(Photo courtesy NJIT)

Junior catcher Paul Franzoni, a former Diamond Jacks Super 17U team member, has been named one of three captains for the 2020 New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) team.

Head coach Robbie McClellan announced on Friday that Franzoni, fellow junior Julio Marcano and senior Jared Kasco will be the Highlanders captains for this season. NJIT opens its season next Friday, the first of four season-opening games to be played next weekend in Cary, North Carolina.

The Highlanders open their season against New Jersey rival Monmouth University on Friday, Feb. 14, play Penn State on Saturday and Sunday and close the trip on Monday, Feb. 17 with a game against Bucknell.

Franzoni lives in Robbinsville, N.J. and played his high school ball at Princeton Day School. The 5-11, 185-pounder started all 45 games behind the plate as a sophomore for NJIT, ripping 10 doubles and driving in 23 runs.

“Paul is a vocal leader that is the heart and soul of our team,” said McClellan in an NJIT press release. “His energy is contagious and I can’t wait to see him lead our pitching staff and have a productive season offensively.”

Kasco is a right-handed pitcher from Barnegat (NJ) and Marcano hails from Katy, Texas. The infielder is the team’s biggest offensive threat.