TJ Hunt

Director of Scouting, New Jersey

High School: Northern Highlands (Allendale, Bergen Co.)

Head Coach: Paul Albarella (11th season)

2015 Record: 19-7, Big North Freedom Champs

 

The Highlanders will be stockpiled with talent and experience that certainly projects in success in 2016. With this experience comes a chip on their shoulders as well. The veteran Highlanders definitely have not forgotten about the early exits in both the Bergen County Tournament (via Don Bosco) and the North 1 Group 3 State Tournament (via Ramapo) in 2015, despite finishing at 19-7 and as outright Big North Freedom Champions.

Offensively, Coach Paul Albarella welcomes back 7 starters from last year, 3 of whom have already garnered Division 1 commitments. At the top of the order will be seniors 2B Matt Dipasupil (James Madison), SS Noah Abdalla (Georgetown), OF Tyler Shedler-McAvoy (Seton Hall), and 1B Andrew Keenan (Union College). Shedler-McAvoy is coming off a year where slugged 5 triples last year, good for 3rd in all of North Jersey.  His speed is a constant threat, and gives nightmares to opposing pitchers and coaches.  With a senior laden crew especially up the middle, the Highlanders will be poised to make some some noise in the Big North, Bergen County, and the State Tournaments.

On the bump, the Highlanders welcome in transfer junior RHP Zachary Dreznin (Notre Dame) from Bergen Catholic. Dreznin possesses a live arm, and as a sophomore had 7 wins for B.C., good for 3rd in all of North Jersey. The 6-foot-4 Notre Dame commit routinely sits 86-88, and look for him to jump even higher after a long off season of getting stronger. Reports from February already have had him at 87.  Currently ranked the #7 player in the 2017 PBR Class, Dreznin will definitely bolster a team that is coming off a very successful year. Another contributor on the mound will be the aforementioned Keenan. The righty will most likely take the #2 spot in the rotation, behind Dreznin.

A major loss for Northern Highlands happened this summer when ace pitcher Hunter Abdalla had Tommy John surgery.  The big right hander had been a workhorse starter for Coach Albarella since his freshman year, and after a stellar junior season that saw him jump into a short-list of North Jersey aces, he seemed ready to dominate in 2016.  He will not pitch this season, but will be a huge pick-up for a college program somewhere as he will be ready to go again in the fall.  

With the loss of Hunter Abdalla for the season, and with Dreznin unable to play for the first 12 games due to transfer rules, the Highlanders will have to rely on their senior leadership to guide them through April if they want to be playing in June.

Biggest Rivals:
+Ridgewood
+Ramapo
+Bergen Catholic

Notable Baseball Alumni:
+Eric Anderson - (Fairleigh Dickinson)
+Josh Corn - (Stanford)
+Joey Gandolfo - (Columbia)
+Tony Gandolfo - (Brown)
+Mike Guadango - (2x All-American at William Paterson)