Rutgers Camden Baseball Off to Solid...
Rutgers Camden Baseball Off to Solid Start With the inclement weather, Rutgers Camden had already played 13 baseball games at the beginning of the week. Of course the Scarlet Raptors were able to hit the road, playing three games in North Carolina and nine during a trip to Florida.
Dennis Barth’s team had won eight of the first 13 games and the Scarlet Raptors should be a contender for a Division III playoff berth.
The Scarlet Raptors went 1-2 to open their season in the Armstrong Invitational in Fayetville, North Carolina.
An 8-6 loss to Methodist in the third game of the season and final in the Armstrong Invitational, showed the disadvantages that a cold-weather school faces.
While that was Rutgers Camden third game of the season, it was the 12th for Methodist.
Rutgers Camden then went on a nine-game trip to Florida, going 6-3.
The Scarlet Raptors finally had their first home game on March 24 and defeated Susquehanna, 8-3. Sophomore Ian Scheidemann from Cherry Hill West earned his first win for the Scarlet Raptors, allowing three earned run in seven innings. Scheidemann is a transfer from Salisbury, where he had a 2-1 record and 4.13 ERA in 56 innings last year.
Not surprisingly, Rutgers Camden is receiving huge contributions from South Jersey players. Sophomore second baseman Chris Jones (Bishop Eustace) was batting .413 with five double, one triple, one home run and 11 RBI in the first 11 games. He had an outrageous 1,041 on base plus slugging percentage.
Senior First baseman Frank Cerami IV (Rancocas Valley) was hitting .340 with two doubles, two triples and 14 RBI. Junior centerfielder Brett Kuchera (Collingswood) was battiing .333 with six doubles, one triple, one home run and 15 RBI and a 1,021 OPS. Senior rightfielder Zach Ellin (Cherokee) was batting .316 with 10 runs scored.
Senior DH Brandon Cornelius (Timber Creek) was hitting .382 with four doubles and eight RBI. Senior catcher Jon Theckston (Gloucester Catholic) was batting .325 with eight RBI.
Sophomore outfielder Pete Farlow (Gloucester Catholic) was batting .389 with a.465 slugging percentage.
Paul Haynes, a senior from Triton, was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, pitching seven scoreless innings in his only appearance.
Carter Fichter, a junior from Haddonfield, was 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in five games, all in relief. Fichter had 15 strikeouts and just two walks in 11 1/3 innings.
Matthew Stoots, a freshman pitcher-third baseman from Pemberton, was 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA.
Barth, who entered this season 103-61-1, has done wonders to turn this program around. He is his fifth season guiding the Scarlet Raptors. In 2014 he led Rutgers Camden to the first NCAA Tournament berth in program history and the goal this year is to duplicate that feat.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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