Let’s start with this: Thomas Matuszewski is a freshman.
A freshman. Hitting .438. With 84 hits, 76 RBIs, and a .724 slugging percentage. He leads Jefferson in nearly every offensive category, and yet somehow, he’s only the beginning of this story.
Because the story is this: Jefferson is back in the NCAA Tournament. Again.
At 38-15, the Rams enter the postseason with more wins than any team in program history, and for the second straight year, they’re one of the last teams standing. But this time, they’ll do it as hosts. Weiland Park, on the campus of DeSales University, will serve as home to Jefferson’s regional bracket, and the Rams are carrying the No. 18 ranking in the NCBWA Top-25 poll.
They’ll open tournament play Thursday afternoon against the winner of Goldey-Beacom and Franklin Pierce, two teams the Rams are intimately familiar with—and teams that should be intimately concerned.
Offensively, Jefferson is a nightmare. Matuszewski, the freshman phenom from Avon Grove, headlines a relentless lineup that features six regulars hitting over .300. Javon Hernandez is batting .424 and has scored 74 runs, but his stat line reads like a video game—13 homers, 63 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases in 36 tries. Joshua Lopez is right there with him, hitting .385 with 62 RBIs and 28 steals. He also wears pitches like armor—he’s been hit by 18 pitches this season, second only to teammate Justin Egner, who’s been drilled a staggering 27 times. Egner, a sparkplug in every sense, posted a .325 average, walked 49 times, and reached base at a .543 clip. There’s also Gabe Silva, who hit .350 with 27 steals, and adds even more chaos on the bases.
Put it all together, and Jefferson isn’t just a good offensive team—they’re a machine. They lead the nation in stolen bases with 231 and sacrifice bunts with 67. They rank fifth nationally in on-base percentage at .459. And they do it without sacrificing discipline or execution. They hit, they run, they grind.
And they pitch.
Junior Danny Kerr has emerged as the ace of the staff, entering the tournament with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He’s been the steadying force at the front of the rotation all season. Right behind him is freshman Kevin Baez, who’s made an immediate impact with a 3.32 ERA, showing poise well beyond his years. And then there’s Albert Bobadilla, a versatile arm who has quietly carved out a key role. He’s held opponents to a .206 batting average while posting a 3.43 ERA. Together, the trio gives Jefferson the kind of rotation depth and versatility that wins in May.
Their path to the Division II World Series in Cary, NC., won’t be easy. Goldey-Beacom is a familiar foe—Jefferson took three of four from them this season—but the Lightning are dangerous, making their fourth NCAA appearance since 2017 and ranking among the nation’s best in stolen bases. Franklin Pierce, meanwhile, offers a different threat. The Ravens are the national leaders in strikeouts per nine innings and rank in the top 15 in home runs. The Rams swept them in March, but that was March. This is the tournament.
Yes, there are other strong teams in the East bracket, including Wilmington and Felician.
And yet, there’s something about this Jefferson team. Maybe it’s the way they manufacture runs. Maybe it’s the combination of veteran leadership and underclassman fire. Maybe it’s Matuszewski playing like a senior. Or Hernandez playing like an MVP. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s all of it.
They don’t just win. They run you out of the park. They pressure you into mistakes. They take an extra base when no one’s looking. And now, they’re ready to make history.
This isn’t just a regional host. This is a team that’s built for a run.
And yet, there’s something about this Jefferson team. Maybe it’s the way they manufacture runs. Maybe it’s the combination of veteran leadership and underclassman fire. Maybe it’s Matuszewski playing like a senior. Or Hernandez playing like an MVP. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s all of it.
They don’t just win. They run you out of the park. They pressure you into mistakes. They take an extra base when no one’s looking. And now, they’re ready to make history.
This isn’t just a regional host. This is a team that’s built for a run.
