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: Delbarton

2022 Record: 20-7

Classification: Non-Public A North

Coach's Name: Bruce Shatel

Career Record: 372-147-2 (Roxbury/Delbarton)

Twitter: @DelbyBaseball

Top Returners

2023 SS Kevin Hager (Cornell)
2023 INF/RHP Griffin Mills (Northwestern)
2023 1B Rob Russo (Villanova - football)
2023 C Zachary McBride (Trinity College) 
2023 OF Matt Dahl (Haverford College) 
2023 OF Marco Maselli 
2023 RHP Amir Eltaki (Yale) 
2023 RHP Chris Accardo (Georgetown) 
2023 RHP Aidan Murray (Colby College) 
2023 INF Paul Brady
2024 OF/LHP Aiden Dill (Seton Hall)
2024 INF Jack Harley (Rice) 
2024 RHP Christian Zebrowski 
2025 RHP Ryan Holman 
2025 RHP Lenny Kim 

Team Outlook

The Green Wave returns a senior laden group who gained valuable experience last year, especially on the big stage. This same group conquered the Morris County Tournament once again, its 3rd straight, and 8th total. Green Wave will lean on Zach McBride behind the dish to provide some leadership with Kevin Hager, Griffin Mills, Jack Harley, and Aidan Dill shoring up the middle of the field. Matt Dahl led the team in hitting as a junior last season at .473, with Rice commit and Future Games alum Jack Harley being the primary run producer in the middle of the order with 29 RBIs as just a sophomore in '22. Harley is a tough out and is consistently on time with the barrel and can break the game open with one swing of the bat. He can bat in any place in the order and contribute in big ways. Seton Hall commit Aidan Dill and Cornell commit Kevin Hager will be stalwarts at the top of the lineup in 2023, along with senior OF Marco Maselli, and Villanova football recruit Rob Russo. The x-factor might be Mills, however, who returns from an injury that had him sidelined for all of 2022. Mills, a Future Games alum from 2020, is a true two-way talent; a speedster with power to the gaps and an upper 80s arm. 

The pitching staff will be led by Dill and uncommitted '24 RHP Christian Zebrowski, who both threw the most innings on the team in 2022 with 45.1 and 34.1, respectively. Zebrowski has plus stuff and will be expected to be a front end guy for Delbarton. Georgetown commit Chris Accardo punched out 32 in 24.2 IP in 2022 and has some funk to his delivery that will keep hitters off balance. He's a true sinker/slider type from a lower 3/4 slot and a big 6-foot-5 frame. Yale commit Amir Eltaki ate up some innings in 2022 and will be expected to step up again in '23. Senior Aidan Murray is back to provide some stability in the late innings and a pair of sophomores in Ryan Holman and Lenny Kim will be leaned on, too. Keep an eye on a trio of freshmen in LHP AJ Saccento, INF Sal Garcia, and OF Matt Tafuri. Saccento and Garcia are both Duke recruits and could provide some added depth down the stretch. All in all, expect the Green Wave to compete for yet another Morris County Championship and complete some unfinished business in the Non-Public A state tournament. 

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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