Community Update

WEST WINDSOR – Five players on the Mercer County Community
College (MCCC) baseball team are ranked among the top junior college players in
the nation which, combined with one of the toughest schedules in Division II
baseball, portends an exciting season for the Vikings.

“We hope to improve on our 32-15 season last year, and our no.
12 national ranking,” said MCCC Head Baseball Coach Kevin Kerins. “We have an
excellent group of returning sophomores, as well as several freshmen who will
make an immediate impact.”

Five of those returning sophomores were
recently named by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as among the top junior
college baseball players in the nation:

• Pitcher Joe DiGiovanni (Hunterdon Central High School) was 5-0
  last year, with several key relief appearances. He will be used exclusively as a
  starter in the upcoming season.
  
  
  
• Pitcher/designated hitter Heath Fillmyer (Florence Township
  Memorial High School) was drafted in the 28th round by the Colorado Rockies
  following his freshman season, but he has chosen to return to Mercer for his
  sophomore year. During a recent Scout Day, Fillmyer’s fastball was clocked at 95
  mph.
  
  
  
• Catcher Andrew Immordino (Steinert High School) hit .360 in his
  freshman year, and provided solid defense behind the plate.
  
  
  
• Outfielder Mark Tomei (South Plainfield High Schol) was a first
  team all-region selection last year, and was nominated as an All-American. He
  was the highest ranked freshman player in the region for the 2013
  season.
  
  
  
• Pitcher Ben Stine (North Hunterdon High School) had a solid
  year for the Vikings in 2013, and will take over as the team’s weekend starter.
  His fastball was clocked at 89 mph during Scout Day.

Kerins said the experience and talent of this year’s team will
be crucial, considering the demanding schedule just released by the team.
Included in the schedule are overnight trips to Maryland, and the team’s annual
spring trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Myrtle Beach Invitational, March
14-20. Thirty out of the team’s 56 games are against previously ranked
opponents.

“The 2014 schedule should provide our players with the necessary
game experience and exposure to prepare us for post-season play and to prepare
them to further their baseball career at four-year schools,” Kerins said.