The Rutgers-Newark baseball team is enjoying a successful season thus far in 2022, posting an 11-10 record as the final month of the season approaches.

A good reason for the Scarlet Raiders' success has to be the team's pitching, which is never an easy task for a college program located in the northeast, considering the harsh winter conditions that just won't seem to simply go away.

But one of the team's top pitchers is senior right-hander Danny Reardon, who has recorded two wins thus far in seven starts and is currently ranked second on the Scarlet Raiders in innings pitched and strikeouts.

And the team's graduate assistant pitching coach is also named Reardon, namely Danny's older brother Eric, who joined the Scarlet Raiders this season after a storied career pitching for Rutgers-New Brunswick.

Needless to say, having two Reardons on the pitching staff is better than one, as head coach Conor Kortmann can attest.

"I had a conversation with Eric to find out what he wanted to do," Kortmann said. "We needed a pitching coach and we basically gave him the responsibility to handle the staff on his own. He jumped right into the fire. You could tell right away that he was not new to coaching. He might be only 23, but he's very mature for his age. I could see that he had the kids' respect right away. He just pitched at the highest level in the Big 10 Conference."

Eric Reardon has a ton of coaching experience, working with students at the Baseball Warehouse in Highland Park. He also coaches a summer league team for the Baseball Warehouse. When Eric Reardon was approached by Kortmann about the graduate assistant coaching position, he was definitely interested.

"When Coach Kortmann asked me if I had any interest in it, I couldn't say 'yes' fast enough," Eric Reardon said. "I didn't know that my brother went into the exit meetings and put my name out there."

The two brothers are so very close with no hint of any sibling rivalry.

"The two of us grew up together," Eric Reardon said. "We're really tight."

But Danny knows his place when it comes to his older brother.

"I think we have a good balance with each other, but when we're on the field, I'm a pitcher first and brother second," Danny Reardon said. "He makes sure to remind me that I'm just one of the guys. I think I've benefited a lot from his guidance. He's learned things over the years that translates to our pitching staff. A lot of what he's helped me with is the mental preparation to pitching, making sure I do all the little things better."

The two brothers were teammates at North Brunswick High School for two years before Eric went off to pitch at Rutgers-New Brunswick.

"I could see that he could relate to all of us," Danny Reardon said. "He's been through everything that we're going through as pitchers. He just gives us a different perspective. It's definitely refreshing and relieving."

Danny is a psychology and political science double major who is in the process of applying to schools to do research with the eventual goal being a doctorate. Danny carries a 3.9 grade point average with the heavy course load.

Kortmann is pleased with both Reardon brothers.

"I know a lot of guys who aren't ready to be pitching coaches," Kortmann said. "Eric has handled it well. I think he can become an even better coach down the road. I know Danny wanted to be a part of us building the program. He has all the leadership qualities and does all the right things. We voted for captain and he easily got it. And he's been our most dependable pitcher. Sometimes, I really forget that they're brothers. I have to laugh to myself when I think of having the two of them.  They're comfortable with each other and I think that comes from having that family atmosphere. They're really good people."

The Reardons come from an athletic family. Their father John is a long-time equipment manager at Rutgers-New Brunswick who does the public address announcing at basketball games. Their mother Meg works in the business office at Rutgers.

"I guess it's been in our blood," Danny Reardon said. "Rutgers has always been the place for me. It's been a blast being with my brother. He's awesome to be around."

"He answers the bell when he's called upon," Eric Reardon said of his younger brother. "He works really hard. I'm just there to provide some navigation. If he falls off course, it's my job to make sure he gets back on course. He makes my life really easy. He accepts every challenge given to him. I think there's a good understanding between us and that's pretty cool. I can't give enough credit to our parents. It makes me think about how truly fortunate Danny and I have been. They were always there for us."

Eric Reardon doesn't want this season to be strictly an apprenticeship.

"I hope I can continue coaching," Eric Reardon said. "I hope I'm good enough at it to continue. If I have my way, I'd love to keep coaching."

Seems like both Reardon brothers have a very bright future ahead of them.