Baseball Announces Recruiting Class
Nov 16 | Baseball
Eight student-athletes sign NLIs to join the Scarlet Knights
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Consisting of six student-athletes from New Jersey, one from New York and one from Illinois, head coach Joe Litterio and the Rutgers baseball program officially announced its signing class on Thursday. The group includes Andy Axelson, Jared Bellissimo, Chris Brito, Garrett French, Jacob Newman, Parker Scott, Peter Serruto and David Soto.
"Our coaching staff has worked hard to find the type of players we know can come in and compete in our program," Litterio said. "We wish them the best of luck finishing up their high school careers and look forward to having them become a part of the family next fall."
Andy Axelson
C | 5-11 | 190 | R/R
Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Roxbury High School … previously earned Morris County Rookie of the Year … a two-time first team all-conference and one-time second team all-conference selection … also named Third Team All-Group III … batted .490 as a junior on 39 hits with four home runs and 12 doubles … hit .286 as a sophomore with 11 doubles … started high school career with a .326 batting average on 29 hits to earn Freshman Athlete of the Year … played seven seasons of travel baseball with the Morris's County Cubs and won MVP six times … son of Mary and Stuart Axelson … has an older brother, Nick.
Jared Bellissimo
LHP | 6-1 | 200 | R/L
Toms River, N.J./Toms River North High School
Notes: Compiled an 11-2 record the last two seasons at Toms River North High School with a 1.78 ERA … also hit .410 at the plate … twice selected to the NJ Underclassmen All-Star Game … named Second Team All-Shore and to the All-Division "A" South Team following 2017 season … earned 2017 Player of the Year for the Mariners after picking up Rookie of the Year in 2016 … a two-time Ocean County Tournament champion … also won the 2017 Shore Conference Tournament … threw a no-hitter as a junior … collected 2017 Carpenter Cup MVP honors … played travel baseball with BaseballU from 2014-17 … named to the 2017 WWBA PG World Championship All-Tournament Team as a pitcher … added 2017 17U WWBA PG National Championship All-Tournament Team honors as a pitcher and hitter … also earned the honor in the same tournament at the 16U level … part of the honor roll the last three years academically … son of Duane and Alicia Bellissimo … has a younger sister, Brooke.
Chris Brito
INF | 6-2 | 195 | R/R
Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Perth Amboy High School … a three-time first team all-conference, all-division and all-area selection … led the county in hits and average as a freshman … a three-time county all-star … played one season of travel baseball for Five Star National … son of Elizabeth and Tilson Brito … father played two seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics … has three siblings, Tilson, Erick and Elinet.
Garrett French
RHP | 6-1 | 175 | R/R
Red Bank N.J./Middletown North High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Middletown North High School … went 7-2 with a 1.10 ERA as a junior to earn Second Team All-Shore and All-Monmouth County … selected to 2017 Carpenter Cup team … played travel baseball with the 9ers, Mavericks and Evoshield North Atlantic Canes … son of Allison and Joseph French … has two younger siblings, Wyatt and Cole … has a cousin that plays soccer at Wagner.
Jacob Newman
RHP | 6-2 | 193 | R/R
Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South High School
Notes: Set for third season as a starter at the varsity level for Ridgewood High School … ranked the 53rd-best high school player and 18th-best right-handed pitcher in Illinois by PBR … played travel baseball with the Homestead Ranchers for five years … a three-time honor roll student … head sports director of Glenbrook South radio station WGBK … son of Andrew and Rebecca Newman … father played soccer at Western Illinois … has a younger brother, Scott.
Parker Scott
RHP | 6-2 | 200 | R/R
Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood High School
Notes: Set for fourth season at Ridgewood High School … earned a 7-1 record with a 1.31 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 48 innings pitched … named third team all-county and first team all-league … played eight seasons with Ridgewood Travel Baseball, three with the Northern Valley Hurricanes and one with Time to Sign Sports … also competed as a wrestler freshman year … picked up a spot on the honor roll all four years of high school, with high honors status the last two years … son of John and Patricia Scott … has two siblings, Madison and Avery … has a cousin on the Syracuse ski team … intends to major in mechanical/aerospace engineering.
Peter Serruto
C | 6-2 | 195 | R/R
Short Hills, N.J./Millburn High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Millburn High School … hit .361 with 29 RBIs as a junior to earn first team all-state, all-conference, All-Group IV and All-Essex County … part of two Group IV state championship teams … named all-conference as a sophomore … played travel baseball with the NJ .9ers and competed at the Area Code Games in California in 2016 and 2017 … also took part in the East Coast Pro in Florida in 2017 … also a three-year starter at quarterback for Millburn and is leaving as the school's all-time passing yards leader … named all-conference as a junior … a captain of both the baseball and football teams … competed as a wrestler freshman year and picked up all-conference honors … son of Mark and Ellen Serruto … father was the captain of the wrestling team and played baseball at Virginia … has four siblings, Mark, Dana, John and James … John currently plays baseball for Muhlenberg … uncle, Roger Serruto, wrestled at Maryland … cousin, Drew Serruto, played football at Oklahoma.
David Soto
INF | 5-8 | 160 | R/R
Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood High School
Notes: Set for fifth season of competing at Brentwood High School after joining team in eighth grade … serves as a captain … previously named all-league and all-county … has played travel baseball for the Brentwood Braves since 2009 and also part of the East Coast Lumberjacks since 2016 … additionally has been a member of the Brentwood swimming team since ninth grade and is a captain and all-league selection … earned Academic Excellence in AP World History and Spanish … part of the President's 1300+ Club and Athletes Helping Athletes ... son of Melvin and Patricia Soto … has three siblings, Leo, Emma and Rachel … has an older cousin, Nina Soto, who plays lacrosse at Adelphi.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@BaseballRU), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball), Facebook (/BaseballRU) and Snapchat (rutgersbaseball).
"Our coaching staff has worked hard to find the type of players we know can come in and compete in our program," Litterio said. "We wish them the best of luck finishing up their high school careers and look forward to having them become a part of the family next fall."
Andy Axelson
C | 5-11 | 190 | R/R
Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Roxbury High School … previously earned Morris County Rookie of the Year … a two-time first team all-conference and one-time second team all-conference selection … also named Third Team All-Group III … batted .490 as a junior on 39 hits with four home runs and 12 doubles … hit .286 as a sophomore with 11 doubles … started high school career with a .326 batting average on 29 hits to earn Freshman Athlete of the Year … played seven seasons of travel baseball with the Morris's County Cubs and won MVP six times … son of Mary and Stuart Axelson … has an older brother, Nick.
Jared Bellissimo
LHP | 6-1 | 200 | R/L
Toms River, N.J./Toms River North High School
Notes: Compiled an 11-2 record the last two seasons at Toms River North High School with a 1.78 ERA … also hit .410 at the plate … twice selected to the NJ Underclassmen All-Star Game … named Second Team All-Shore and to the All-Division "A" South Team following 2017 season … earned 2017 Player of the Year for the Mariners after picking up Rookie of the Year in 2016 … a two-time Ocean County Tournament champion … also won the 2017 Shore Conference Tournament … threw a no-hitter as a junior … collected 2017 Carpenter Cup MVP honors … played travel baseball with BaseballU from 2014-17 … named to the 2017 WWBA PG World Championship All-Tournament Team as a pitcher … added 2017 17U WWBA PG National Championship All-Tournament Team honors as a pitcher and hitter … also earned the honor in the same tournament at the 16U level … part of the honor roll the last three years academically … son of Duane and Alicia Bellissimo … has a younger sister, Brooke.
Chris Brito
INF | 6-2 | 195 | R/R
Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Perth Amboy High School … a three-time first team all-conference, all-division and all-area selection … led the county in hits and average as a freshman … a three-time county all-star … played one season of travel baseball for Five Star National … son of Elizabeth and Tilson Brito … father played two seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics … has three siblings, Tilson, Erick and Elinet.
Garrett French
RHP | 6-1 | 175 | R/R
Red Bank N.J./Middletown North High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Middletown North High School … went 7-2 with a 1.10 ERA as a junior to earn Second Team All-Shore and All-Monmouth County … selected to 2017 Carpenter Cup team … played travel baseball with the 9ers, Mavericks and Evoshield North Atlantic Canes … son of Allison and Joseph French … has two younger siblings, Wyatt and Cole … has a cousin that plays soccer at Wagner.
Jacob Newman
RHP | 6-2 | 193 | R/R
Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South High School
Notes: Set for third season as a starter at the varsity level for Ridgewood High School … ranked the 53rd-best high school player and 18th-best right-handed pitcher in Illinois by PBR … played travel baseball with the Homestead Ranchers for five years … a three-time honor roll student … head sports director of Glenbrook South radio station WGBK … son of Andrew and Rebecca Newman … father played soccer at Western Illinois … has a younger brother, Scott.
Parker Scott
RHP | 6-2 | 200 | R/R
Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood High School
Notes: Set for fourth season at Ridgewood High School … earned a 7-1 record with a 1.31 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 48 innings pitched … named third team all-county and first team all-league … played eight seasons with Ridgewood Travel Baseball, three with the Northern Valley Hurricanes and one with Time to Sign Sports … also competed as a wrestler freshman year … picked up a spot on the honor roll all four years of high school, with high honors status the last two years … son of John and Patricia Scott … has two siblings, Madison and Avery … has a cousin on the Syracuse ski team … intends to major in mechanical/aerospace engineering.
Peter Serruto
C | 6-2 | 195 | R/R
Short Hills, N.J./Millburn High School
Notes: Set for fourth season of varsity baseball at Millburn High School … hit .361 with 29 RBIs as a junior to earn first team all-state, all-conference, All-Group IV and All-Essex County … part of two Group IV state championship teams … named all-conference as a sophomore … played travel baseball with the NJ .9ers and competed at the Area Code Games in California in 2016 and 2017 … also took part in the East Coast Pro in Florida in 2017 … also a three-year starter at quarterback for Millburn and is leaving as the school's all-time passing yards leader … named all-conference as a junior … a captain of both the baseball and football teams … competed as a wrestler freshman year and picked up all-conference honors … son of Mark and Ellen Serruto … father was the captain of the wrestling team and played baseball at Virginia … has four siblings, Mark, Dana, John and James … John currently plays baseball for Muhlenberg … uncle, Roger Serruto, wrestled at Maryland … cousin, Drew Serruto, played football at Oklahoma.
David Soto
INF | 5-8 | 160 | R/R
Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood High School
Notes: Set for fifth season of competing at Brentwood High School after joining team in eighth grade … serves as a captain … previously named all-league and all-county … has played travel baseball for the Brentwood Braves since 2009 and also part of the East Coast Lumberjacks since 2016 … additionally has been a member of the Brentwood swimming team since ninth grade and is a captain and all-league selection … earned Academic Excellence in AP World History and Spanish … part of the President's 1300+ Club and Athletes Helping Athletes ... son of Melvin and Patricia Soto … has three siblings, Leo, Emma and Rachel … has an older cousin, Nina Soto, who plays lacrosse at Adelphi.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@BaseballRU), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball), Facebook (/BaseballRU) and Snapchat (rutgersbaseball).
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