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: Mainland

2022 Record: 19-8

Classification: South Group 3

Coach's Name: Billy Kern 

Career Record: 164-82 (11 Seasons)

Twitter: @MRHS_Baseball

 

 TOP RETURNERS

2024 OF Christian Elliott
2023 OF Joe Sheeran
2023 Ut. Nick Wagner
2024 SS Ethan Mitnick
2024 OF/P Cohen Cook
2025 LHP Finn Haines

Top Newcomer
2025 RHP Jake Lodgek (Miami)

TEAM OUTLOOK

Coach Billy Kern returns a good mix of veterans combined with a strong group of newcomers. Miami commit, 2025 RHP Jake Lodgek comes to Mainland via transfer to provide some firepower in the front end of the rotation. Fellow sophomore LHP Finn Haines has looked good in preseason workouts and will be relied upon to eat some innings. 2024 Cohen Cook will be another arm to lead Mainland, after logging the second most innings pitched on the team in 2022 with 37.1 IP and pitching to a 2.81 ERA. Christian Elliot, Joe Sheeran, and Ethan Mitnick will be top bats to lead the Mustangs, too. This is a talented group with high hopes for 2023 including a deep run in the South Jersey Group III tourney.

 

RECENT NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
2023 Northeast ProCase	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) - *Date Recently Changed*	NJ	03/12	Sportika - Manalapan, NJ
Northern New Jersey Preseason ID	NJ	03/12	Sports Domain Academy - Clifton, NJ
2023 NJ Rising Stars ID	NJ	03/19	Sports Domain Academy (Clifton, NJ)

 

MORE SEASON PREVIEWS