Alum Blaze Iannetti elevated to head baseball coach at Middlesex after Nastasi steps down

One of the most successful small-school baseball programs in the GMC has a new coach, as the Middlesex Board of Education Thursday night approved the hiring of assistant Blaze Iannetti as the Blue Jays’ new skipper.

Iannetti replaces Justin Nastasi, who coached nine seasons to the tune of a 175-81 record, with five Central Jersey Group 1 titles and three Group 1 state championships, the most recent coming over New Providence in 2021. They also went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, beating Emerson and Park Ridge, respectively.

Nastasi, who lives in Hillsborough, initially stepped down to spend some more time with family, but was offered a job this coming season as an assistant by Raiders’ skipper Matt Mosko, a position requiring significantly less time than being a head coach.

“I have so many great memories with Middlesex baseball,” Nastasi told Central Jersey Sports Radio. “I am extremely proud of the program that I helped build with Mike (O’Donnell, the Middlesex Athletic Director). It’s a great town that loves and supports its sports programs, especially baseball. I will obviously miss it greatly.”

Iannetti is a Middlesex alum who played for second base for the man who would eventually hire, and now, promote him.

O’Donnell was the Blue Jays’ baseball coach then. Iannetti graduated in 2009, before going on to Mitchell College in New London, CT.

Right after he graduated, he was snapped up as the JV coach by Nastasi, who was in just his second year on the job.

“I know the program is in great hands with Blaze,” said Nastasi, “and I am very excited to see where he takes them. The kids will feed off his passion, energy and excitement for the game and the town of Middlesex. Nobody will be rooting harder for Blaze than me.”

O’Donnell was effusive in his praise of Nastasi.

“We appreciate all of Coach Nastasi’s contributions to our baseball program and after he stepped aside we are excited to promote Coach Iannetti to take the helm and continue the tradition of success on the diamond,” said Nastasi.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge and work ethic to match,” he added. “The program will remain in good hands.”

Iannetti will inherit a Middlesex squad that took some lumps last year as a young group, going 10-17, but only graduates one senior: infielder/pitcher Frank Berta. Of their top four pitchers in terms of innings thrown last season, one was a junior, three were sophomores, and one was a freshman.

Click below to hear new Middlesex baseball coach Blaze Iannetti talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: