By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
DJ Ruhlman got a pretty good idea of what the next level will be like, and it has him more ready for it.
The Montgomery High School senior played in the New Jersey Scholastic Baseball Coaches All-Star Game last Wednesday in Flemington, and Ruhlman showed he belonged. He went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI in the Central squad’s 19-7 win over the Northeast team.
”It was awesome,” Ruhlman said. “There’s so much talent there from all around the state. It was a great experience to be a part of it and see all this other talent. I’ve never been in an all-star game like that before. I liked it a lot.”
Ruhlman is believed to be the third player from MHS ever selected to the prestigious all-star game. Jason Grover and Chris Weingart were selected to play in the game in 2001.
”It was exciting,” Ruhlman said. “I never heard of it before two weeks ago.”
Ruhlman is hoping the experience kick starts his preparation for the jump to Seton Hall University, where he is heading to play next year. This summer, he is rehabilitating a shoulder injury and working on building overall strength, and he hopes to be fully recovered for the fall to start battling for a job with the Pirates.
”I was recruited as a short or third,” Ruhlman aid. “Hopefully I get some playing time in there if all goes well.”
Ruhlman played shortstop for Montgomery High this year after two seasons at third base. He played second base in the all-star game, surrounded by many of the players he’d faced through the years.
”Playing with them was a good experience,” he said. “Playing against them is hard because they’re all great players. Playing with them was awesome because they’re on your team and you get to know them and I just enjoyed it.”
There was plenty to enjoy for the Central team that had its offense in full force in the all-star game. In the stacked lineup, Ruhlman hit sixth.
”Everyone on that team was a great player,” he said. “All the pitchers we saw were great players. I think three were draft picks. I guess we just saw the ball well and we’re hitting well.”
Ruhlman picked up his hitting as the season went along, and served as one of the leaders for the Cougars all season. He had hoped to carry them farther.
”I was a little disappointed in the way I played and the way we played, but we played our hardest the whole season,” Ruhlman said. “I’m disappointed we didn’t repeat and win the county championship again. And on top of the football season, where we went 0-9, that was tough too.”
Ruhlman will hang up his football cleats in favor of baseball at Seton Hall. It was a fairly recent decision which sport he was going to pursue.
”Growing up, it was always which season I was playing was my favorite sport,” Ruhlman said. “Junior year, I had a really good beginning to my season and I was getting some good looks. Then that summer, I got really into baseball. Then I visited and liked Seton Hall a lot and I chose that. That’s when I decided to play baseball (in college).”
Ruhlman was an early commitment to Seton Hall. He got his choice out of the way before his senior year at MHS began, and he followed the last couple weeks as the Pirates came on strong at the finish.
”That was awesome when they won the Big East and made it into the regionals,” Ruhlman said. “I knew it was definitely a good choice when I saw that.”
DJ Ruhlman is looking forward to joining the Seton Hall team. He still has to wait a bit, but he got a taste of what lies ahead after playing in the state’s top all-star game.
”It’s basically like playing in a college game.” Ruhlman said. “A lot of them are going to colleges and some into the pros. It’s a good sneak peak to see what it’s like and get the experience of it.”
