Petty gone, but coach expects to get production from multiple pitchers
LINWOOD – Life without Chase Petty will be a new adventure for the Mainland Mustangs but coach Billy Kern said expectations will not change for the squad going into the 2022 baseball season.
Petty, the all-state pitcher with the 100-mph fastball and arguably the top hurler in New Jersey, is now a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization, signing to a Major League baseball contract after his season a year ago. He led the Mustangs to the South Jersey Group III finals before falling to rival Ocean City.
“Obviously it’s extremely difficult to replace his innings and his production,” Kern said. “So what we’re doing is just giving a lot of guys opportunities to play an impact in this preseason and kind of seeing what pieces on the mound fit where. What we’ll try to do this season is use as many guys as possible to try to get guys on the mound and get some production out of that.”
Petty was part of a stellar Mainland senior class that led the Mustangs to a 23-4 record a year ago. Part of that team was returning catcher Cole Campbell, who will shoulder the leadership duties this season. Campbell blossomed last year while being Petty’s battery mate in earning New Jersey’s first-team All-Group III honors in 2021.
“I think what got overlooked last season in what Chase was able to do, none of that was possible, without the calls, without having somebody back there that can receive him,” Kern said. “He had to comfortably not just receive Chase’s fastball but catch a slider and changeup.
“He called the game for him and Chase had to believe he could throw anything and Cole was going to catch it or stop it if it got in the dirt. He kind of solidified himself as one of the best, if not the best, catcher in South Jersey last year. The postseason accolades that he received are justified.”
Kern said he has already seen where Campbell is showing his leadership on and off the field during preseason. The Mustangs spent last week in Florida playing scrimmages in preparation for the upcoming season that starts this weekend.
“He’s taking on a leadership role this year and the team really looks up to him,” Kern said. “We have a sophomore catcher who he’s kind of taken under his wing so I’m really happy with where Cole is leadership-wise, and I think he’s going to have a great season.”
Beyond Campbell and fellow senior starter Sam Wood, Mainland will be young as Kern will be expecting first-time starters and underclassmen to step in for what was a veteran and experienced group a season ago.
“In terms of who’s going to be starting, we will probably have between six and seven underclassmen out there every game while we will have two everyday senior starters,” Kern said. “Sam will be at third base and Cole will be behind the plate. We have some returning underclassmen letter-winners who will likely take those open spots but overall we’re going to be pretty young all over the field.”
Kern expects junior Joe Sheeran and sophomore Christian Elliott to make large contributions for the Mustangs this season. Elliott is the younger brother of Mark Elliott, who earned first-team state All-Group III honors for the Mustangs as an outfielder last season.
The Mustangs also welcome the return of Nick Wagner, best known for his football exploits for Mainland. An injury at the start of last year’s baseball season kept him on the sideline for virtually all of 2021.
“[Sheeran and Elliott] are young in age but are returning starters for us and they’re going to hit at the top of the lineup,” Kern said. “We have an interesting returnee with Nick Wagner. He’s a junior who was starting for us last season as a sophomore. He actually hurt his shoulder in the first inning of the first game last year.
“So I guess technically Nick is a newcomer but he’s experienced and his talent has been varsity level for a long time. We just didn’t get a chance to see him last season.”
Kern said he is excited to see sophomore Colin Cook, a starter on Mainland’s boys basketball team that reached the South Jersey Group III finals last month, at one of the outfield positions, along with sophomore Rocco Barbella and junior Ethan Mitnick in other positions.
“They’re going to kind of take care of the middle infield for us and then I think down the road we may have some young guys step up and take over some innings by midseason towards the end for now.”
Kern said the mound duties will be pitching by committee, with Mainland’s No. 2 starter last year Will Hoover becoming the ace of the staff.
“[Hoover] was our No. 2 pretty much all of last season and was 6-1,” Kern said. “He’s a left-handed senior and he’s one of those returning all-conference guys and we’re really excited to see him have a big year. I think Jared Wilson, another senior, will step up and get in some quality innings for us.
Kern said, though, whoever is on the mound will need a solid defensive backup from the other eight players on the team for Mainland to continue their baseball success.
“We’ll have to mature and grow up on the mound quicker than we have in the past,” Kern said. “I think defense is going to be the key for us because I think in the past with Chase on the mound, we could get away with some mistakes.
“If a mistake was made last season, Chase could strike out the next two or three batters and that put a Band-Aid on some of the defensive mistakes behind them. That’s just not going to be an option for us this year. We’re going to have to throw strikes and field the ball. I feel good about where we’re at hitting. So I think we’re going to compete.”
Kern said Mainland will open the season in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic where he hopes to raise $20,000 for cancer research. Mainland will play Clearview at Birch Grove Field in Northfield on Friday while a full slate of games will be played Saturday and Sunday at Mainland Regional High School.
On Monday, the Mustangs host rival Ocean City at 4 p.m.
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
