West Essex Stars Sign to Play at Next Level

After helping to lead their teams to great success, several West Essex High School athletes announced recently their intention to play at Division I colleges.

Wrestler Anthony Perrotti, softball shortstop Brianna Schauer and baseball pitchers Dan Gautieri and David Jesch recently signed letters of intent to play in Division I collegiate programs.

Perrotti finished sixth in the very deep and talented field at 119 lbs. at the NJSIAA State Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City last March. Perrotti will wrestle at Rutgers University for coach Scott Goodale next year.

Dan Gautieri and David Jesch, who played key roles in the Knights' state Group II championship last spring, signed letters of intent to play at the University of Pennsylvania and Hofstra University respectively.

The Knights baseball team won four titles last season, including the Super Essex Conference division, the 78th Greater Newark Tournament championship, the NJSIAA North Jersey Section II, Group II title and the Group II championship. The team finished with a 28-3 record.

Gautieri was 7-0 with a 1.36 ERA. He struck out 47 and walked 13 in 46 1/3 innings, earning wins in the Greater Newark Tournament, sectional and Group II finals. Jesch finished 8-0 with a 0.89 ERA and 48 strikeouts and 12 walks over 39 1/3 innings pitched.

"Both David and Danny are outstanding pitchers and outstanding people both on and off the field,'' said Knights coach Scott Illiano. "The two of them made a huge contribution to our team as juniors last spring in leading our team to the Star Ledger Top 20 Trophy as the (top) ranked team in New Jersey.

"Both I and our entire staff are extremely proud of them and think that they both made excellent college choices. I also think that they are still growing into their bodies so the sky is the limit for them as they continue to develop while competing at the Division I level. In the meantime, I can't wait to work with the two of them again this spring."

Schauer, the star softball shortstop, was an important cog in the Knights North Jersey Group II , Section II title. Schauer will play at Iona College. Her cousin, catcher Allissa Kerr, is soon expected to sign a letter of intent to play at Seton Hall University. She has already given a verbal commitment, coach Andrea Mondadori said.

Both players are three-year starters. "They are hard workers, who have become 12-month players,'' said Mondadori, whose team finished with a 22-4 record last spring, advancing to the state Group II semifinal and placing second in the division and county.

"Both of them play with a natural love of softball. They love the game and are intelligent. They can really see the game and they work well together being at shortstop and catcher.''

West Essex High field hockey coach Jill Cosse said that Knights' goal keeper Kelly Mosser is soon expected to sign with Georgetown University.

"She's a terrific student and going to Georgetown is huge, she's really excited about it,'' said Cosse, whose team was the state Group II runner-up last month.