Defending South Jersey champs have 13 returning starters
LINWOOD – Good things have been happening to Cohen Cook in his senior year at Mainland Regional, and baseball coach Billy Kern is hoping that good luck continues as the Mustangs open their season this week, weather permitting.
Cook was a leader on offense and defense this past fall in leading Mainland to the New Jersey Group IV state football championship. In the winter, he was the Mustangs’ leading scorer as Mainland won the South Jersey Group III basketball title and fell in a close game in the state semifinals.
Kern himself was an assistant coach for Mainland’s football team and girls’ basketball team, which walked away with an NJSIAA Group III girls state title last month.
Cook will now play right field and be one of the Mainland’s main pitchers as the Mustangs will be one of the favorites in Cape-Atlantic League play after a 14-14 season a year ago.
There is a lot of optimism around Mainland baseball this season. The Mustangs were playing their best baseball at the end of last season, winning their first Group III South Jersey title since 2015 and advancing to the NJSIAA state finals.
It was a magical run that Mainland wants to become the norm this season behind Cook and University of Miami commit Jake Lodgek, a junior. In fact, Mainland returns their entire pitching staff back from last season.
Cook led Mainland in home runs with three, walks with 14 and a slugging percentage of .441 from last year along with a 4.71 ERA on the mound. Lodgek had a sensational sophomore season on the mound, including a standout performance over nearly six innings in helping Mainland beat Middletown North in the Group III state semifinals, which caught eyes around the state. He returns with a team-best 3.28 ERA from 2023.
With 13 letter-winners returning overall, that optimism has grabbed the notice of baseball watchers around the state as Mainland enters the New Jersey preseason rankings No. 10 from all programs.
Senior centerfielder Christian Elliott, senior third baseman Ethan Mitnick, shortstop Brady Blum, and utility Jack Haines are expected to lead the Mustangs into the season. Other key returnees include sophomore Jake Blum (second base) and junior Brady Arena (catcher).
Mitnick had a 4.01 ERA on the mound as a junior. Haines is the leading hitter returning with a .305 average at the plate followed by Jake Blum’s .300 as a freshman last year.
“Pitching is our strength,” Kern said. “We return every pitcher that made an appearance on the mound in 2023 and lost zero arms to graduation. The quicker we can move into new roles defensively and in the batting lineup the more successful we will be.”
Kern said he will be tweaking his batting lineup and defensive lineup to boost production.
Kern said starting with the season-opener against rival Ocean City, every game will be a battle in the Cape-Atlantic League. He said the teams expected to provide the stiffest challenges for Mainland during the regular season include Egg Harbor Township, private school power St. Augustine Prep, Millville and Buena.
“The Cape-Atlantic American appears to be extremely strong, which will only help prepare the Mustangs to make another deep playoff run,” Kern said. Unless rain forces postponements, Mainland will play back-to-back games against Ocean City, away at 11 a.m. Wednesday and home at 11 a.m. Thursday, then Millville on April 29-30 and then St. Augustine on May 6-7.
– By CLYDE HUGHES/For the Sentinel