By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher For many high school athletes, senior year can be quite stressful as they try to figure out where they might like to attend college and possibly prolong their athletic career. Matt Ardente won’t have to worry about that. The Absegami junior pitcher this week gave an early verbal commitment to continue his baseball career at Seton Hall University in the fall of 2015. “I got a chance to visit a few colleges, and the combination of the athletics and the academic reputation Seton Hall holds, I felt like it would be the right choice for me,” said Ardente, who has blossomed into one of the top pitchers in the Cape-Atlantic League this season. Ardente, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander, said he also had considered Rutgers, Penn State and the University of New Orleans. 
Absegami junior Matt Ardente has become one of the better pitchers in the Cape-Atlantic League this season. The junior announced this past weekend he has given an early verbal commitment to continue his baseball career at Seton Hall University in 2015. (Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan) “It was a decision that has been on my mind all the time, and luckily I was able to get a nice package that Seton Hall offered me,” Ardente said. “They really showed a lot of interest in me and that was a good thing in my eyes. I thought it would be a good chance to make the commitment early and get it off my chest. I’m happy with the decision I made.” So far this season, Ardente is 3-2 with an ERA under 3.00 and one of those losses came against St. Augustine, one of the best teams in South Jersey. He’s also been one of Absegami’s best hitters, carrying a .422 batting average into this week with six doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs. Ardente said that although Seton Hall has a very good baseball program, having produced such pro players as Craig Biggio and Mo Vaughn, academics played a big role in his decision. “Baseball comes secondary to education, but I know they have a good baseball program. The coaching staff and the baseball team, they are like a big family and I really liked that,” said Ardente, who may look into pre-med as a major once he gets to Seton Hall. Absegami baseball coach Brian Wastell said Ardente has really come into his own this year, and even last summer had expressed his desire to be the No. 1 pitcher on the Braves’ staff. “He’s asked for every big game, and that says a lot about him as a young man. He’s not looking for easy wins, he’s looking for the tough games,” Wastell said. “Matt came to me last summer and said, ‘coach, I want to pitch in the big games.’ That says a lot, because there are a lot of guys who are worried about all-conference, they are worried about wins and losses. Matt is looking to do what is going to help his team. He worked out like a madman in the weight room and with our off-season program, and you can tell that’s made a difference.” Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays [adsense]
Absegami junior Matt Ardente commits early to Seton Hall University
