Rucci Leads Baseball Team to Higher Ground

When Mike Rucci was hired as the new head baseball coach at last August, he not only brought with him a youthful energy and spirit, but most importantly, a winning pedigree.

Rucci was the centerpiece of a Gloucester Catholic dynasty that brought home three South Jersey titles and was the envy of the baseball community.

Now, in just his first season as coach of the Eagles, Rucci has helped bring home a title for his players–the first ever in West Deptford's history.

West Deptford claimed its first NJSIAA Group 2 South Jersey title Friday, defeating rival Haddonfield, 6-4. The Eagles face Governor Livingston at Monmouth University on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the state Group 2 semifinals.

While winning titles may seem like a norm for Rucci given his background, this is new ground for West Deptford, and the head coach made sure his players soaked up what they had just accomplished.

“It’s fun to make history,” Rucci said. “We told (the players) before the game, 'You get out here and it’s a backyard brawl—you have a chance to make history,' and we did that.”

Rucci and his five assistants—all under 30—have brought a hard-nosed intensity to the team, and most importantly, a winning attitude.

“He’s a phenomenal coach,” first baseman Tom Jakubowski said. “He gets us going all out all the time. He’s a phenomenal coach, along with the rest of the coaching staff.”

Of course, growing into a championship team does not come easy. As a player, Rucci endured rigorous practices with the Rams. As a coach, Rucci put together the same type of practice regimen and asked a lot from his players.

“These kids put so much work from the first Friday of March 'til now—double sessions, six-hour days, just practice after practice—and these guys deserve every bit that they get,” Rucci said. "It was fun to watch them grow as a team from Day 1 to where we are now.”

Although the long days were demanding, it helped the players and coaches form a special bond. To a man, the players speak of the confidence Rucci has in them and it has shown throughout the season, including Friday.

On Thursday Rucci commented that if his starter, senior Jason Fox, couldn’t finish the game, he would turn to freshman Ty Castellano to get the final outs. And when Fox tired in the seventh with two runners on, no outs and the team leading by two runs, Rucci did just that. He never blinked at using a young player in a big-time pressure situation.

Castellano responded by slamming the door shut on the Bulldawgs.

“Coach has done a great job of putting me in those situations all year so I was ready for it,” Castellano said.

Moments after the win, Rucci was already thinking about the next game and what improvements could be made. The Eagles were far from perfect Friday, committing three errors, mistakes that could have cost them a title.

“We made some really good plays, but we also made so easy plays look very difficult,” Rucci said.

So the practice continues.

And any time a high school baseball team is still practicing in June, it means something special has been accomplished.