For starters: A powerful hitter who returns after having his 2006 season cut short due to injury…Received a medical hardship waiver…Will play first base and designated hitter, and hit cleanup…A career .316 hitter (43-136) in 41 games (39 starts)…Has collected 31 runs, 28 RBIs, six doubles and four homeruns thus far…Is 5-of-6 in stolen bases…Has 19 walks and 26 strikeouts in his career.
Heaton on Cruder: ““TC” is probably our most powerful right-handed bat in the line-up. He has the ability to drive in a lot of runs. He is our projected four-hitter in our line-up. Tom has increased his strength and his bat speed.”
2006: Had his season cut short with an injury, but received a medical hardship waiver to regain the year of eligibility…Was a team co-captain before the injury…In 13 games (12 starts), he hit .282 (11-39) with nine RBIs, five runs and four doubles…Walked four times with 10 strikeouts…Hit .429 (3-7) with two outs…Had a 55.6 success rate (15-27) in advancing runners…Tied for fifth on the team in doubles, despite playing less than one third of the season…Batted cleanup in nine games and three times in the fifth hole.
2005: The first freshman named a team co-captain in the 16-year career of head coach Ken Heaton…Hit three homeruns in five games to begin his collegiate career…Selected Honorable Mention All-Association of Division III Independents as a utility player…Missed five games in the early part of NJCU’s northern schedule and did not receive All-CUNYAC honors…Started 22 games as NJCU’s designated hitter, and five games in right field and at first base…In 28 total games (27 starts), he batted .330 (32-97) with 26 runs, two doubles, four homeruns, and 19 RBIs, while tallying 46 total bases, 15 walks, five steals (5-6), a .474 slugging rate and .444 on-base percentage…Tied for the team lead in homeruns, tied for fourth in walks, ranked sixth in at bats, tied for sixth in runs, listed seventh in hits, total bases and on-base percentage, was eighth in average, and tied for eighth in RBIs…Batted .571 (4-for-7) with eight RBIs with the bases loaded…Had a .600 average (15-25) when leading off an inning…(03/07, vs. Worcester Polytechnic): Hit his third homerun of the season as part of a 3-for-5, two-RBI showing in a 9-7 loss in which NJCU hit four homers…(03/10, vs. Bluffton): Combined to go 5-for-9 with five runs, three RBIs and his fourth homerun, as NJCU split the doubleheader, winning the nightcap, 13-3…(03/17, at USMMA): Was 2-for-5 with two runs in a 13-4 win…(04/09, at Staten Island): Went 3-for-3 in a 14-6 win…(04/10, D’Youville): Was 2-for-4 with two runs in an 11-3 win…(04/20, Lehman): Was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs in a 15-4 win…(05/01, John Jay): In a 13-0 game one win, was 3-for-4 with two runs…(05/07 vs. John Jay): Knocked in a career-high five RBIs, while going 3-for-6 with two runs as NJCU outslugged John Jay, 16-10 in the CUNYAC semifinals..
High School: A June 18, 2004 graduate of Union High School…Played four years of baseball for the Farmers, including two on the varsity level for coach Mike Hamberg…One of four Union High School graduates on the 2006 club (Ruben Borges, Rob Motacki, Rob Sumner)…As a senior, batted .440 with 25 RBIs and two homeruns…Hit .300 as a junior in 2003…In 2002, was a member of the Farmers’ NJSIAA Group IV state championship club, its first title since 1974…Union was 26-3 record and the No. 1 overall ranking in the state of New Jersey…In 2004, Union, the No. 5 seed, ousted Bayonne in the North II, Group IV quarterfinals (May 21), 10-3, and upset top-seeded Kearny, 8-4, before losing to Watching Hills in the sectional finals…Also played two non-varsity seasons of basketball for coach Bobby Grauso.
Personal: Thomas Bernard Cruder…Born February 13, 1986 in Livingston, NJ…Mother is Maryann Cruder…Has an older sister, Jennifer Cruder, 24…Bats and throws right-handed…Major at NJCU is Education…Goal is to become a teacher and baseball coach…Lists his most memorable sports moment as playing for the state championship in high school…Describes himself as having a strong work ethic, and a desire to win.
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Favorites:
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Hobbies/interest:
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Weight training
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NJCU Class:
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Sports and Physics
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Hero/Idol:
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Cal Ripken, Jr.
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Sports Team:
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New York Yankees and New York Giants
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Song:
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“Pullin’ Me Back” by Chingy
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Music Artist:
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50 Cent, Paul Wall
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Movie:
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“Wedding Crashers” and “Old School”
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Food:
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Steakums
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What do you like most about NJCU?:
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“The baseball team.”
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2007 Highlights: (03/29 at SUNY-Farmingdale): Finished 2-for-3 as the designated hitter...(03/31 vs. William Paterson University): Went 2-for-4 in game two...
