Baseball Signs Eight New Jersey Natives
Nov 22 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Consisting of eight New Jersey natives, head coach Joe Litterio and the Rutgers baseball program have announced its signing class. The group will join the Scarlet Knights next fall and includes Anthony DeRosa, Eric Heatter, Adam Holland, Collin Kiernan, Aaron McLaughlin, Mike Nyisztor, Harry Rutkowski and Davis Schneider.
"This is one of the most talented classes we have had," Litterio said. "Coaches Tim Reilly and Casey Gaynor did a great job recruiting these young men. They have met all of our needs and should be an impact class right away."
Anthony DeRosa
INF | 6-0 | 195 | R/R
Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Catholic High School
Notes: Set to play third year of varsity baseball at Red Bank Catholic in 2017 … team won the 2016 B North Division … named first team all-division and third team all-state in 2015 … a Carpenter Cup participant … played travel baseball for Farrah Scout since 2013 … picked up 2015 and 2016 Under Armour Preseason All-America status … earned a spot on the all-tournament team at the 2015 WWBA Underclass World Championship in Fort Myers, Fla. … played for the Jersey Shore Thunder from 2007-12 and placed third in 2011 Cooperstown King of Swat competition …. played varsity basketball as a sophomore … chosen for the fall 2016 Thomas Labreque Internship at the Monmouth County Courthouse with head criminal judge Ronald L. Riesner … son of Ronanne and AJ DeRosa … mother was a gymnastics All-American at Maryland and now coaches the sport at Red Bank Catholic … father played football at Lehigh … cousin of Mark DeRosa, who played 16 years in the major leagues and now serves as an analyst on MLB Network … has a younger sister, Skyla.
Eric Heatter
LHP | 6-0 | 180 | R/L
Jamesburg, N.J./Monroe Township High School
Notes: Played for Monroe Township … earned 2016 Perfect Game Underclass Third Team … named second team all-state … also first team All-Group IV, All-Greater Middlesex County and All-White Division … the 2015 Cy Young Pitcher of the Year in Greater Middlesex County … Home News Tribune Pitcher of the Year … participated in "Buddy Ball" with Monroe Township recreation department … son of James and Stephanie Heatter … has an older sister, Jackie, who attends University of Hartford … interested in sports marketing.
Adam Holland
OF | 5-8 | 175 | R/R
Erial, N.J./William Penn Charter School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Penn Charter in 2017 … named Second Team All-Inter-AC in 2014 and honorable mention 2015 … team won conference championship in 2014 … played travel baseball for the Tri-State Arsenal since age nine, with the 16-under team earning a No. 1 national ranking … won three national championships for Perfect Game 16-under division … also played four seasons of varsity basketball … son of George Sr. and Eartha Holland … older brother Evan plays baseball at North Carolina Central … interested in business and communications.
Collin Kiernan
RHP | 6-2 | 195 | R/R
Verona, N.J./Verona High School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Verona in 2017 … named Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-America, Third Team All-State All-Groups and First Team Group I in 2016 after pitching to a 7-2 record with a 1.06 ERA and a state-high 136 strikeouts … also earned First Team Super Essex Conference and County Pitcher of the Year by Sideline Chatter … team won Super Essex Conference and reached second round of state tournament … worked 58 innings with 107 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA as a sophomore ... named First Team Group I All-State and All-Super Essex Conference … selected to the Essex/Union and Garden State Underclassmen all-star games in 2015 and 2016 … voted Essex County top newcomer in 2014 after pitching 24.1 innings with a 3.20 ERA and 29 strikeouts ... team won Liberty Division … played high school football first three seasons … holds Verona kicking records for most extra points and longest field goal (47 yards) … totaled 24 career receptions for 275 yards and six touchdowns … named Freshman of the County in 2013, second team defense in 2014 and second team offense in 2015 … team won 2014 and 2015 Group I, Section I state championships … also played JV basketball in 2014 … played travel baseball for Wladyka from spring 2012 to summer 2016 … earned a spot on the honor roll in the first marking period of 2016-17 school year … son of Michele and Tom Kiernan … uncle, Chris, competed for Seton Hall … has three siblings: Katie, Timmy and Erin.
Aaron McLaughlin
INF | 5-10 | 180 | R/R
Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat High School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Barnegat in 2017 … played travel baseball for the Gallagher Team Mizuno, Jersey State Bombers and Waretown Travel … won state championship with Waretown in 2015 … son of Patricia and Robert McLaughlin … has an older brother, Ryan, and a younger sister, Meaghan … interested in landscape architecture.
Mike Nyisztor
INF | 6-3 | 170 | R/R
Toms River, N.J./Toms River North High School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Toms River North in 2017 … named First Team All-Shore Conference and All-Division as a junior … selected to the Carpenter Cup and State Underclassmen All-Star Game in 2016 … also a four-year letterwinner in basketball … earned First Team All-Division on the hardwood as a sophomore and junior … played travel baseball for the Tri-State Arsenal … son of Steve and Denise Nyisztor … has an older sister, Amanda, and an older brother, Steve … Steve played baseball for Rutgers in 2010 and hit .410, now playing professionally for the Sussex County Miners in the Can-Am League.
Harry Rutkowski
LHP | 6-2 | 230 | R/L
Fords, N.J./Woodbridge High School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Woodbridge in 2017 … named second team all-state … selected First Team All-White Division and picked up Greater Middlesex Conference Cy Young Award … a First Team All-GMC honoree … also played three years of varsity football and basketball … played travel for Matrix Baseball over four years … son of Lynn and Kris Rutkowski … has an older sister, Tiffany, who is a cheerleader at TCNJ.
Davis Schneider
INF | 5-9 | 200 | R/R
Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional High School
Notes: Set to play fourth year of varsity baseball at Eastern in 2017 … a 2016 Star-Ledger Third Team All-State and Second Team All-Group IV pick … named Philadelphia Inquirer First Team All-South Jersey in 2016 and Second Team in 2015 … earned Courier Post First Team All-South Jersey and South Jersey Baseball Coaches Association All-South Jersey First Team as a sophomore and junior … a three-time First Team All-Olympic Conference selection … competed in the Carpenter Cup and Garden State Underclass in 2015 and 2016 … helped team to 2014 South Jersey Group IV championship … played travel baseball for the Dirtbags and named 2016 Perfect Game WWBA Jupiter Tournament MVP after leading team to national championship … picked to play in 2015 Perfect Game Junior All-American Game … also played for Tri-State Arsenal with multiple all-tournament honors … took a spot on the Principal's List academically with high grades … son of Steve and Elena Schneider … has three older siblings: Madeline, a graduate of Emerson College with a degree in screenwriting, Olivia, who is currently studying education at Camden County College and Steven, a former member of a Rutgers-Camden basketball program who earned a degree … interested in studying education.
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