High School baseball begins pre-season practices today in New Jersey while Pennsylvania schools are already a week into their first swings and throws of the 2023 season.

Appropriately, Diamond Nation honored 24 senior ball players on Saturday afternoon for their respective commitments to play baseball in college. It was another pleasant return to normal as the facility’s signing party had been derailed the past two years due to COVID pandemic restrictions.

It was also a send off, of sorts, to the players in the organization who have grown as ball players and young men from the days on the small field, through their subsequent five years of experiences on the big field.

Kevin Cust, Diamond Nation’s director of baseball operations, led the festivities and thanked the Diamond Jacks for their years of hard work and development that led to them committing to play ball in college. Diamond Jack coaches Mike Buckelew, Travis Anderson and Walter Cleary all gave their thoughts on the players’ experiences the past several years.

Many of the honored Diamond Jacks have been with the organization as many as five, six, seven or even eight years. Now, with their freshman year of college in sight, it’s time for each player to refocus their energies and close out their high school career with a flourish.

DIAMOND JACK COLLEGE SIGNEES

Christian Azcona (St. Joseph Met.), Eastern Kentucky

Jack Bacolo (Nazareth, Pa.), East Stroudsburg

Robbie Carvelli (St. Joseph Met.), Lehigh University

Jordan Chui (Central Bucks South, Pa.), Juniata College

Jake Dally (Nazareth, Pa.), Binghamton University

Logan Eilbacher (Notre Dame), Catholic University

Lance Eilbacher (Notre Dame), Catholic University

Elijah Foster (Seton Hall Prep), Sacred Heart University

Martin Howell (Watchung Hills), Penn State University

Ian Kaiser (Montville), Binghamton University

Brayden Keller (Somerville), University of Scranton

Jack Kopera (Jefferson), FDU-Florham

Nick Lorenzo (Pingry), University of Richmond

Marco Maselli (Delbarton), Holy Cross

Beckham McNally (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), Catholic University

Jimmy Mulvaney (St. Joseph Met.), Fairfield University

Spencer Nicely (Summit), Sacred Heart University

Brett Patten (Manasquan), St. John’s University

Graham Ross (Hillsborough), Drew University

James Scott (Hunterdon Central), Bloomsburg University

Zach Smethers (Nazareth, Pa.), Goldey-Beacom College

Kolbie Stellpflug (Somerville), Rhode Island College

Matthew Wescott (Hillsborough), Moravian University