Jersey Baseball Show - powered by NJ College Baseball Nation

Jersey Baseball Show - powered by NJ College Baseball Nation

by Michael H Olshin

News Commentary Sports News Baseball

Season 2

JBS - CHARLIE EVANS leading a Lumber Party at Pennsbury

We cross state lines - but just a little bit - for today's JBS featuring Pennsbury star senior and Winthrop signee Charlie Evans. Another one of the players we first saw at January's MLK Invitational, Charlie is a complete package - lightning speed, great defense, some power, high average - and an incredible motor, attitude, and drive that has Pennsbury slated as one of the top public school teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region according to Perfect Game. Plenty to talk about with Charlie, from his unique pre-game routine to the adjustments he had to make living on his own last summer to his decision to play college baseball down in South Carolina the next four years. We also get the lowdown on his friendship with Birdman Bats and the unique Lumber Party he threw for some of the area's best talent last month. Charlie has the respect of the top players AND coaches in the area - and we find out why on this great edition of JBS.

TGIM - Centercourt's JIM MAHER has been at the Center of It All

Today on TGIM we talk with Centercourt Lawrence Director of Baseball Operations Jim Maher. We look back on one of the most impactful baseball lives in the area as well as look forward at the future of Centercourt and the massive Lawrence site, the 100,000+ square foot indoor turf facility that is the largest of its kind in New Jersey. We look back at Maher's coaching career - a state Hall of Fame career at the high school level, a state title in Little League, 4 different trips to the Babe Ruth World Series, American Legion championships, the travel ball circuit, a trip to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach for Barry Davis at Rider. There's the one position Maher wanted but never got (then finally had to turn down when he DID). We also talk Centercourt - the unlimited potential the place has to have a major impact on the area baseball season. There's a lot of memories, great teams, and great stories here. So we hope you enjoy today's episode and TGIM!

JBS - ROLL GRIGGS! RBC star soph commits to Alabama

ROLL GRIGGS! Enjoy this episode of JBS as we talk to emerging Red Bank Catholic baseball star Sean Griggs, who recently made his verbal commitment to attend the University of Alabama. Learn about his hidden talent that will no doubt come in handy when he makes his way to the SEC football tailgates. More importantly, we look back to his amazing freshman campaign, starting immediately and playing with eventual 4th round MLB draft choice Shane Panzini. How many people get to play their first varsity HS game as a 9th grader in front of more than 30 MLB scouts? We had a great time sitting down with Sean and discussing a wide variety of topics - we hope you enjoy this profile of one of the best players in New Jersey on this edition of JBS!

JBS - JOHN DIGREGORIO is The Catcher On The Rise

Bad literary puns aside, we really enjoyed the chance to sit down with one of the best players in NJ's Class of 2024. Gill St. Bernards catcher John DiGregorio has already made an early verbal to Penn State University and can't wait to play major college baseball in the Big Ten. We talk with John about his journey, the impact of family, leadership, GSB baseball, lifting, music, ice cream flavors, and so much more. It's obvious the focus and time that John puts in to be at the top of his game - and we can't wait to see how he develops over the next couple of years before college. Hear from one of the best up-and-coming players in NJ on this edition of JBS!

TGIM - A RUTGERS LIFE - ERIC REARDON starts new career as Rutgers-Newark pitching coach

It's a great day to be Eric Reardon. Rutgers opened the 2022 season with a convincing 3-game road sweep, the first time the Scarlet Knights have opened a season 3-0 since 2006. Meanwhile, his new team, Rutgers-Newark starts ITS season Friday, the day Eric becomes a full-fledged college baseball coach. Eric may not be an active pitcher any more, but one thing hasn't changed - it's all Rutgers. You see, the Reardons are perhaps the all-time great Rutgers family, or at least they should be under consideration. Eric was part of that 2006 team as a batboy. His mother, Meg, graduated from there, and works at the school. His father, John, has worked at the school, has served as equipment manager for many sports, including baseball for decades, and while not every RU fan knows his face, they most certainly know his VOICE - he's been the PA announcer at Jersey Mike's Arena (aka the RAC) for years. His parents even met for the first time when RU men's hoops played in the NCAA Tournament in 1991. After graduation, Eric, who also starred locally at North Brunswick HS, quickly accepted the Pitching Coach role at Rutgers-Newark and who better to convey the emotions and experience of wearing the Scarlet and Black. True Rutgers fans will LOVE this edition of TGIM!

JBS - GET HIRED: Five Star Hiring helps athletes navigate the job market

This is an incredibly important episode of JBS and we hope it's one that all senior athletes getting ready to graduate - regardless of sport - and all recent grads get a chance to watch. Five Star Hiring CEO Jim Grugan works to help athletes find jobs. Learn how he works on your behalf to find the right fit with companies and how he can prepare you for success on your interview. Best of all, his service is free to the candidate - it doesn't cost you a dime to have Grugan working on your behalf. EMPLOYERS - connect with Jim to help locate the best candidates for your company. FIND YOUR PASSION AFTER YOUR PLAYING DAYS ARE OVER - here on JBS.

TGIM - NJ D1 College Baseball Preview with national analyst MIKE ROONEY of ESPN/d1baseball.com

Welcome to GAME WEEK! 2022 NCAA D1 opening day is FRIDAY and that takes on even more importance as who even knows when the MLB season will start. This week we bring on ESPN and d1baseball.com analyst MIKE ROONEY for a special preview on the 8 D1 programs in New Jersey. 2021 ended up being a historic one - two mid-major conference champs, two spots in the NCAA Tournament, and the state's first Tourney win in 10 years. Can 2022 go even higher? We ask Roons about all this - and since it's also Valentine's Day - and there's nobody who loves the sport more - we ask Mike to name the things that he loves most about college baseball. Great conversation with Mike Rooney AS ALWAYS - and one that makes us say TGIM!

JBS - You Can't Stop USF's ETHAN BROWN

Ethan Brown has heard it all. He literally began his career throwing with the wrong hand! True story, he started out as a righty before he realized the whole lefty thing was much more natural. It's worked out well. From there, how can a kid growing up at a small school in North Jersey make it big? How can a kid from North Jersey make it big at a top Florida junior college? Or a top D1 program? But Ethan Brown doesn't do the word "can't." Doesn't listen to it. Put up great numbers at Seminole State College and should have been drafted in 2020. But COVID wrecked that, turned the draft from 40 rounds to 5. Had free agent offers after 2021, but decided to bet on himself - AGAIN. Now he's at the University of South Florida - the underdog program that also doesn't do the word "can't" - the one that nearly made it to Omaha last year and has designs for a follow up season in 2022. Will this get them both over the top? If we've learned anything - we've learned never to bet against Ethan Brown.

JBS - DAN KIRITSIS - Big Man, Big Arm, Bigger Dreams

Half-man, half-mountain Dan Kiritsis stands an imposing 6-foot-7, 235 pounds and throws like it - mid 90s, swing and miss stuff. We follow Dan on his journey to Bergen Community College and see if he can blossom like other BCC guys such as Joe Miceli (UVA) and Josh Cohen (Sacred Heart). Dan has worked hard this winter as he knows it's time to put up - his physical attributes make him a natural to continue his career at the big-time college level or as a dark-horse MLB draft prospect. Dan is one of the top JUCO prospects in New Jersey and we can't wait to see how he attacks hitters in 2022!

TGIM - Elbowing Forward - CAMPBELL, SACHAIS eye return from Tommy John surgery

THANK YOU to A.J. Campbell for liberal use of content from his Youtube vlog - follow youtube.com/AJCampbell1 for an incredible look at the life of a D2 baseball player. The documentation of his (and Alec's) rehab from TJ surgery is a must watch - as is everything else as the channel evolves. TGIM brings the story of two guys who are grateful for EVERY Monday and every other chance to be on the baseball field. Rider's Alec Sachais and Frostburg State's A.J. Campbell are no longer just childhood friends and former travel ball teammates - they're now Tommy John brothers forever, blowing out their elbow roughly the same time last January, having their surgeries one day apart by the same surgeon, and sharing the behind-the-scenes story of their rehabs today. They're less than 2 weeks away from a return to the field to do what they love - and we know you'll love their stories on this episode of TGIM.

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