H.S. baseball: South Jersey's preseason Mean 15 rankings

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Here's a look at the top teams heading into the 2025 high school baseball season in South Jersey.

South Jersey Mean 15​

1. Gloucester Catholic (last year's record: 27-2, last year's final ranking: 1) The defending state Non-Public B champs bring an experienced team with six everyday players and six experienced pitchers. Third baseman Guy Lynam is one of three players who were on one of the Courier-Post’s All-South Jersey teams. Coastal Carolina commit Jackson Smallets heads up the pitching staff.

2. Delsea (27-4, 4) The defending South Jersey Group 3 champs have one of the best lefthanders in the state in senior Frank Cairone (2.62 ERA). Senior lefthander Gavin Degan (2.21 ERA) and senior righthander Nick Mokienko (1.35) only combined for 29 innings last year, but they should get much more work this season. Second-Team All-South Jersey outfielder Austin Buchanan (.430) leads the offense along with third baseman Cole Hudson (a fourth-year starter) and sophomore shortstop Ethan DuBois.

3. St. Augustine (20-9, 2) The defending state Non-Public A champs lost quite a bit to graduation, especially in the pitching department, but still remain formidable. Senior lefthander Jack McNamee threw 18 innings (1.17 ERA) the most innings from the returning pitchers. Junior first baseman-righthander Alex Weingartner (.337) only pitched 13 innings last year, but he should also be used more on the mound. An expected strong sophomore class should help the rotation. Junior second baseman Brady Jackson (.297, ODU commit) and senior shortstop Joey Erace (.357, Rutgers commit) lead a strong infield.

4. Cherokee (16-9, 13) The defending Olympic American champs have a strong pitching staff led by seniors Henry Radbill (5-0, 1.82 ERA) and Brett Gable (3-2, 2.31) who combined for 84 2/3 total innings. Two sophomores, Cooper Burti (.353), who is also a pitcher, and Alex Odud (.377) lead the offense.

5. Mainland (20-6, 6) New coach Joe Smith, who guided Delsea to the South Jersey Group 3 title, takes over with a deep pitching staff. There are three Division I pitchers led by righthander and Miami commit Jake Lodgek. The Mustangs must replace junior infielder-outfielder Jake Blum (.333), who will miss the season due to a torn labrum. Outfielder Chase Camac (.350) leads the offense.

6. Eastern (25-7, 5) The defending South Jersey Group 4 champions lost just three players who started in last year’s state championship game. Senior Logan Dawson (1.97 ERA) and sophomore Will Martin (2.27) head up a strong pitching staff, while Dawson (.364) and Sean Karbach (.400) head up an experienced offense.

7. Kingsway (17-9, 15) This is a very strong pitching staff led by junior Nate Bott (1.53 ERA), and senior Killian McCaffery (2.22). Senior Ryan Gollon, who missed last year following labrum surgery, returns and adds great staff depth. The key will be if the offense comes around, led by junior shortstop Logan Taylor (.304) and junior second baseman Brayden Thorp (.364).

8. Cherry Hill West (24-5, 3) The defending Olympic Patriot and Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic champions return five starting position players and three key pitchers, including senior Zachary Smith, an Alvernia commit who had a 1.77 ERA in 23 innings. The offense will be led by first-team All-South Jersey outfielder Grant Fournier (.444) and third baseman Aiden Ryder (.353).

9. Ocean City (18-8, 12) The Red Raiders return seven starters and have great pitching depth, including one of the area’s top two-way performers, Alabama commit Evan Taylor. Five pitchers who threw 10 or more innings, return. Taylor (.353) and shortstop and Ursinus commit Colin Thompson (.359) lead the offense.

10. Bishop Eustace (21-7, 10) The defending Olympic National champions have among the more experienced pitching staff, led by Georgetown commit Eamon McDermott. The key will be many of the young offensive players taking that next step. Third baseman Dante Bell (.437) leads the offense. Eustace, which lost 2-1 to Gloucester Catholic in the South Jersey Non-Public B final, will again be a sectional title contender.

11. Seneca (18-11, 8) The Golden Eagles return seven starters from last year’s South Jersey Group 2 champion. Juniors Alex Kerr (2.36 ERA) and Jack Insigna (3.90) are key mound members while junior infielder Vaughn Worthing (.340) will be among the offensive leaders and is expected to be a big part of the pitching staff. Like last year, this is a team that will be better in the second half of the season.

12. Egg Harbor Township (20-9, 7) The South Jersey Group 4 finalist must replace more than 150 pitching innings lost, but this should still be a highly competitive team. After combining to pitch 30 innings last year, senior Jacob Cagna (31 strikeouts, 20 IP) and junior Chip Cloney (2.03 ERA) look to have a greater role. Cagna (.359) and junior centerfielder Michael Baxter (.353) will be the offensive leaders.

13. Rancocas Valley (17-10, NR) With 12 returning veterans, including five all-conference selections, the Red Devils are looking to contend in the loaded Olympic American and SJ Group 4. Senior Logan Shumard (1.58 ERA) leads the pitching staff while outfielder Jake Barletta (.471) is the offensive leader.

14. Paul VI (13-15, NR) The Eagles return six of nine position players along with a deep pitching staff, led by all-conference performers – Stockton commit Anthony Ungaro (3-3, 3.78, 39 strikeouts, 37 IP) and Charleston Southern commit Tyler Rodgers (1-1, 3.54, 39 K, 25 2/2 IP). Junior centerfielder Mason Myers (.315) and infielder Nick Sheer (.440) lead an experienced offense. A key newcomer is Holy Cross transfer Will Howell, a first baseman-pitcher.

15. Northern Burlington (14-10-1, NR) The Greyhounds return eight starters, including three first-team and three second-team all-Burlco Liberty performers. The pitching staff is strong led by senior Luca Mannino (2.14 ERA) and junior Cole Marchetti (1.81) while Marchetti (.400) leads an experienced offense.

Marc Narducci is a freelance reporter for the Courier-Post. He can be reached at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: H.S. baseball: South Jersey's preseason Mean 15 rankings

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