Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Team Preview: Gloucester Catholic



New Jersey Staff

High School: Gloucester Catholic
Head Coach: Adam Tussey (First Season)
2015 Record: 26-5, Tri County Classic Champions

When talking about New Jersey high school baseball, Gloucester Catholic will, undoubtedly, be brought up.  They have consistently been one of the best teams in the state for decades, and with South Jersey becoming a major hot-bed of talent for college coaches all over the country in recent years, the Rams have continued to prosper.  The championships, Division 1 players, and legendary Brooklawn Legion team all contribute to the legend that is Gloucester Catholic baseball.  And, now, with rookie head coach Adam Tussey, the Rams are poised to make another deep run to add to a long list of past championships.  However, Coach Tussey will have to make up for major losses from last years Tri-County Classic Champs.  Workhorse John Murphy (Maryland), Fran Kinsey (Iona), Sean Breen (Iona), Donte Scafidi (Rutgers), Pete Farlow (Wagner), Anthony Harold (Wagner), and Tre Todd (Albany) are 7 Division 1 losses that will have to be made up for in 2016.

But everyone knows GC doesn’t rebuild, they RELOAD.  And with a frontline starter like RHP Tyler Mondile (Florida State) leading the pack, Coach Tussey knows he can compete with any team in the state.  Mondile has been a force for GC since his freshman year.  He is currently ranked the #2 best player in NJ, and works his fastball in the 88-92 range while bumping 93-94.  His slider has hard, late bite and sits 78-81.  He is a bonafide ace, but will also be counted on to add some pop to the Rams’ lineup as a DH on non-pitching days. Fellow senior LHP Eric Grafton (Mercer CC) will be the number 2 behind Mondile. Grafton has a funky delivery, and hides the baseball very well from hitters. He is a little herky-jerky in his motion, and throws from a low ¾ angle which makes him especially tough on left handers.  

Offensively the Rams will look for seniors 3B/OF Nick Seccia (Harford CC), C Zach Van Meter (Immaculata), and Mondile to lead an otherwise young, yet experienced group of hitters. Seccia has raw gap to gap power, and he will be looked upon to provide some pop in the middle of the order. Van Meter will is an experienced backstop who manages a staff well.  He will be very valuable for the Rams come May and June. Other offensive catalysts will be juniors SS Alex Persichetti (Binghamton), 2B Adam Bonomo, and 1B Chris Turco (Albany). Look for sophomore INF/OF Evan Giordano to contribute greatly for the Rams as a valuable utility guy. Giordano has great mechanics on his swing already - gets his foot down early and has a nice stroke through the zone. If he has made strides over the winter to add some more strength, this could be a breakout year for him at the plate.

*Put a star next to GC’s game on May 16th. The Rams will travel to Campbell’s Field in Camden, NJ, the old home of the now defunct Camden Riversharks, to play Barnegat.  Although the post-season will be on the horizon, this game could match-up the top two players in New Jersey (Mondile vs. LHP Jason Groome) on the mound.  If that happens, expect “major heat” from all 30 Major League teams to be in attendance.  Not to mention this game could have huge implications in crowning the top team in the state.

 

Head Coach’s Bio:

+Adam Tussey, first year head coach

+Graduated from Gloucester City HS in 2005

+Played at Rider University from 2006-2008, then TCNJ from 2009-2010

+Former assistant at Gloucester Catholic and Gloucester HS

+Former volunteer assistant at Rutgers-Camden University

 

Current Players Committed

+Tyler Mondile (RHP) - Florida State

+Nick Seccia (3B/OF) - Harford CC

+Eric Grafton (LHP) - Mercer CC

+Zach Van Meter (C) - Immaculata

+Chris Turco (1B, 2017) - Albany

+Alex Persichetti (SS, 2017) - Binghamton

 

Biggest Matchups in 2016:

@ St. Mary’s, Rutherford - 4/9

@ St. Augustine Prep - 4/23

vs. Steinert - 4/29

@ Bishop Eustace - 4/30

@ Cambell’s Field (Camden, NJ) vs. Barnegat - 5/16

 

Biggest Rival:

+Bishop Eustace

 

 

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