Ridgefield, Sr.
3B: Brian Schnack, Glen Ridge, Jr.
P: Daulton Montagna, Pennsville, Jr.
P: Matt Pavick, Dayton, Sr.
P: Kyle Nepton, Middlesex Jr.
P: Frank Doelling, Riverside Jr.
C: RJ Concepcion, Audubon, Sr.
DH: Mike Salerno, Middlesex, Jr.
UT: Robbie Leuck, Emerson Boro, Sr.
GROUP 1 THIRD TEAM
OF: Brandon Steidl, Emerson Boro, Sr.
OF: Vincent Pellicane, East Brunswick Vo-Tech, Sr.
OF: Jacob Thornton, Belvidere, Sr.
1B: Shian Tanaka, Wood-Ridge, Sr.
2B: Cody Johnson, Penns Grove, Sr.
SS: Dillon Tassi, Audubon, Sr.
3B: Ian Metzger, Verona, Jr.
P: Ray Williams, Cedar Grove, So.
P: Christian Ferrara, Pompton Lakes, Sr.
P: Al Shakir Evans, Shabazz, Sr.
P: Mike Lapczynski, Metuchen, Jr.
C: Kyle Harry, Metuchen Sr.
DH: Joe Kastner, Dayton, Sr.
UT: Chris Maldonado, Glassboro, Jr.
GROUP 2 FIRST TEAM
OF: Connor Adams, South Plainfield, Jr.
OF: JT Vento, Spotswood, Sr.
OF: Stephen Reid, Gov. Livingston, So.
1B: Robbie Holmes, Bernards, Jr.
2B: Daniel Ruggiero, Parsippany, Sr.
SS: Joe Loperfido, Haddonfield, Sr.
3B: Luke Smith, Delran, Jr.
P: Dan Raglievich, Dumont, Sr.
P: Sean Klimek, Pequannock, Jr
P: Jean Sapini, South Plainfield, Sr.
P: Tommy Sheehan, Manasquan, Sr.
C: David Veras, Dwight-Morrow, Sr.
DH: Jimmy Porcelli, Bordentown, Sr.
UT: Yariel Levin, Science Park, Sr.
GROUP 2 SECOND TEAM
OF: David Kurzrock, Voorhees, Sr.
OF: Christian Hlinka, Delaware Valley, Jr.
OF: Mike Cavallo, Caldwell, Sr.
1B: Nick Geroldi, Whippany Park, Jr.
2B: Aaron McLaughlin, Barnegat, Sr.
SS: Elian Guzman, Lodi, Jr.
3B: Dante Cancro, Pequannock, Sr.
P: Alex Margot, Collingswood, So.
P: Mike Gutierrez, Garfield, Sr.
P: Nick Cocchia, Gov. Livingston, Sr.
P: Jacob Gomez, Rutherford, Fr.
C: Josh Jackson, Monmouth, Sr.
DH: Jake Hall, Hackettstown, Sr.
UT: Joe Turek, Johnson, Jr.
GROUP 2 THIRD TEAM
OF: Steve DiGirolamo, Dumont, Sr.
OF: Brandon Magnotta, Jefferson, Sr.
OF: Max Vigliotti, Lyndhurst, Sr.
1B: Tim Profy, Cinnaminson, Sr.
2B: Aldo Vallorosi, Newton, Sr.
SS: Michael Christadore, Hanover Park, Sr.
3B: Sam Armstrong, High Point, So.
P: Connor Muly, Manasquan, Sr.
P: Kyle Lisa, Whippany Park, Jr.
P: Ryan Vatcher, Ramsey, Sr.
P: Matt Birdsall, Raritan, Sr.
C: Adam Schreck, Manasquan, Sr.
DH:Yamir Levin, Science Park, Sr.
UT: Jack Brodsky, Pascack Hills, Jr.
ALL-NON-PUBLIC FIRST TEAM
OF: Lillo Paxia, Gloucester Catholic, So.
OF: Jon Sot, St. Joseph (Met.), Jr.
OF: Justin Henry, Rutgers Prep, Sr.
1B: Jack Billings, St. Augustine, Jr.
2B: Matt Orlando, Bishop Eustace, So.
SS: Anthony Volpe, Delbarton, So.
3B: Justin Provost, Pope John, Jr.
P: Sean Roberts, Pope John, Sr.
P: Chris Gerard, Bergen Catholic, Jr.
P: Nick Cantone, St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr.
P: Billy Price, Delbarton, Jr.
C: David LaManna, Bergen Catholic, Sr.
UT: Nick Maldonado, Seton Hall Prep, So.
DH: Andrew Papantonis, Delbarton, Sr.
ALL-NON-PUBLIC SECOND TEAM
OF: Mike Guzzardo, Bishop Eustace, Jr.
OF: Jack Zyska, Seton Hall Prep, Jr.
OF: Robbie Buecker, Notre Dame, So.
1B: Matt Alaimo, St. Joseph (Mont.), Jr.
2B: Michael D’Andrea, St. Joseph (Mont.), Sr.
SS: Zac Taylor, Holy Cross, Jr.
3B: Casey Dana, Don Bosco Prep, Sr.
P: Kyle Angel, St. Joseph (Met.), Sr.
P: Jack Mahala, Seton Hall Prep, Sr.
P: Ryan McLinskey, Don Bosco Prep, Sr.
P: Austin Nappi, Red Bank Catholic, Jr.
C: Raul Ortega, St. Joseph (Mont.), Jr.
UT: Kevin Eaise, St. Augustine, Jr.
DH: Joey Castellanos, St. Mary (Ruth.) Sr.
ALL-NON-PUBLIC THIRD TEAM
OF: Nick Hohenstein, Christian Brothers, Jr.
OF: Joe Possumato, Pingry, Sr.
OF: Tim Petrucelli, Holy Cross, Jr.
1B: Robert Herron, Union Catholic, Sr.
2B: Ryan Morash, Gill St. Bernard’s, Jr.
SS: Sky Duff, Bishop Eustace, So.
3B: Justyn-Henry Malloy, St. Joseph (Mont.), Jr.
P: Matt Ciccone, Newark Academy, So.
P: Sam Beck, Rutgers Prep, Sr.
P: Matt Goehrig, Paramus Catholic, Sr.
P: Jack Carey, St. Peter’s Prep, Jr.
C: Hunter Silvernail, Pope John, Sr.
UT: Riley Maypother, St. Rose, Jr.
DH: Nick Egnatuk, Immaculata, Sr.
GROUP 1 Final 2017 Ranking
1-Middlesex (26-5)
2-Audubon (25-5)
3-Emerson Boro (20-9)
4-Glen Ridge (12-14)
5-Pennsville (18-9)
6-Metuchen (18-9)
7-Park Ridge (16-10)
8-Wood-Ridge (20-8)
9-Gateway (14-9)
10-Dayton (18-6)
FINAL GROUP 2 RANKINGS
1-Manasquan (16-10)
2-Gov. Livingston (26-4)
3-Monmouth (17-7)
4-Whippany Park (15-10)
5-Pascack Hills (21-9)
6-South Plainfield (19-11)
7-High Point (15-9-1)
8-West Deptford (15-12)
9-Dumont (21-6)
10-Rutherford (20-6)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Joey Castellanos was among the best hitters in the state all spring long.
The St. Mary (Ruth.) senior clobbered the ball to the tune of a .537 average, with 43 runs and 32 RBI to his credit.
Castellanos’ production didn’t stop there, though. He also drew 18 walks and was dangerous when he got on base, swiping 15 bags. He had some pop, too, recording 11 extra-base hits – six doubles, three triple and two home runs.
Just as impressive was Castellanos’ consistency. He notched at least one hit in 25 of 30 games and rattled off an 18-game hitting streak in the middle of the season.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Emerson Boro‘s postseason was defined by grit and determination.
Much of that credit goes to Chris Sommerhalter, who guided the Cavos to a 20-9 record and the Group 1 final.
Though Emerson Boro couldn’t quite come up with the state title, their run to the season’s ultimate game was plenty impressive. The Cavos came from behind in three straight games to reach the state final and survived a pair of extra-inning games during that stretch.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Emerson Boro was part of arguably the game of the year in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 final.
The Cavos scrapped back from nine runs down against Park Ridge to force extra innings, then fell behind by two runs in the top of the ninth before tallying three of their own for a walk-off win and the sectional crown.
That kind of resolve typified Emerson Boro’s season, which was a see-saw for the better part of two months. But after dropping three of five entering the state tournament, the Cavos got hot at the right time and performed their best with their backs against the wall.
