Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

Ryan Williams had a freshman baseball season at Rutgers-Newark to quickly forget. He pitched in a handful of games in relief and the results were less than successful. 

“Coming out of high school, I thought I was a pretty good pitcher,” Williams said. “But I pretty much got hit around. It was disappointing and frustrating. I felt like I was letting my team down.” 

Williams’ pitching line as a freshman read like a Bingo card: 30 hits allowed in 20 innings and a startling 8.10 earned run average with a win-loss record of 0-2. 

But Rutgers-Newark head coach Mark Rizzi always thought that Williams had the potential to be a good pitcher. 

“We always knew he had the ability,” Rizzi said. “(Pitching coach) Vinnie (Byron) thought that Ryan could help us this year. I think we always thought he would be good. We just didn’t see him as a confident pitcher last year. He did not pitch well and it was really tough for him.” 

Williams was determined to make everyone forget his freshman campaign. 

“I made sure that I was going to get better,” Williams said. “What happened last year really fueled me to improve. It got me going.” 

So Williams religiously followed an off-season workout regimen. He lifted weights throughout the fall and winter to add strength to his already impressive 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He went to a local gym and followed a program designed by the R-N coaching staff. 

When practices began for the 2009 season, Williams could sense there was a difference. 

“I could definitely tell that my velocity rose in my pitches,” Williams said. “I felt a lot better and looked a lot better. I knew there was a very big increase in my velocity and that would help my changeup. I knew that I was a totally different pitcher. I couldn’t wait for the season to begin.” 

Rizzi could notice the change in Williams’ approach and demeanor from the first pitches of spring. 

“I think confidence plays a big part right now in Ryan’s success,” Rizzi said. “We didn’t see that last year. He didn’t seem that confident. But he is now. He’s bigger, stronger and more mature. Things have certainly changed.” 

“I definitely feel like I have a bit of a swagger now,” Williams said. 

It shows -- and the results have been staggering. Williams is clearly the most improved pitcher in the New Jersey Athletic Conference this season. 

So far, Williams has an unblemished 5-0 record with a solid 3.47 earned run average. He’s surrendered just 30 hits in 36.1 innings and has racked up 27 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .226 against him. He’s already been named the NJAC Pitcher of the Week and appears headed to earn post-season honors from the league. 

More importantly, Williams has emerged as the ace on the Scarlet Raiders’ staff and is perhaps the biggest reason why the team owns a 16-9 record and is in the thick of the hunt for an NJAC Tournament berth. 

That’s certainly some turnaround. Acrobatic gymnasts and high-flying basketball stars have never experienced such 360-degree spins like the one Williams is enjoying. 

“I’m not surprised that he’s pitching well,” Rizzi said. “But I am surprised at the extent of his success. It’s almost like he skipped a couple steps in his improvement. I don’t think anyone expected this kind of improvement and so soon. A big part of his success right now is that nothing is rattling him. I’m so impressed with his demeanor. He pitches the ball and wants the ball right back. He wants to move on to the next pitch.” 

Rizzi knew that he had a successful pitcher when Williams faced The College of New Jersey earlier in the year. 

“He left a pitch up and the kid hit it out,” Rizzi said. “A lot of other pitchers would have let that effect them, but Ryan got over that bad pitch and then dominated TCNJ. He was also outstanding against Cal-Lutheran. He’s been in total control. He’s throwing the ball harder and down in the zone. Couple that with his curveball that keeps everyone off-balance and he’s been excellent. He’s getting the ball against the big teams. The only thing I’m surprised with is the acceleration of his improvement. He’s just pitching with conviction now and has goals he wants to accomplish. He has the stuff to do it.” 

Williams said that he doesn’t mind the responsibility of being the team’s ace. 

“I like the challenge and like the pressure situations,” said the Kearny resident and Kearny High product. “There’s nothing I want more than to be pitching against the best teams in our league. I love it.” 

Rizzi said that the Scarlet Raiders now look to Williams as their premier pitcher. 

“When he pitches, the guys know now that they have a great chance of winning,” Rizzi said. “They know that Ryan is going to keep us in the game. We haven’t had that kind of pitcher recently. Ryan knows what he has to do to be successful and goes out and does it. He does his work and then gets ready for his next game. Nothing matters to him. It’s been a fantastic transformation.” 

Williams always has improvement in mind. 

“Whenever I take the mound, I’m trying to one-up on my last start,” Williams said. “That keeps me going in the right direction.” 

But is Williams surprised with his rapid improvement? 

“Yeah, I’d have to say so,” Williams said. “I personally thought I could be doing this by the time I reached my senior year. I’m a little ahead of the game. It feels great being able to help this team win. I’m just trying to give the team the best chance of winning.” 

Williams is a business finance major at Rutgers-Newark, with the hopes of entering the real estate world in the future. Right now, his world consists of continuing to get NJAC rivals out. 

“I’m just going to keep working hard,” Williams said. “I know now that I can do it. I just want to see where the hard work takes me. I believe that there is more of this to come.” 

That’s good news for the Scarlet Raiders – and awful news for the rest of the NJAC.