Trio of Cape-Atlantic League Alums Help Rutgers to Opening Day Win

Three Cape-Atlantic League alums helped the Rutgers baseball team pick up a 14-5 win over Winthrop in their season opener.

Absecon resident Tony Santa Maria, an Atlantic County Institute of Technology alum, led the way with three hits (two home runs and a , two runs scored, and notched six RBI for Rutgers. Brigantine resident Trevor Cohen, a 2022 Holy Spirit slum, went 3-5 for two runs scored in the win.

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On the mound, Cedar Creek alum, Christan Coppola of Galloway, pitched five innings, striking out four to earn the win. Coppola has some big expectations this season after being the first freshman in program history to be named All-Big Ten First Team in 2023, leading all Big Ten starting pitchers with a 3.68 ERA.

Santa Maria is hoping to have a big season after playing in just five games last season, missing most of 2023 with an injury. Cohen burst on the Big Ten scene in 2023 as a freshman, being named the league's first freshman of the week.  He ended the season being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after hitting .298 with 34 RBI in 54 games played.

Rutgers also has a few more key players who are Cape-Atlantic League alums including brothers Jordan and Justin Sweeney, both played at Egg Harbor Township.  Jordan is a senior, while Justin is a freshman this season.

The elder Sweeney hit .267 last season with seven home runs and has 27 career round-trippers for Rutgers. His brother is a pitcher, who missed his senior season with an injury at EHT, but struck out 75 batters in 49.2 innings of work to go with a 2.40 ERA in junior season for the Eagles.

You can follow their season here.