Baseball: The 2024 Home News Tribune Greater Middlesex Conference All-Area teams

Here are the 2024 Home News Tribune Greater Middlesex Conference All-Area baseball teams.

More: Baseball index: Handy collection of All-Area honors and postseason links

More: Baseball: Hot streak, historic milestone lead to HNT Player of the Year for this junior

More: Baseball: HNT Coach of the Year is South Plainfield's Scott Gleichenhaus

FIRST TEAM

P: Eddy Nunez, Woodbridge, Sr.

Nunez has been a big-name and a big-game pitcher since a freshman, and he ended his outstanding career with his best season. The Felican University-bound Nunez had an 8-2 record with 98 strikeouts in 64 innings, allowing just 17 walks with a 1.20 ERA. He was a big reason the Barrons won the GMC White Division. The righty graduated second in program history in career wins (24) and strikeouts (257).

P: Frank Papeo, Old Bridge, Sr.

The four-year varsity player pitched and hit in a lot of big games for the Knights, and always seemed to come up clutch in key spots. The Rider-commit launched a two-run homer to help seal an 8-5 comeback in the GMCT quarterfinals and was the winning pitcher in the GMCT final. Papeo, who battled shoulder soreness at times, also played first base and the lefty had an 0.70 ERA in 40 IP with 45 strikeouts. He hit .301 with two home runs and 15 RBIs.

P: Cory Pascarella, Colonia, Jr.

The right-hander had an outstanding freshman season (2.23 ERA, 36 Ks) in 2022 but missed all of last year on the mound because of an arm injury. He returned this spring and allowed two earned runs in his first outing. After that — near perfect. Pascarella amazingly gave up 1 ER the rest of the season for a sparkling 0.37 ERA in 56 1/3 innings. Check out his last four starts: 25 IP, 46 Ks, 0 ER, 9 Hs, 3 BBs. In all, he struck out 86 with 18 walks and 27 hits and was 8-2 with a save.

P: Zack Wallace, Monroe, Sr.

You spell Zack with a K and that seemed much appropriate. The right-hander struck out 102 hitters in 64 2/3 innings, emerging as a lights-out ace for the Falcons. In a league with several great throwers, Wallace was voted the GMC Pitcher of the Year by the coaches. He had four complete game shutouts and finished with a 1.19 ERA, allowing just 43 hits and 28 walks. The outgoing Wallace kept things light in the dugout and loved competing and team-bonding whether it was winning bunting competitions or playing fungo golf after practice.

C: Michael Robinson, Sayreville, Jr.

Robinson made an offensive leap this season going from hitting .240 as a sophomore to .333 (20-for-60) with 21 RBIs and a .456 OBP. However, catchers need to have stellar defensive skills and Robinson was a stalwart behind the dish in handling the Bombers staff. He allowed two passed balls in 142 innings caught and threw out 31 percent of base stealers.

1B: Carter Cumiskey, Spotswood, Jr.

Cumiskey was a big bopper at the plate and an ace on the mound. In all, he gave the Chargers a star presence, along with his defense at first. He helped Spotswood repeat as GMC Blue Division champions by batting .446 (37-for-83) with six home runs, 30 RBIs, 32 runs and 20 walks. As a pitcher, the left-hander struck out 78 hitters in 46 2/3 innings with an 1.80 ERA. He has committed to play at Seton Hall.

INF: Jayden Alvarez, South Plainfield, Sr.

The third baseman had a two-year run as one of the GMC’s most feared hitters and best defenders. He was a key piece as South Plainfield captured the GMC Red Division title and reached the GMCT and North 2 Group 3 finals. The Wagner-bound Alvarez batted .360 (31-of-86) with a .482 OBP and drove in 27 runs, scored 25 times and stole 23 bases. He has 63 hits and 51 RBIs the last two springs.

INF: Yomar Carreras, North Brunswick, Sr.

Carreras was already one of the GMC’s most exciting and top players entering the season. This spring, he added speed to his game and stole 25 bases up from eight. The slick-fielding shortstop hit .464 (32-for-69) with 20 RBIs, 23 runs and three home runs, along with 21 walks. He is committed to play at Rutgers.

INF: Zach Robinson, South Plainfield, Sr.

Pick any game, and Robinson was right there in the middle of the action. The shortstop reached base in every single contest (with hits in all but two) and finished the season with a 22-game hit streak. Robinson, headed to Gardner-Webb University, laced 105 career hits and had astronomical numbers this spring, especially impressive given the tough pitching the Tigers faced. He hit .462 (43-for-93) and carried a .550 OBP with 30 RBIs, 36 runs, 16 walks and stole 28 bags. The GMC coaches voted him the Red Division Player of the Year.

OF: Jaxon Appelman, Edison, Sr.

It just seems like Appelman was around forever on the GMC varsity scene. He was a four-year impact pitcher and a three-year slugger for the Eagles. The Coastal Carolina-commit has 266 career strikeouts and a 1.95 ERA in 186 1/2 IP. This spring, the right-hander struck out 92 in 58 1/2 innings with a 1.68 ERA. At the plate, Appelman has 15 career home runs and launched six this year, including the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Middlesex in the GMCT quarterfinals. He hit .329 (26-for-79) with 13 RBIs and 18 walks. The GMC coaches voted him the White Division Player of the Year.

OF: Nick Irizarry, South Plainfield, Jr.

This is how versatile Irizarry was — he started the season at catcher because the Tigers had a void. Once Steve Studlack emerged, Irizarry shifted to left field and made several outstanding catches and throws, including a game-saver in a win over North Brunswick. He also saw time at center field and second base. Offensively, Irizarry simply delivered. He hit .378 (34-for-90) with a .472 OBP, 22 RBIs, 31 runs and 35 SBs.

OF: JT Meyer, Old Bridge, Sr.

Meyer gave the Knights a top defensive presence in center field and an ace on the hill. The right-hander proved you don’t need to be a high-K guy to have success. He threw in the upper 80s with a curveball and a splitter that produced soft contact and an 0.81 ERA in 43 1/2 innings (4 ER). He had 28 strikeouts and allowed just nine walks. The Kean-commit hit .295 with 14 RBIs.

UTL: Justin Hascup, Old Bridge, Jr.

Hascup was a two-way star for the Knights. On the mound, the right-hander commanded his pitches for strikes and kept the ball in the zone with few walks. He posted a 2.18 ERA in 57 2/3 innings with 66 strikeouts to 15 walks. He also played third base and hit .364 (28-for-77) and had nine RBIs and scored 12 times.

UTL: Drew Lukachyk, Woodbridge, Sr.

Lukachyk is the definition of a versatile utility player, or doing whatever is needed to help your team. He stepped up on the mound following an injury after throwing six innings in 2023. The righthander delivered with a 5-2 record (IP: 49 1/3, 1.70 ERA , 58 Ks). Oh, he was a pretty good batter, too. The Middlesex College-bound Lukachyk, who played shortstop, second base and third, hit .452 (38-of-84, 17 xbh) with a .555 OBP, 18 RBIs, 30 Rs, 17 SBs and 19 walks. He graduated as the program’s all-time hits leader with 109.

UTL: Julius Rosado, South River, Jr.

Maybe the question is, what didn’t Rosado do? The shortstop is the Home News Tribune GMC Player of the Year and set South River career modern day records in home runs (25), doubles (28) and strikeouts as a pitcher (243). He hit .594 (38-for-64) with 14 home runs, 34 RBIs, 44 runs, seven doubles, 32 walks and 20 stolen bases. Rosado carried a .732 OBP, a 1.421 slugging percentage and an OPS of 2.153. As a pitcher, the right-hander was 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA (IP: 49 1/3, 80 Ks).

UTL: John Smith, Old Bridge, Jr.

Smith sparked the Knights’ offense as the leadoff hitter, rarely striking out and putting the ball in play. He hit .412 (35-for-85) with 12 walks, 18 runs scored and 17 RBIs. He moved from third base to shortstop this season, giving Old Bridge an athletic presence in the middle of the infield.

SECOND TEAM

P: Bobby Bressler, Piscataway, Sr.

P: Colin Kroner, Colonia, So.

P: Harrison Lollin, Monroe, Sr.

P: Robert Roma, Edison, So.

C: Tyler Weber, Woodbridge, Sr.

1B: Ethan Fantel, South Brunswick, Sr.

INF: Anthony Calantoni, Edison, Jr.

INF: Bobby Christensen, St. Joseph, Jr.

INF: Joseph Zammitti, St. Joseph, Sr.

OF: Akhil Penkala, Old Bridge, Jr.

OF: Jake Romanello, Sayreville, Sr.

OF: Gavin Sansone, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.

UTL: Will Buchan, Spotswood, Jr.

UTL: Daniel Kapsch, South Plainfield, Jr.

UTL: Shawn Kish, Woodbridge, Sr.

UTL: Colin Perna, South Brunswick, So.

THIRD TEAM

P: Luc Acquaviva, Spotswood, Sr.

P: RJ Coleman, J.F. Kennedy, Sr.

P: Nick Kee, Carteret, Jr.

P: Louis Rizzolo, St. Thomas Aquinas, So.

C: Noah Borrero, South River, So.

1B: Thomas Schlaline, Sayreville, Jr.

INF: Xavier Diaz, Woodbridge, So.

INF: John Papaianni, J.P. Stevens, Sr.

INF: Owen Reynolds, Middlesex, Jr.

OF: Breckyn DeAngelis, Spotswood, Sr.

OF: Mark Stein, Dunellen, Jr.

OF: Jeremy Vasquez, South Amboy, Jr.

UTL: Mike Castagna, South Plainfield, Jr.

UTL: Dom Massaro, South Plainfield, So.

UTL: Anthony Ortega, Perth Amboy, Sr.

UTL: Lucas White, Monroe, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

NOTE: Players that were not on the first three teams earned Honorable Mention based on two criteria: 1, They were selected All-Division by the coaches. 2, They were selected to play in either the 2024 Frank Gavigan Senior All Star Game or the 2024 GMCBCA Underclassmen Showcase.

Carteret: Justin Santana (Sr.), James Rodriguez (Sr.), Luis Hernandez (Fr.), Lucas Rivera (Fr.); Colonia: Casey Chiola (Sr.); Dunellen: Jacob Manna (Sr.), Ryan Hutchins (Jr.), Danny Watts (Jr.); East Brunswick: Lukas Meyer (Sr.), Dustin McGuinness (Sr.), Hayden Dziubeck (Jr.); East Brunswick Magnet: Nomar Carreras (Jr.), Michael Zappola (Sr.); Edison: Dom Innocenti (So.), Connor Murphy (So.); Highland Park: Seamus Mackinnon (Jr.), Luca Sheldon (Sr.), Aidan O'Connell (Sr.), Dorian Crocco (Fr.), Oscar Caraballo-Duran (Sr.), Connor Roth-Zappo (Jr.); J.F. Kennedy: Grant Lorentzen (So.); J.P. Stevens: Soham Prajapati (So.); Metuchen: Lucas Weiss (Sr.); Middlesex: Frank Berta (Sr.), Dom Parenti (Jr.); Monroe: Owen Judge (Jr.); New Brunswick: Carlos Paredes (Jr.); North Brunswick: Tim DeGaetano (Jr.); North Plainfield: Davyn Ciriaco (Jr.); Old Bridge: Luke Hagen (Sr.); Perth Amboy: Sebastian Aponte (Sr.), Justin Foy (Jr.); Perth Amboy Magnet: Nelson Concepcion (Sr.), Zachary Lenardo (Jr.), Johnkelly Jimenez (Sr.); Piscataway: Riley Wingate (Jr.); Piscataway Magnet: Jacob Lyerly (Sr.), Kyle Malchiodi (Fr.), Colton Lyerly (Fr.); St. Thomas Aquinas: Zach Diaz (Sr.), Nikash Patel (Fr.); Somerset Tech: Steven Larosa (Sr.); South Amboy: Micah Nemeth (Fr.), Diego Colon (So.), Ben Hernandez (Sr.), Ben Smith (Jr.); South Brunswick: Will Haman (Sr.), Aaron Perna (Sr.); South Plainfield: Kevin Penny (Jr.); South River: James Zsorey (Jr.), Sebastian Susinno (Sr.); Spotswood: Ryan Orth (So.), Mason Bitalla (Sr.); Timothy Christian: Josh Thiero (Sr.), Dylan Spivey (Sr.), Ben Wang (Sr.); Wardlaw-Hartridge: Mackias Ysaac (So.); Woodbridge: Gavin Slicner (So.)

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball: The 2024 Home News Tribune All-Area teams