Hillsborough and Bridgewater-Raritan play a Skyland Conference Delaware Division game in Hillsborough on April 25, 2024. They’ll meet again Thursday on Central Jersey Sports Radio. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
A Top Ten matchup Thursday afternoon will feature two teams who’ve started the season at opposite ends of the spectrum.
There’s No. 10 Hillsborough, off to its best start since 2019, and best under fourth-year head coach and Raider Baseball alum Matt Mosko. And there’s No. 5 Bridgewater-Raritan, the defending Skyland Delaware, Somerset County Tournament, and State Group 4 champions who have yet to get in the win column this season.
Of course, that didn’t stop them from playing a tight game Wednesday, a 3-0 win for the Raiders in nine innings, and much of the same could be expected today when the two meet in Hillsborough for a 3:45 game on Central Jersey Sports Radio.
Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino will call all the action, starting with pregame at 3:25 pm. Click here to listen.
Hillsborough is a senior-heavy, experienced team, one that has been slowly building to this moment over the last few years. Their top pitcher will be on the mound Thursday in Krish Patel, who’s already got two wins this season, striking out 19 and walking just two in 13 innings of work. He’s a “bulldog” on the mound, says Mosko.
Bridgewater will throw a very good pitcher, too. Jack Lanum will make his first start of the year and second appearance on the mound. He was outstanding on Opening Day against Immaculata, a 2-1 loss in 13 innings. He pitched innings five shutout innings – five through nine – in that one, scattering three hits, walking two, striking out one. He wasn’t overpowering, but never allowed a baserunner past second.
The issue for the Panthers has been the hitting. They’re batting just .121 as a team, and have only scored one run in three games. It’s early yet, though, with such a short preseason in a sport that sometimes requires a lot of time to get timing and other mechanics down at the plate.
And at some point, head coach Max Newill knows they’ll come around. So does Mosko. He just hopes it’s not Thursday afternoon.
Click below to listen to both head coaches talk about their teams and today’s Top Ten matchup:
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