Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague
 
Michael Garcia knew that he had to make a change in his approach as a pitcher; that he was far better than what he had shown already as a hurler at Rutgers-Newark.

Garcia, the former Bergen Catholic ace who first went to Franklin & Marshall, then played one year at Bergen County Community College, didn’t have a lot of success in a Scarlet Raider uniform for his first two seasons.

“For my first two years, I just didn’t have my best stuff,” said Garcia, who pitched to an earned run average of around 6.00 for his first two seasons. “I didn’t understand how to pitch.”

But Garcia enjoyed a metamorphosis before his final season at R-N.

“He’s made a huge improvement,” said veteran Rutgers-Newark head coach Mark Rizzi. “I think mentally, he’s in a better place. He’s matured a lot. He’s throwing strikes. I think he’s now putting it all together.”

Garcia is pitching like the true ace everyone believed he could be, posting a 3-1 record with a stingy 2.74 ERA. He’s given up only four earned runs in 23 innings pitched against New Jersey Athletic Conference foes.

“He’s a true NJAC starter and that’s very hard to come by,” Rizzi said.

“If I’m throwing strikes and I’m getting the batters to swing at my pitches, then that’s half the battle,” Garcia said. “I think control has pretty much to do with everything. When I have my control, I can dictate where the ball goes and determine the outcome of the game.”

Garcia first went to F&M, but found it was not a good fit even before he threw a pitch there. He transferred to Bergen County College for his freshman campaign and had a 6-3 record with a 3.08 ERA, playing at a high-level junior college.

At that time, Garcia started to play summer ball for the Ramapo Valley Giants, a team organized by the brother of R-N pitching coach Adam DiLorenzo and featured a host of former Scarlet Raiders like Matt Connors, Billy Cerutti, Ryan Williams and current assistant coach Patrick Reitemeyer.

Also on that team was Garcia’s former BCCC teammate Kyle Van Vliet.

“We decided that we would go to Rutgers-Newark together,” Garcia said of his good friend Van Vliet, who was the ace of the Scarlet Raiders’ staff for 2012 and 2013. “I wanted to come to Rutgers to get a good education and degree.”

When Van Vliet graduated after last year, he was practically passing the pitching ace torch to Garcia.

Garcia was pumped up to face Chapman University, a top-flight Division III program from California during the Scarlet Raiders’ annual sojourn to California to begin the season. Van Vliet had pitched well against Chapman in each of the last two seasons.

“I think Michael was really looking forward to that start against Chapman,” Rizzi said. “I think that was the turning point for him.”

Although Garcia lost that start to Chapman, he pitched six solid innings and started his ascent to NJAC dominance.

“I think that’s the game where Michael proved to himself that he could be a top starter,” Rizzi said.

“When I pitched against Chapman, I bounced back,” Garcia said. “Everything just came back to me. Everything changed from that point.”

Garcia then came back to New Jersey and tossed a complete game gem against NJAC foe New Jersey City University, striking out 10 and allowing just one earned run. More importantly, Garcia walked only one batter that game.

The tall right-hander then followed up his solid performance against NJCU with another gem against Kean, knocking off the Cougars, who were nationally ranked in the top 10 at the time.

“The NJCU game set me on a streak of confidence,” Garcia said. “And the Kean game was the best win I ever had in my life.”

Garcia’s last start against Ramapo was another brilliant outing, but he got a no-decision in the Scarlet Raiders’ 3-2 win.

“He’s just learned how to get through the tough times,” Rizzi said. “He used to have those bad innings or the bad pitch or the bad call and that would get to him. He’s made great strides in keeping his emotions in check. I think a lot of what Michael does is about confidence. He steamrolls now because he’s doing well.”

Rizzi firmly believes that Garcia is one of the best hurlers in the NJAC and worthy of All-NJAC honors in a few weeks.

Garcia believes that his knowledge of the strike zone has helped him tremendously.

“I’ve learned how to pitch instead of just throwing,” Garcia said. “It’s very important to pitch inside and I’ve done that so much this year. Throwing inside and moving the pitches in the strike zone have helped me go a long way.”

Garcia is an economics major at R-N. He’s on course to receive his degree after a few more classes either in the summer or in the fall.

Garcia plans to join his father Julio’s produce sales business upon graduation.

For now, Garcia is happy to anchor the Scarlet Raiders’ rotation, as the team has improved so much to get into contention for an NJAC playoff berth.

“We’re really playing much better right now,” Garcia said.

It’s safe to say that the Scarlet Raiders are a much better team when the ball is in Michael Garcia’s talented right hand.