Loaded with local talent, TCNJ poised to build on NCAA Tournament appearance
Coming off a conference championship and with many players returning, there are a lot of positive signs coming from The College of New Jersey baseball team.
The Lions, who are picked fourth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference preseason poll, aren’t concerned about what others have to say.
They know it’s what happens on the field.
“When you play for TCNJ, your expectations are higher than most,” said longtime coach Dean Glus. “But it doesn’t matter what others may think of you but it’s how you go about your business, improve every day and you will be there at the end. The old saying is, “it’s not how you start the race but how you finish,” and the players are ready to improve on last year and work hard to get to their goals.”
Rowan, Kean and Montclair State were all picked ahead of TCNJ in the poll. The long-awaited season opener is at home on Tuesday at 3 p.m. against Albright.
That’s followed by the annual spring break trip to Auburndale, Florida for nine games.
The Lions return five of their top six hitters, including former CVC Player of the Year Justin Marcario, who led the team in batting with a .365 average and was an All-NJAC second team selection.
The pitching staff is returning some depth as well with Jackson Malouf (5-2, 69 Ks), an All-NJAC first team selection, and Princeton High product Ben Amon (7-2, 80 innings), a second team selection last spring.
“We have several leaders on and off the field, as we call them sergeants,” said Glus. “They are the older players who have been through the cycle and now have grown into good leaders off and on the field.”
The veterans are grad students Amon and Chris Reeder (.309), seniors Jack Haynes (.298), Ryan Goodall (11 home runs), Joe Ferreri and Jordan Gray.
“I believe our pitching staff and our defense will be the key to us winning this year,” said Glus. “I also believe we will be a much improved offensive team this year with many of the starters returning. The concern this year as of now, is we have not been able to get out on our field as much as in the past and injuries are always a concern but you cannot worry about it because we must win no matter who is playing.”
The Lions have added seven freshman and sophomore Tyler Provost, who transferred from Kean, and junior Dan Merkel has transferred after two years at Wagner.
TCNJ was 24-24 in 2023 and came into the NJAC playoffs at the No. 5 see. It took the title in a must-win game over No. 2 Kean behind the play of Marcario, Haynes and Reeder.
Glus will be looking to that big game experience to carry the Lions even farther this season.
“There are a couple of keys to finish higher in the conference standings,” said Glus. “The experience of just being older and being through the grind of the season last year and winning the conference tournament and getting this group of players back in the regionals and now they understand what it takes to do that and that will lead to a better season.”
The college baseball season is a blink of an eye and Glus enjoys the fact it doesn’t allow for too much emotion.
“That’s the best part about baseball, you don’t have very long to get too excited or down about a game because your next game is the next day or within two to three days,” stated Glus. “So we flush it and move on and learn from the past, good or bad.”
One of the good things is there’s a lot of local talent on the roster: Marcario (Allentown), Haynes (Hopewell Valley), Reeder (Allentown), Amon (Princeton), Merkel (Allentown), Provost (Robbinsville), Zack Bowman (Neshaminy), Michael Doran (Allentown), Braden Dromboski (Northern Burlington), jack Marchese (Notre Dame) and Connor Wood (Bordentown).
A lot of experience and a lot of talent should make for a very interesting spring for TCNJ.