NEWARK, NJ—Four senior position players--two infielders, an outfielder, and a catcher--from New Jersey high schools have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their education and baseball careers at NJIT, Highlanders head coach Mike Cole announced.

 

The four, who will graduate from high school in 2011 and enroll at NJIT later that year, already have established strong diamond credentials with their senior seasons still ahead. They are: Mike Rampone, a middle infielder from Randolph High School; Brian Keane, a middle infielder from Montville High School; Eddie Charlton, a center fielder from St. Augustine Prep in Richland; and, Stephan Halibej, a catcher from Seton Hall Prep in West Orange.

 

NJIT baseball also signed three pitchers who are high school seniors and a release on those student-athletes will be coming out shortly.

 

Cole, who was named head coach at NJIT in August 2010, has been an assistant coach at three successful Division I programs in the previous nine seasons, serving at Vermont (his alma mater), Manhattan, and Maine. He was a key recruiter for those teams, which averaged exactly 29 wins a season.

 

“I am very pleased and excited to announce this recruiting class,” said Cole. “My staff, led by assistant coach Brian Guiliana, has done a terrific job of identifying players who will fill specific needs for us on and off the field.

 

“We've worked very hard to convey to recruits that great things are happening here at NJIT, and I'm proud that we got that message across. We are looking forward to this group joining the Highlander baseball family and making an immediate impact. I feel strongly that this class, as well as the current team we have, are committed to doing what it takes to be the best we can possibly be.”

 

Here is a look at the four position player signees, with comments from Coach Cole:

 

Mike Rampone, 5-11, Middle Infield, Randolph (NJ) HS

The middle infielder will bring a championship background in three high school sports with him when he comes to NJIT. He has starred in baseball, football, and wrestling at Randolph, most recently helping his football team to the North 1, Group 4 state title as a star defensive back at the New Meadowlands Stadium the first weekend in November.

 

In baseball, Rampone has two years on the varsity so far, finishing as Group 4 state runner-up as a sophomore and Group 4 state champion as a junior. Individually, he led the team in batting average (.429) and was second-team all-state in Group 4, all-Morris County and all-conference. He struck out just three times in 102 at-bats and was 3-for-4 in the winning state championship game.

 

Playing Senior American Legion ball, he won the batting title the last two seasons (.525 and .598, respectively) and was league Most Valuable Player in the summer of 20

10.

 

Rampone also has three years of varsity wrestling on a Randolph squad that has two state sectional titles.

 

Coach Cole on Rampone: “Mike is a physically strong and mentally tough kid who comes to us from a great program at Randolph High School, where he won the 2010 state championship. He is a versatile athlete who will help us immediately in the middle of our infield. He runs well and his bat will help us at the top of our lineup.”

 

Brian Keane, 6-1, Middle Infield, Montville (NJ) HS

Keane will be a four-year starter at Montville High in baseball, a four-year letter-winner in basketball and a three-

year letter-winner in football as a halfback, defensive back, and kicker.  He has been first-team all-conference each of the last two seasons in baseball, batting .450, with four home runs as a sophomore and upping that to .465, with five home runs as a junior. His summer team was the South Bergen Mets, where he was coached by former major leaguer Bobby Jones.

 

Coach Cole on Keane: “Brian was one of the best athletes we saw all summer. He has above average tools defensively and can really swing the bat. He has the body type that will fill out and allow him to hit with power. It's going to be exciting to watch him play and develop.”

 

Eddie Charlton, 6-0, CF, St. Augustine Prep (Richland, NJ)

The center fielder has been a star for St. Augustine Prep since his sophomore season, when he led his league in batting average (.529), doubles (12), and triples (4), while getting 39 total hits and earning first-team all-Cape Atlantic League honors, as well as all-state first team in Non-Public 'A', as well as participating in the Carpenter Cup, an all-star tournament sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies. As a junior, Charlton batted .400 and had 30 hits and was honorable

mention all-league. And last summer, he again batted .400, with 20 hits, including six doubles and seven triples. He was also a standout wide receiver in football.

 

Coach Cole on Charlton: “Eddie plays the game as hard as anyone I've ever recruited and his work ethic, on and off the field, has made him the player that he is. Eddie is a strong, physical center fielder with an above average arm. His speed and power at the plate will enable him to hit in the middle of our order for years to come.”

 

Stephan Halibej, 6-1, C, Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, NJ)

Playing at perennial state power Seton Hall Prep, Halibej batted .420 as a junior, with 14 doubles, four home runs and 26 runs batted in. He was first team all-conference and all-Essex County. He was selected to play in the Essex County vs. Union County Underclassmen All-Star Game following his junior season.

 

Coach Cole on Halibej: “Stephan has a physical and athletic presence that will help our team immediately. He has an above-average approach at the plate, with some power to all fields. His defensive prowess behind the plate will allow us to control the running game and he is a leader on and off the field.”