Staff Report

Jack McNamee looks like one of those pitchers a hitter thinks he can get that game-winning base hit off of. Then, the next thing you know, you’re rolling over one of his big curveballs and grounding out to third to end the game.

The St. Augustine Prep baseball team has plenty of star power, year in and year out, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a South Jersey high school baseball fan who knows who “Jack Mac” is. He’s a quiet, unassuming kid who just comes in and does his job on the mound when asked.

He’s really only had one bad outing this season — nearly half the earned runs he’s given up came in one game, a 9-8 loss to Egg Harbor Township. Because of that game, his ERA isn’t all that impressive at 4.29, and for the most part he’s been able to work around any walks without giving up a lot of runs.

Hermits coach Mike Ney has so much confidence in him, in fact, that he trusted him to close out a wild, 10-9 win over Mainland Regional that gave St. Augustine it’s second Cape-Atlantic League Tournament championship. He threw just 24 pitches in two innings in that game, didn’t allow a run or a hit, and picked up the win in relief of Jameson Dobis and Ethan Suppi.

And look at the teams he’s pitched against, it’s like a who’s who of South Jersey baseball — Mainland, Egg Harbor Township, Gloucester Catholic, Clearview, Millville, Hammonton, Ocean City. He’s not padding stats against teams that are 2-18, he’s pitching against some of the top offenses in South Jersey and has 22 strikeouts in 16 innings despite not having overpowering stuff. And he’s allowing just more than one hit per inning, which is very good for any high school pitcher.

“Jack Mac is the same guy every day,” said Ney, who led the Hermits to the state championship last season — a year in which McNamee allowed just three earned runs in 18 innings pitched. “Never too high, never too low and never afraid of any situation. He’s a great teammate who shows up and does his job every day. Players love him, coaches love him. We’re lucky to have him.”

WHAT’S NEXT: St. Augustine Prep travels to Holy Spirit today at 4 p.m. and will play its first-round state playoff game on Friday at home against either Pingry or Union Catholic. 

— Dave O’Sullivan, Staff Writer