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: Rumson-Fair Haven

2022 Record: 22-5

Classification: Central Group 2

Coach's Name: Owen Stewart (3rd Season)

Career Record: 44-11-1

 

Top Returners

2023 RHP John Goodes (Rutgers)
2023 RHP Jackson Hinchliffe (Richmond)
2023 INF Reece Moroney (Rhode Island)
2023 INF Charlie Tallman (Sacred Heart)
2023 C Owen Kenney 
2023 RHP Matt Bruno (George Washington)
2024 LHP Jackson Gallagher
2024 INF Aaron Del Tin 

 

Team Outlook

The tried and true adage of "pitching and defense" will be tested again with Rumson-Fair Haven this year. Coach Owen Stewart returns several key names from last year's team that went 22-5, including a trio of Division 1 commits on the mound in John Goodes (Rutgers), Jackson Hinchcliffe (Richmond), and Matt Bruno (George Washington). Goodes logged the most innings on the team as a junior last season at 47.1 while surrendering just 25 hits and fanning 52 and pitching to a 1.62 ERA. Hinchcliffe logged the third most at 30.1 IP and punched out 42. A big loss to graduation will be ace Charlie Jones, who is now at Wake Forest, but the depth of RFH will be something worth noting with '24 LHP Jackson Gallagher and Matt Bruno taking elevated roles.

The infield is one of the most sure-handed in the state with Rhode Island commit Reece Moroney and Sacred Heart commit Charlie Tallman roaming the middle. Tallman led the team in hits (36) and RBI (26) in 2022, while Moroney led in batting average at .475. '24 Aaron Del Tin, a Future Games alum, returns as another cog in the machine of RFH, while senior Owen Kenney will provide valuable leadership and stability behind the dish. Kenney was the team leader in homers last season with 6. Expect Rumson-Fair Haven to compete for the Group 2 title yet again with this mix of returners.

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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