2010 Highlights: (4/13 at Lehman College): Started at shortstop where he scored twice, before finishing the game on the mound...Faced five batters, allowing just two hits, but all three runners he inherited scored...(4/17 vs. Rutgers-Camden): Started on the mound for the first time this season and pitched well...Over 97 pitches in 7.0 innings, he allowed just five runs and six hits, with one strikeout and three walks...(4/23 vs. Rutgers-Newark): Notched his 100th career hit before entering in relief in the ninth inning, earning a save by striking out the final two batters...Became the 32nd player in the 63-year history of the program to enter the 100-hit club and the third Gothic Knight this season to reach the threshold...Was 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI...(4/24 at Stockton): Was a combined 4-for-8 with two runs and two RBIs...(5/1 vs. Rowan): Led the way in game one, with three RBIs and one run in a 2-for-4 performance with his 11th double of the season...Also, was the fourth reliever used by NJCU and pitched a perfect ninth inning...Slammed his second home-run of the season in game two...
2009 Highlights: (2/21 at Farmingdale State College): Went 2-for-3 in each game, finishing 4-for-6 overall while posting a strong defensive effort...In the first game, he was 2-for-3 with an RBI triple as the cleanup hitter...In the second game he went 2-for-3 again, this time with a double, and was the only Gothic Knights with multiple hits...(3/5 vs. Gwynedd-Mercy College at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Fired a perfect relay throw to catcher Kris Brus to gun down a runner at the plate to end the game...(3/6 vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Had a double and a run scored in the opener and went 2-for-4 with a run scored in game two...(3/7 vs. St. Vincent College at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run...(3/8 vs. Cazenovia College at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Was 2-for-4 with three runs and a double...(3/10 vs. Drew University at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Notched three RBIs, going 3-for-6...(3/11 vs. St. John Fisher College at the Russ Matt College Invitational): In his first appearance of the year on the mound, he tossed three-hit ball for 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and a walk...(3/12 vs. Keystone College at the Russ Matt College Invitational): Was 3-for-4 with four RBIs...(3/22 vs. St. Joseph's College- Maine): Was 1-for-4 with a run scored, seven defensive assists and two putouts...(4/1 at College of Staten Island): Pitched one inning with one strikeout and one walk...(4/18 vs. Ramapo College): Had a two-run single in the eighth inning that made it a one-run game, as he finished 2-for-4 with two RBI at the plate...(4/19 at Rowan University): Had his first collegiate start, pitching a complete game, eight earned runs on 16 hits, with five strikeouts and two walks...At the plate he hit his second homeun of the season and was 1-for-4 with three RBI...(4/26 at Rutgers-Camden): In game two, drove in four runs, including a game-winning three-run homer in the top of the eighth...He finished game two going 3-for-3 with one run and four RBI...In game one he made just his second career start and was tagged with the loss (0-2) despite allowing only four earned runs...He walked two, struck out one and gave up 11 hits in 5.1 innings...(4/27 at Centenary College): Went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, including his 30th of the year...
2008 Highlights: (03/06 vs. Muhlenberg College at Russ Matt College Spring Break Invitational): In the sixth, reached on a one-out error and scored on an RBI double... (03/12 vs. Coe College): Scorched his second homerun of the year in the record-setting sixth, overall he went 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run... (03/19 vs. Baruch): Scored twice in the win... (03/24 vs. College of Mount Saint Vincent): Tied game one in the sixth as he led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and third on a fly out and with two outs crossed the plate on attempt to pick him off third. In game two, he scored three times and walked twice in a 1-for-2 game... (04/03 vs. Manhattanville): Went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three consecutive doubles, and two runs... (#4/8 at The College of New Jersey): 2-for-4 effort including a double, as he was one of the two players with multiple hits of the game....(04/19 at Ramapo College): Registered two RBIs in a 2-for-4 showing... (04/25 at Rutgers-Newark): 2-for-5 with two runs... (04/26 vs. Rutgers-Camden University): Continued to demonstrate why he is the future of the program, combining to go 6-for-7 with five RBIs, two runs, two doubles and his third homer of the season. He had six consecutive hits before being retired in his final at bat of game two...(04/28): Has been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the first time in his career after hitting .562 in four conference games with nine hits (9-16), five RBIS, four runs, two doubles and his third homer of the year. He had a .875 slugging percentage. He is the first NJCU offensive rookie to receive the honor this season, was awarded for week 10 of the 2008 season as he continued to demonstrate why he is the future of the program. He also extended his current hitting streak to nine consecutive games. Season wrap-up, during his first month of collegiate baseball, batting just .178 after his 18th game on March 28, he has become a successful hitter in the second portion of the year. Since April 3, in his next 16 games, he’s hitting .338 (22-65) with 13 RBIs, nine runs, seven doubles and a homer, while raising his season average by 95 points. He has done well against NJAC pitching, hitting .300 (18-60)...(04/29): Claimed his second accolade of the week, earning New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) Rookie Player of the Week honors...
High School: A June 2007 graduate of Immaculata High School in Somerville, NJ...Played three years of varsity baseball for Coach Tom Gambino...Was selected to the All-Conference team as a designated hitter his sophomore year...Was named third team All-County as a shortstop his junior year and was named second team All-County and first team All-Conference his senior season...Was also named to the All-Area team...Helped to lead the team the 2005, 2006, 2007 Somerset County Championship teams...Was also a member of the 2006 Conference Championship team...Was a member of the 2006 and 2007 teams who were State Sectional finalists...
Personal: Thomas William Burke...Born January 6, 1989 in New Brunswick, NJ...Parents are Tom and Brenda Burke...has two older sisters, Ashley, 26 and Tiffany, 24...His Uncle Bill Lehman played for the Chicago White Sox...Major at NJCU is History...Hopes to become a history teacher and baseball coach...
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Favorites:
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Hobbies/interest:
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Baseball, outdoors
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NJCU Class:
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Biology
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Hero/Idol:
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My father
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Sports Team:
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New York Yankees
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Song:
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“Hillbilly Deluxe”
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Music Artist:
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Toby Keith
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Movie:
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“Boondock Saints”
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Food:
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Anything unhealthy
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What do you like most about NJCU?:
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“The diversity.”
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What do you like about Coach Alvarez?:
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"His love for the game and his desire to win."
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