Season Preview: Ranney
January 26, 2023
The 2023 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across New Jersey.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons at Veteran's Field at the NJSIAA state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview the top teams across NJ.
High School: The Ranney School
2022 Record: 26-5
Classification: Non-Public B North
Coach's Name: Pat Geroni, 11th season
Career Record: 157-80 (Ranney/Monroe Twp.)
Instagram: @ranney__baseball
Top Returners
2023 RHP Nick Coniglio (Northeastern)
2023 LHP Marcello Mastroianni (Georgetown)
2023 INF Diego Tavarez (Wagner)
2023 RHP Jack Renaud (Queens University, NC)
2023 SS Brett Wehringer (Georgetown)
2023 C Enrique Beltra (New Jersey City College)
Top Newcomer
2024 1B Ryan Costello (Pittsburgh) - transfer
Team Outlook
Valuable experience is the name of the game for Pat Geroni's squad, who returns all but one starter from a 26-5 campaign in 2022 which garnered the Non-Public B state championship. All eyes will be on Duke recruit, OF/LHP AJ Gracia, who belted 12 HRs (3rd in the state) in 2022 and was a NJ State POY finalist. Gracia batted .492 and slugged 1.185 along with collecting 9 2Bs and 41 RBI (5th in the state). On the mound, Gracia threw 44.1 IP and punched out 45 while walking just 14. Diego Tavarez, a Wagner recruit, returns to the middle of the order in 2023. Tavarez hit .532 with 4 HRs and 24 RBI. Ricky Nagy and Jack Tallent are both back, each among the team leaders in at bats that return and talented 2025 OF Curtis Chropuvka is poised to get some more at bats and contribute in big ways. The catalyst in the lineup will be '23 SS Brett Wehringer, a Georgetown commit. Wehringer is lanky, rangey, yet explosive with a strong arm and batted .435 with 5 2B and 21 RBI. Finally, a massive transfer addition in Pittsburgh commit 2024 1B Ryan Costello looks to be the cherry on top for Ranney. Costello is one of the top hitters in the 2024 class and slugged 11 2Bs and 2 HRs in 2022. Costello will have to sit out the first part of the season, however, due to NJSIAA transfer rules.
The pitching staff will be led by Gracia and Georgetown commit '23 LHP Marcello Mastroianni. Mastroianni was the team leader in innings pitched a season ago at 48 and fanned 57 while allowing just 23 hits all season long. Northeastern commit Nick Coniglio will be another starter Geroni will lean on once again. Coniglio logged 30 innings and pitched to a 1.87 ERA. 2023 RHP Jack Renaud, a Future Games alum and Queen University (NC) commit will certainly see some more innings in his senior campaign. Renaud was returning from an injury in 2022 and saw some limited action down the stretch. The big 6-foot-5 right hander can rev his fastball into the low 90s and, when fully healthy, can have put-away stuff. All in all, it looks like Ranney will be back as one of the top teams in the state in 2023.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Super 60 Pro Showcase | NATIONAL | 02/05 | The MAX - McCook, IL |
| 2023 Northeast ProCase (Invite Only) | NJ | 02/12 | The Liberty Arena / Williamsport, PA |
| Central New Jersey Preseason ID | NJ | 02/20 | Iron Peak Sports - Hillsborough, NJ |
| 2023 NJ Preseason All-State: Upperclass (Invite-Only) | NJ | 03/04 | Top Corner Sports - Bridgewater, NJ |
| 2023 NJ Preseason All State: Underclass (Invite-Only) | NJ | 03/11 | Sportika - Manalapan, NJ |
| Northern New Jersey Preseason ID | NJ | 03/12 | Sports Domain Academy - Clifton, NJ |
| 2023 NJ Rising Stars ID (2027 Grads) | NJ | 03/19 | Sports Domain Academy (Clifton, NJ) |
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