Mason Messina scores on Jake Vissichelli’s two-run single for Untamed 16U.
By Sean Reilly
The 2026 summer campaign is shaping up as a potentially big one for RJ Ronco.
Coming off a successful season playing for the Christian Brothers Academy freshman team, he’s at Diamond Nation this weekend as a 15 year old playing up in age for Sportika 16 SBA in its first action of the year at the Super Sixteen Invitational.
The early results were encouraging for Ronco and the team.
The cleanup batter in the lineup, he went 2-for-3 with three RBI and also pitched two strong relief innings in a 7-3 victory over Untamed 16U on Friday evening in Flemington.
There are more than 60 teams competing in the Super Sixteen, which is a Showcase Series qualifier event at ‘The Nation.’ The top five finishers will earn the right to return for the championship event in August.
Between now and then, Ronco hopes to be in the midst of a fruitful season, in which he aims to continue to grow as a hitter and pitcher.
“I’m trying to keep getting better and to help my team win,” he said. “CBA is a great program to be a part of, there’s a lot of winning done in that program, with a lot of coaches who know what they are doing and it’s a good environment to be around. Sportika is also a big family, so I feel welcome wherever I play.”
That includes playing up against the older 16U competition, which is a challenge Ronco is clearly capable of handling.
Shore-based Sportika opened a 3-0 lead in the top of the first against Untamed, which has players primarily from Union and Middlesex counties.
Daniel Mayer led off the game with a walk, Ty Yunek singled to left and Liam Williams was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Ronco.
Luca Vitale delivers pitch for Sportika 16 SBA.
He had a 2-2 count before hitting a two-run single to center. He later scored when Gio Vitale reached on a two-out error.
Untamed closed to 3-2 in the second inning. Caden Beck led off with a double to center, and moved to third as Mason Messina reached on a throwing error after hitting an infield grounder. Messina stole second, and after the next two batters struck out, Jake Vissichelli took a pitch for a ball before hitting a two-run single to center.
Sportika added three more runs in the fourth for a 6-2 lead.
Robby Feehan led off with a walk and stole second before Mayer singled on a grounder that deflected off the pitcher’s glove.
With runners now on first and third, Yunek grounded out to third, with Feehan scoring. Williams then walked before Ronco hit an RBI single to right. He also took second on a throw. Williams scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch with Shivam Garg at the plate.
Untamed scored once in the bottom of the fourth. Beck (2-for-2) led off with a single to left, moved to second on a one-out sac bunt and then scored after stealing third and scoring on an error.
Sportika closed out the scoring with an unearned run in the fifth.
Vitale reached on a one-out error, and walks to Feehan and Mayer loaded the bases. Yunek then hit his second consecutive RBI ground out to third.
Luca Vitale pitched the first three innings for Sportika in the five-inning game. He allowed three hits and two unearned runs, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Ronco allowed two hits and one unearned run in his two innings of relief. He struck out three and walked one, with velocity in the mid to upper 70 mph range.
“I’d like to hit 80,” he said. “But more importantly I’m a team player and I want to help the team win.”