Ridge players celebrate with the 2022 Somerset County Tournament Championship Trophy on the field at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 23, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
That’s the first such streak any team has been on since Immaculata did it from 2004 to 2008 during their long stretch of dominance.
But the Red Devils would prefer to cap that stretch of four title games with another championship, not go home 1-3. The way they’re playing right now, that’s a good bet.
That’s not to say anything about top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan, which set a program record for wins with 24 Thursday when they beat Union 3-0 in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 playoffs.
But Ridge, at the moment, is at a completely different level then they’ve been at any other time this season. They have been scoring runs at a torrid pace, averaging almost ten a game through their last eight, after scoring just over four a game in their first 19 contests.
That’s a big reason why the third-seeded Red Devils are 20-7 right now, as they get set to take on the Panthers (24-3) at 6 pm at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater. Of course, you can hear the Somerset County Tournament championship game – presented by Zoned Sports Academy of Bridgewater – on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with pregame starting at 5:40 pm. Mike Pavlichko and Vin Ebenau have the call; click here to listen.
The Panthers, for their part, can hit, but their pitching has been spectacular. Corey Rible in the closer/stopper role has just one walk the entire season, and it was an intentional one. He threw 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in the Panthers’ 4-2 semifinal win over Watchung Hills. And BR’s starter Friday will be Owen Crimmins, fresh off a five-inning no-hitter in an 11-0 quarterfinal victory last week over Montgomery.
Click below to hear Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell talk about the Red Devils’ as they get set for the Somerset County Tournament championship game:
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