Former Diamond Jacks Peter Cosentino and Justin Kosinksi and Super 17 alum Tyler Diefenbach have gotten off to impressive starts to their college careers at Montclair State University.

Diefenbach and Cosentino took home N.J. Athletic Conference honors for their performances last week and Kosinski has looked very good in his first couple outings on the mound for the Red Hawks.

Diefenbach (2-0) was named the NJAC Rookie Pitcher of the Week after he stifled Lawrence University on four hits over seven innings during Montclair’s 4-1 victory on Friday. The Phillipsburg High grad picked up the victory as he limited Lawrence to one run while striking out eight and walking five. The 6-4, 195-pound righty has a 2.65 ERA in four starts and has struck out 14 batters in 17 innings of work.

Cosentino, a 6-2, 220-pound first baseman, batted .400 during Montclair’s four games in the RussMatt Invitational to earn NJAC Rookie Player of the Week. The Hunterdon Central grad had three hits in Montclair’s 5-3 loss to Keystone College and concluded the four games with a .526 on-base percentage. He is second on the team in batting and is hitting third in the Red Hawks order. Cosentino also flawlessly handled all 28 chances at first base.

Kosinski saw his first college action last Monday and Thursday. He pitched four scoreless innings in relief in Montclair’s 5-3 loss to Keystone College on Monday. The 6-0, 190 righty permitted just two hits, struck out two and walked one in the no-decision. Kosinski, also a Hunterdon Central grad, did surrender the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 6-5 loss to UMass-Dartmouth on Thursday. The run was unearned. He permitted the one run on three hits over 2.1 innings, striking out three and walking none. Kosinski’s ERA is 0.00 in his 6.1 innings of work.

Diefenbach has made three starts and pitched 17 innings thus far. He has permitted eight runs, five of which were earned, for a 2.65 ERA. His 14 strikeouts have helped limite opponents to a .238 batting average.

Cosentino is hitting .382 on the season and has four doubles and a home run among his 13 hits. He has six RBI and has score nine runs. His .475 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage equate to a gaudy 1.063 OPS.

Montclair State University is off to a 4-4 start and has a busy week ahead, playing six games in six days beginning Tuesday.