PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Seven members of the Rutgers baseball incoming recruiting class earned New Jersey All-State honors by the Star-Ledger following their senior scholastic seasons, while former Scarlet Knight Ryan Lillis (1999-02) was named the Home News Tribune Coach of the Year.

Incoming freshmen Jerry Elsing (Montville, N.J.), Tyler Gebler (Toms River, N.J.), Steve Nyisztor (Toms River, N.J.), Dan O’Neil (Garfield, N.J.), Evan Pimentel (Jersey City, N.J.), Rob Smorol (Clarke, N.J.) and Pat Sweeney (Blairstown, N.J.) were each honored in the Star-Ledger Baseball All-State Baseball Team section that appeared in the paper on June 21.

Nyisztor, a shortstop at Toms River North High School, led the group, earning First Team All-State honors and was named the Ocean County Player of the Year after setting school single-season records in hits (48), batting average (.511), doubles (14), triples (7), and slugging percentage (.904). 

Smorol (left-handed pitcher for Johnson High School), Pimentel (outfielder for Hudson County Prep) were each Second Team All-State honorees. Gebler (right-handed pitcher for Toms River South High School) was a Third Team All-State selection.

Sweeney (infielder for Blair) earned First Team All-State All-Prep honors, while Elsing (right-handed pitcher for Montville High School) was a Second Team All-State Group III selection and O’Neil (left-handed pitcher for St. Mary’s) was a Third Team All-State Non-Public pick.

All seven individuals will enroll at Rutgers in the fall and join the Scarlet Knights for fall workouts.

Lillis, the head coach of North Brunswick High School for the past five years, directed the school to a 17-9 record and an appearance in the Greater Milddlesex Conference Tournament finals – a first in school history – this past season. Lillis was a standout third baseman for the Scarlet Knights from 1999-2002. His brother Chris Lillis was a standout pitcher for Rutgers from 2003-07 and his other brother Kevin Lillis enters his senior season on the Scarlet Knights’ pitching staff in 2010 as one of the team’s top relievers.