All State: First Team
June 11, 2024
With the conclusion of the 2024 spring season. It is that time for post season awards. Here at Prep Baseball New Jersey we take a lot of time and effort in covering the spring HS season. These 20 players have separated themselves. For that they are being awarded First Team all state honors. Lets breakdwon how they got here.
Catchers -
Uncommitted 2026 Braeden Lipoff (Gloucester Catholic)
Stats - .389 AVG / 35 H / 27 RBI / 3 HR
Gloucester Catholic won Non-Public Group B with Lipoff behind the dish every inning. Did a great job handling a front end starter in Derais and the rest of the staff. Has the makeup, frame and attributes of being an elite C. Lipoff was a '23 future gamer. With August 1 approaching this name should be on your list!
Uncommitted ‘26 C Braeden Lipoff (Gloucester Catholic) @BraedenLipoff23
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 2, 2024
Physical backstop. Brute strength C.
Lift and sink. Short stride. Turns inside. Catches barrels out in front. Hammered a homer @ Future Games; in which was a glimpse of the power upside Lipoff has.… pic.twitter.com/gxQI8y3ljl
Binghamton commit 2024 C Tommy Popoff (Kingsway)
Stats - .452 AVG / 42 H / 33 RBI / 4 HR
Physical framed backstop. Line to line power upside. Hit in the middle of the order for Kingsway.
Intriguing look at ‘24 C Tommy Popoff (Kingsway) @PopoffTommy
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) April 27, 2024
6’2” 185 Physical
So far today is 2-2. With 2 RBIs. The @BinghamtonBASE recruit, has box presence and advanced strength. Name to follow ‼️📝 Hitting well over .400. @ShooterHunt // @PrepBaseballNJ pic.twitter.com/KlDQKHWntT
Rutgers recruit 2026 C Mickey Gilligan (Lakeland)
Stats - .443/6 HR/ .772 SLG/ 32 RBI
2026 C Mickey Gilligan (Lakeland) @GilliganMickey
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 12, 2024
Impressive round of BP from the @RutgersBaseball recruit. Showcased power to the pull side with intriguing bat speed. Homered 6x this spring. @ShooterHunt | @PrepBaseballNJ pic.twitter.com/lNXlAM2TZZ
Designated Hitter -
Rutgers commit 2025 Julius Rosado (South River)
Stats - .594 AVG / 14 HR / 38 H / 44 R / 35 RBI / 32 BB / 16 SB / 1.422 SLG
Rosado put up video game #'s this spring. A cool statisic is in 3 high schools seasons Rosado hasn't hit under .500. Very impressive! He has a physical frame with projectable strength. Has the ability to hit for power to all fields. Intriquing name to follow on the summer cirucuit.
Top ranked ‘25 IF Julius Rosado (South River) @JRosado_25
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) April 23, 2024
5’11” 200
Physical lower half. Controlled leg kick. Direct barrel. Ball explodes off the bat.@ShooterHunt // @PrepBaseballNJ pic.twitter.com/oBqci2qwzB
Infielders -
LSU commit 2024 Ryan Costello (Ranney)
Stats - .562 AVG / 27 H / 14 HR / 34 RBI / 1500 SLG
Costello is the definiton of a pure hitter. With all the power production this spring he only managed to K 3 times. His season was cut short due to an injury. If not he was inching close to tieing and or breaking Mike Trouts HR record. The LSU tigers are getting a polished bat this fall.
𝐎𝐓𝐇: 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬
— Prep Baseball (@prepbaseball) May 14, 2024
In pursuit of Mike Trout's single-season NJ HR record of 18, #Super60 1B @RyanCostelloo (@PrepBaseballNJ) has slugged 14 of his own for Raney HS this season as he bats near .600.
🔗 https://t.co/7oQsJVXF0v | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/kkeOWMqdrr
Alabama commit 2024 Jon Young Jr. (Cherry Hill West)
Stats - .458 AVG / 44 H / 38 R / 7 HR / 47 RBI / 11 2B / .854 SLG
Young has been a well known name for some time now in NJ. This spring he took his offsenive game to another level. Improved all of his #'s drastically. Big increase in power production.
‘24 IF Jon Young Jr. (Cherry Hill West) @JonYoungJr1 is having himself a really impressive senior season. Currently hitting .479 (35 hits). 5 HR. 39 RBI and 35 runs scored. Much different setup this season in terms of the way he stands. Taller and keeps the shoulders downhill… pic.twitter.com/eUz5gEnwKe
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 10, 2024
Uncommitted 2026 SS JC Pacheco (Depaul Catholic)
Stats - .500 AVG / 9 HR / 39 H / 35 R / 32 RBI / .936 SLG
Uncommitted ‘26 SS JC Pacheco (@DPBaseball13) @jc_pachecojr3
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 15, 2024
1 for 2 (BB, HBP) day for Pacheco. Had some really good passes at the ball in his 3rd bat. Comes up here with a 2k knock pull side.
Moving well ✅. Has bat speed, very minimal hand load. Strong lower half.… pic.twitter.com/eASmwvBlgQ
Virginia commit 2024 SS Luke Dickerson (Morris Knolls)
Stats - .467 AVG / 18 HR / 49 H / 64 R / 46 RBI / 27 SB / 1.086 SLG
‘24 SS Luke Dickerson (Morris Knolls) @Luke_dickerson1 hammers a double to the pull side gap to open up this Group 3 Semifinal. 2-0 count facing off against Kleiven (Miami recruit). Handled the upper 80’s FB with ease. Proceeded to come around and score his 60th run of the… pic.twitter.com/0W5st5B4rv
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 5, 2024
Virginia commit 2025 SS Nicky Becker (Don Bosco Prep)
Stats - .456 AVG / 36 H / 45 R / 31 RBI / 12 2B
‘25 SS Nicky Becker (Don Bosco Prep) @BeckerNick22
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) April 5, 2024
6’2” 175@UVABaseball recruit.
Quality at bat from the Junior IF’er. Drives in 2 with a base hit through the 6 hole. Stays close to the ground, flat path. @ShooterHunt // @PrepBaseballNJ pic.twitter.com/GkonyDrR6x
Outfielders -
St. Johns commit 2025 OF Dylan Fitzsimmons (Morris Knolls)
Stats - .438 AVG / 7 HR / 46 H / 41 R / 35 RBI / 17 SB
‘25 OF Dylan Fitzsimmons (Morris Knolls) @Dfitzsimmons34 continues to perform. Crushes an opposite field double for 3 RBI’s. The @StJohnsBaseball recruit has really improved his power #’s this spring. Slugging well over .750. Name to follow this summer. @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/STHw6VYjLp
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 3, 2024
William & Mary commit 2024 OF Matthew Kosuda (Governor Livingston)
Stats - .448 AVG / 8 HR / 25 RBI / 15 SB / 29 R
Alabama recruit 2025 OF Chase Kroberger (Moorestown)
Stats - .415 AVG / 9 HR / 29 R / 17 SB
2025 OF Chase Kroberger (Moorestown) @chase_kroberger
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 11, 2024
Tons of torque from the @AlabamaBSB recruit. Impressive round. Homered 9x this spring. @ShooterHunt || @PrepBaseballNJ || @Ditro2 pic.twitter.com/LjiTtxtaMT
Pitchers -
Wake Forest recruit 2024 RHP Chris Levonas (CBA)
Stats - 31.2 IP / 68 K / 10 BB / 0.44 ERA
‘24 RHP Chris Levonas (CBA) @ChrisLevonas
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 9, 2024
No. 3️⃣0️⃣ in the class.
The wiry right hander took the mound in the MCT Semifinals. He was dominant. Used his FB more. 93-96 (97). Saw 94’s and 95’s late for K’s. CH/CT 86-89. CB 75-78. SL 79-83. Punched out 12 with 0 BB. Seemed to be… pic.twitter.com/vGH95Qo3AE
Virginia recruit 2024 RHP Bryce Meccage (Pennington)
Stats - 22 IP / 47 K / 9 BB / 0.64 ERA
‘24 RHP Bryce Meccage (Pennington) @BryceMeccage
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 14, 2024
No. 3️⃣6️⃣ in the class.
In 22 innings of work this season, Meccage (@UVABaseball recruit) didn’t allow a single hit. Also managed to pick up 47 K’s. In today’s outing against Hightstown; K’d 11 and walked 4.
FB: Mostly 93-96… pic.twitter.com/J7lZFBtqXN
Virginia recruit 2024 LHP William Kirk (Ramsey)
Stats - 32 IP / 62 K / 9 BB / 0.22 ERA
‘24 Will Kirk (NJ)
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) April 19, 2024
FB: 88-91 (2100, 1850 2S, ASR)
CH: 78-80 (1700s, confident, fade)
SL: 78-80 (2400s, varied shape, better late)
EZ mover w/ m2c. Mixed & matched w/ starter upside. Double digit whiffs on FB & near 20 overall. Low pulse, commanding presence.
👍👍 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/IVn3HWniIH
South Carolina recruit 2024 RHP Ryder Garino (Cherry Hill West)
Stats - 53.2 IP / 94 K / 14 BB / 0.39 ERA
‘24 RHP Ryder Garino (Cherry Hill West) @garino_ryder
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 17, 2024
6’5” 180. @GamecockBasebll recruit.
Garino continues to dominate this season. Long levers; L-release with carry.
FB 86-89 (90’s early on)
SL 74-79 sweep, late ↘️
5/17/24 ~ 6.1 | 10 K | 2 BB | 1 ER
Season ~ 41.2 IP |… pic.twitter.com/ulTyE3u7il
Miami recruit 2024 RHP Howard Tate Derais (Gloucester Catholic)
Stats - 53.1 IP / 91 K / 22 BB / 0.66 ERA
‘24 RHP Tate Derias (Gloucester Catholic) @CanesBaseball recruit.
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 8, 2024
No-hitter in the Non Public B state final. Caps off a great senior season. He pitched 53.1 innings with 91 K’s and 22 BB.
6/7/24 ~ 5 IP | 13 K | 0 H
FB mostly 90-92. 93s and 94s mixed
SL 76-79 early. Late… pic.twitter.com/MNa6vpzj3Q
Rookie of the Year -
Uncommitted 2026 LHP Danny Ditullio (CBA)
Stats - 45 IP / 61 K / 10 BB / 1.09 ERA
‘26 LHP Danny DiTullio (CBA) @DannyDitullio
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) May 21, 2024
Uncommitted left hander continues to win this spring. Made big pitches last night when he needed to. SL (75-78) is a very intriguing pitch. Nice upside.
Ultra competitor ✅
Season~ 40 IP | 55 K | 7 BB @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/sOj2DKFOKQ
Utility -
Duke recruit 2026 IF Sal Garcia (Delbarton)
Stats - .447 AVG / 38 H / 37 RBI / 10 2B
‘26 SS Sal Garcia (Delbarton) showcased his elite bat to ball skills once again. RBI base hit early and a 2-rbi double. This added to his big RBI total on the year (37). The @DukeBASE recruit is a name to follow on the circuit this summer.
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 8, 2024
‘24 spring ~ .447 / 10 2B / 37 RBI… pic.twitter.com/pgUTD8bj7C
Coastal Carolina recruit 2024 IF Sam Winsett (Eastern)
Stats - .476 AVG / 39 H / 29 RBI / 18 SB / 31 R
‘24 SS Sam Winsett (Eastern) @SamWinsett2024
— Dan Valerio (@DanValerio3) June 11, 2024
With his team down 5. Winsett changes that with one swing of the bat. Grand Slam!
Keeps hands&weight back. Transitions at the perfect time. The @CoastalBaseball commit got all of this one. @ShooterHunt || @PrepBaseballNJ #BeSeen pic.twitter.com/21DpXXLB9d