Perfect game a team effort? Blackwell says that’s Connor Byrne “in a nutshell”

Ridge coach Tom Blackwell (file photo)

April 26, 2023 by Mike Pavlichko

When baseball scout JT Kroeger tweeted Tuesday night about Connor Byrne’s perfect game for Ridge in a 1-0 win over Bernards to advance to the Somerset County Tournament semifinals, Byrne thanked him and said, “Great team win. Onto Thursday!”

And that pretty much tells you all you need to know about Byrne, according to his head coach Tom Blackwell.

Thank you so much Mr. Kroeger. Great team win today. Onto Thursday!! https://t.co/DiZUQK0dhX
— Connor Byrne (@ByrneConnor34) April 26, 2023

Byrne was might efficient in a gem to end all gems: 76 pitches, 10 strikeouts – no runs, hits, walks, or errors. A perfecto.

But he and Blackwell know it doesn’t get done without great fielding behind them, a team effort.

For a full game recap with audio from Byrne, click here.

Click below to hear Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell take a closer look at Byrne’s perfect game – believed to be the first in Red Devil history – with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Second-seed Ridge moves on to face 6-seed Pingry in Thursday’s SCT semifinals at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. That game begins at 1 pm, followed by top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan taking on 12-seed Rutgers Prep at 4:00.

You can hear all the action of the Somerset County Tournament presented by Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with pregame coverage at 12:35 pm Thursday. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call the play-by-play. Click here to listen live.