Eagles Armed for Big Year on the Mound

If anyone has a resume that would qualify him as being able to handle pitchers, it’s West Deptford High School baseball coach Mike Rucci.

A first-year coach, Rucci knows a thing or two about calling a game. Rucci was a part of three straight state championships as a catcher for Gloucester Catholic High School (1999-2001) and was selected all-South Jersey at the position. He later went on to lead Rowan University to a pair Division III World Series appearances.

When he met with his team for the first time earlier this month, Rucci expressed his desire to bring the program back to the heights it reached just a couple of seasons ago.

“I talked to them a lot about tradition,” Rucci said. “This is a program that won conference championships (2004-08) and won the Diamond Classic in 2007. This group wants to get that tradition back.”

Haddonfield has won back-to back Colonial Conference titles, but the if Rucci has his way, West Deptford will be right in the thick of things this season.

So far, he has been pleased with the work ethic he has seen from his players.

“These guys have all worked extremely hard in the preseason,” Rucci said. “You can tell by the work they are putting in that they want to get back to the top.”

Rucci was hired in August, replacing Jason Crews, who reigned after leading the Eagles to a 16-10 mark in 2010.

He has been particularly pleased with the amount of quality arms he has seen in the program. As a standout catcher during his playing days, Rucci understands a team can only go as far as its pitching takes it.

“We have 12-15 guys that can pitch so there is never a worry about running out of arms,” Rucci said. “Everyone is going out and showing what they have to earn a shot at varsity.”

Rucci has been monitoring the amount of pitches each pitcher has thrown. Several pitchers have gotten the opportunity to show off their repertoire in scrimmages, while others have gotten their work in during practices.

How many pitchers Rucci will carry during the regular season is to be determined, but he is pleased that his hurlers are making the decision-making process difficult.

“We have pitchers that will be throwing in JV for us, that would on varsity in a lot of other programs,” Rucci said.

And naturally, the first-year head coach isn’t forgetting about the importance of pitcher-catcher relationships.

“A lot of people don’t understand that it’s not just about getting the pitchers ready, you have to get the catchers ready to handle the pitchers,” he said. “Every pitcher is different, and you have to prepare the catchers to be able to know and understand the way each pitcher works.”

The Eagles have scrimmages at Triton on Monday and hosts Cinnaminson on Wednesday. They open the season on April 1 at home against Haddon Heights.