Watch: Two Years Ago, Atlantic Cape Exposed Cheating with Communication Device in Helmet vs. Rowan College

Head Coach Rodney resigned at the behest of the college after 13 years of service.

August 11, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on August 11, 2026

Two players of the Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey were caught with illegal communication devices inside their batting helmets.

Atlantic Cape Community College Buccaneers baseball is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 19 Division III.

Each gets underway in mid-February and concludes in early May 2026.

The Buccaneers baseball team practices and plays its home games at the College’s new, state-of-the-art ballfield on the Mays Landing campus.

Atlantic Cape Players Were Caught With Illegal Communication Devices Inside Their Helmets

According to the Courier Post, the ACCC Buccaneers had illegal communication devices in two helmets in April 2026 during an 11-4 loss.

This all came about when a freshman pitcher wondered if he had been tipping pitches against ACCC because they were taking some aggressive swings on tough pitches and getting excellent reads on the basepaths.

The pitchers’ concerns were until Rowan College’s first baseman, Felix Diaz, believed he heard a voice coming from the opponent’s helmet.

Diaz told,

“I didn’t believe it. I didn’t not believe him, but for that sophisticated of cheating, I just didn’t think they would do it,”  “I didn’t think they would do it. For me, I wasn’t going to go right up there in the first inning. We had to confirm that’s what it was. So, second time up, those same guys got on, and he was confirming with me the whole time. Once those guys got on, he’s saying I hear it. I hear it.”

That was enough confirmation for Rob, who asked the umpires to check the helmets.

Valli suspected, but did not have proof, that Velardi was using a livestream from a center field camera to ascertain the catcher’s signs on his iPad.

As per NCAA rules, communication devices are legal, but only for the catcher, and the devices being used by ACCC were found on the runners on second and first.

No one was ejected from the game, and the devices were removed from the helmets.

Moreover, no players received any penalty. However, Velardi was given a two-game suspension by Atlantic Cape and another two-game suspension by Region 19 for possessing communication devices.

Later, Rodney resigned at the of the college after 13 years of service. Laura Batchelor, the Chief Marketing Officer at Atlantic Cape, said,

“After the situation with the game, he was suspended pending the outcome of the NJCAA Region 19 review, and at that time, we had asked for him to resign,”

Recently, Mabel Lewis posted a where the umpires checked the batter’s helmet.

Cheating in junior college baseball, communication devices in the helmets

Social media users also raised their concerns in the comment section. Geary L Madison, a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, wrote,

The game was being live-streamed and they had an iPad in the dugout looking in through the centerfield camera. The livestream was immediately suspended and the announcers were confused as to why.

Jim Phipps from Toledo, Ohio, commented,

Technology has caught up with baseball , it’s not cheating it’s like counting cards , it’s just when the guys who win when there not supposed to win. Ha ha ha

In Case You Didn’t Know

  • The Atlantic Cape Community College head baseball coach, Rodney Velardi, was married to Sara Peirson Velardi on July 29, 2000.
  • Rodney studied educational leadership, management, and policy at Seton Hall University.

  • Check other Articles on

Rohit Maharjan is a skilled content writer and editor, known for his expertise in crafting engaging and informative written pieces. Beyond his professional work, Rohit is also a passionate musician, dedicating his free time to playing the guitar and creating melodious tunes.

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