Striving for Greatness

by Marc Narducci | Jun 20, 2025

Gloucester Catholic’s baseball program has won so many championships that it is easy to take for granted all that the Rams have accomplished.

The Rams ended this season the way they did the previous two–receiving yet another state championship plaque to cap a 24-3 campaign. The latest installment came after a 7-4 win over Pope John XXIII in the state Non-Public B title game.

Pope John (13-14) was a decided underdog and truly tested the Rams, but in the end, Gloucester Catholic found a way.

This is usually the script for the Rams.

Since the advent of NJSIAA state playoffs in 1971, nobody has come close to the Rams in securing titles. This most recent championship was No. 22 for Gloucester Catholic.

Second on the list is Don Bosco Prep, which this season won its ninth state title with a 5-4 win in 11 innings over Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public A title game.

What can’t be a comforting thought to opponents, is that Gloucester Catholic will again expected to be strong next season.

Gloucester Catholic will be aiming for a fourth consecutive state title for the second time in team history.

From 2010-2013 the Rams won four consecutive state titles. They captured Non-Public B championships in 2010 and 2011 and then won Non-Public A state crowns in 2012 and 2013.

This is an especially strong current junior class for Gloucester Catholic, which is why the expectations will be high next season.

Yet, there are some seniors who will be sorely missed, including righthander Jackson Smallets, the winning pitcher in the state title game. For the season the Coastal Carolina-bound righthander went 9-2 with a 1.21 ERA and pitched in many of the big games for the Rams.

Classmate Sal Marziani, who got the final two outs in the state championship game, will also be a difficult player to replace on the pitching staff. Like Smallets, he also had a 1.21 ERA this season.

Two other seniors who were major contributors were first-baseman-pitcher Jack Mustaro and outfielder-pitcher Brody Gates.

Mustaro batted .457 with two home runs and 27 RBI, while also delivering a microscopic 0.24 ERA, with 36 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.

Gates batted .322 with a home run and 16 RBI, while delivering a 3.57 ERA in 11.1 innings.

Righthander Jude Morgan (6-0, 0.32 ERA) will lead next season’s pitching staff, while catcher Braeden Lipoff (.474), infielder-outfielder Guy Lynam (.329) and shortstop Noah Danza (.318) are among the current juniors who will be the leaders next year for coach Dennis Barth’s team.

This year, as it is every season, Gloucester Catholic seeks to play a top schedule and that should continue. The Rams have the personnel to not only vie for yet another state title next year, but they should also be in the running for the top team in South Jersey and in the state.

Photo: Gloucester Catholic / Marc Narducci

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Author: Marc Narducci

Striving for Greatness

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