Barnegat's Star Pitcher Jason Groome Back On The Mound

BARNEGAT – Barnegat High School's Jason Groome is back where he wants to be - on the pitcher's mound.

The senior star left-hander helped Barnegat prevail over Pinelands Regional 2-0 over the weekend in the preliminary round of the Ocean County Tournament, according to nj.com.

“Because he hasn’t had the competition, I think he was a little rusty,” said Barnegat head coach Dan McCoy of the 96-pitch effort. “He’s going to be better than that as we move forward.”

Groome sat out the last few weeks after the NJSIAA ruled him ineligible to play for 30 days. Groome attended IMG Academy in Florida last year. But his parents maintained their home in Barnegat.

Under NJSIAA rules, a student-athlete must sit out for 30 days when they transfer from one secondary school to another without "a bona fide change of residence by that student's parent or guardian," according to the association.

Groome is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft. Roughly 35 scouts and and Phillies’ Director of Player Development Joe Jordan came to watch last Saturday.

Barnegat had to forfeit its first two wins of the season, including a no-hitter against Central Regional.

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