All-South Jersey Baseball Teams for the 2022 season
First Team
P: Ethan Bowen, Shawnee, Sr. – The Courier Post South Jersey Pitcher of the Year … Was 7-2 with a 1.06 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 90 strikeouts over 59 1/3 innings … Allowed nine earned runs and 14 total … Rutgers recruit.
P: Landon Edwards, Kingsway, Jr. – Closed the season 7-2 with a 2.24 ERA and 81 K’s … Gave up 16 earned runs (24 total) over 50 frames … Coastal Carolina commit.
P: Tom Finnegan, Ocean City, Sr. – Finished 7-1 with a 0.88 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings … Allowed just seven earned runs (19 total) … Threw a no-hitter in a 6-1 win over Absegami on May 17 … Went the distance in four of his nine appearances … Batted .307 with 27 hits, 12 doubles, a homer, 12 RBIs and 10 runs … St. John’s recruit.
C: Caden Bodine, Haddon Heights, Sr. – Powered the Garnets to their first sectional title since 2015 and first-ever appearance in the state finals … Batted .527 with 49 hits, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 41 RBIs, 31 runs and 20 walks … Had a cycle and seven RBIs in a 13-3 win over Collingswood on April 23 … Coastal Carolina commit.
INF: John Rorick, Kingsway, Sr. – Led South Jersey Group 4 runner-up in most offensive categories including average (.413), hits (38), doubles (7, tied), homers (3, tied), extra-base hits (12), runs (38) and walks (22) … Also had 25 RBIs, tied for second most on the team … DeSales recruit.
INF: Ryan Taylor, St. Augustine, Sr. – Two-time All-South Jersey selection (Second Team as a junior) … Led Non-Public A South champions with 42 hits and 33 RBIs … Also had 7 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, 31 runs scored and 20 stolen bases … Hit two homers in two different games, including a go-ahead, two-out, seventh-inning grand slam in an 8-3 win over Egg Harbor on May 2 … Penn commit.
INF: Ryan Weingartner, St. Augustine, Sr. – Returning All-South Jersey pick (Third Team in 2021) was a critical piece for the Hermits, who went wire to wire as the No. 1 Team in South Jersey … Had team-high .457 average, 12 doubles and 7 homers … Finished with 37 hits, 31 RBIs, 32 runs, 20 walks and 18 stolen bases … Also was a key late-inning reliever at the end of the season, which included recording a save in the 48th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic final … Had a 1.68 ERA in 8 1/3 innings … St. Joseph’s recruit.
INF: Drew Wyers, Northern Burlington, Sr. – The Courier Post South Jersey Player of the Year … Two-time First Team honoree led South Jersey with 13 homers, and it was a school record … Also broke Northern Burlington mark for single-season runs (46) and career homers (21) … Batted .534 with 31 hits, 5 doubles, a triple, 32 RBIs, 34 walks, 15 stolen bases, a 1.328 slugging percentage and a 2.023 OPS … Stetson commit.
OF: Trevor Cohen, Holy Spirit, Sr. – Back-to-back All-South Jersey selection after getting Third Team last year … Set a school record with 9 home runs … Finished with a .500 average, 46 hits, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 28 RBIs, 34 runs, 25 stolen bases and a .958 slugging percentage … Rutgers recruit.
OF: Wayne Hill, Millville, Jr. – Batted .512 with 44 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 29 RBIs, 30 runs and 16 stolen bases … Had a .566 on-base percentage and 1.345 OPS … Excellent defensive center fielder had four outfield assists.
OF: Cohl Mercado, St. Joseph, Sr. – Returning All-South Jersey pick after garnering Second Team honors as a junior … Led Wildcats with .553 average, 42 hits, 34 runs, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 13 extra-base knocks, 19 walks and 31 stolen bases … Also drove in 16 runs and played outstanding defense in center field … Boston College commit.
UTIL: Jeremy Cheeseman, Cherokee, Sr. – Two-way star was integral to Cherokee capturing South Jersey Group 4 championship, its first since 2012 … Batted .389 with 28 hits, 6 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 28 RBIs, 26 runs and 32 walks … No. 1 pitcher went 4-0 on the bump … Had a 1.62 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings … Fairleigh Dickinson recruit.
UTIL: Enzo Descalzi, Vineland, Sr. – Breakout star set school record with 11 home runs … Hit .381 with 32 knocks, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 32 RBIs and 32 runs … Was impressive on the mound too as he went 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 48 innings.
UTIL: Duke McCarron, Ocean City, Jr. – Standout pitcher emerged as threat with his bat this season … Batted .356 with a team-best 31 hits, 9 doubles, 5 homers, 15 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs and 21 runs … Was 4-5 with a 1.96 ERA and 50 strikeouts on the mound … Gave up 14 earned runs (19 total) in 50 innings … Threw a no-hitter in a 3-1 victory over Osceola (Fla.) on April 20 … Maryland recruit.
UTIL: Jarrett Pokrovsky, Schalick, Sr. – Returning First Team All-South Jersey selection … Batted .477 with 41 hits (including 100th of his career), 9 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers (tying a school record), 31 RBIs, 40 runs, 19 walks and 23 stolen bases … Broke Schalick career records for runs (121), doubles (28), steals (74) and average (.493) … Was 2-3 on the hill with a 3.87 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings … Threw a no-hitter on Opening Day against eventual Group 1 state champion Woodstown … Penn commit.
Second Team
P: Christian Coppola, Cedar Creek, Sr.
P: Joey Fanelli, Kingsway, So.
P: Tanner Nolan, Gloucester Catholic, Jr.
C: Cole Campbell, Mainland, Sr.
INF: Evan Brown, Cherokee, Jr.
INF: Jake Griess, Haddon Heights, So.
INF: John McColl, Cedar Creek, Sr.
INF: Nick Tomasetto, West Deptford, Jr.
OF: Robert Carfagno, Highland, Jr.
OF: Kyle Neri, St. Augustine, Sr.
OF: Josiah Ragsdale, St. Augustine, Sr.
UTIL: John DiCostanzo, Haddon Heights, Sr.
UTIL: Kris Giangreco, Delran, Sr.
UTIL: Justin Sweeney, Egg Harbor Twp., Jr.
UTIL: Luke Wood, Pennsville, Fr.
Third Team
P: Ryder Garino, Cherry Hill West, So.
P: Marco Levari, St. Augustine, Jr.
P: George Starr, Delsea, So.
C: Drew Uccello, Shawnee, Sr.
INF: Jake Cagna, Egg Harbor Twp., Fr.
INF: Matt McIntire, Williamstown, Sr.
INF: Nick O’Brien, Shawnee, Jr.
INF: Tyler Wiltsey, Audubon, Fr.
OF: Max D’Alessandro, Lenape, Sr.
OF: Grant Hunter, Lenape, So.
OF: Kevin Stewart, Burlington Twp., Jr.
UTIL: Jake Baumann, Delran, Sr.
UTIL: Vinny Davis, Highland, Jr.
UTIL: John Perozzi, Audubon, Sr.
UTIL: Damon Suriani, Gloucester Catholic, Jr.
Josh Friedman has produced award-winning South Jersey sports coverage for the Courier Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times for more than a decade. If you have or know of an interesting story to tell, reach out on Twitter at @JFriedman57 or via email at jfriedman2@gannettnj.com. You can also contact him at 856-486-2431. Help support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Best South Jersey baseball players for the 2022 season
