Most area baseball teams open this week, but a handful already have games under their belt, including a no hitter! Here’s a look as we head into the first full week of the 2026 season

The season is officially underway in high school baseball, but there won’t be a Week One Bellamy & Paving Top Ten this Monday.

While most schools will open play this week – many of them on Monday and Tuesday – a handful already have taken to the diamond in 2026, including five GMC teams and two from Somerset County. Here’s a quick peek:

GMC

• JFK (1-0): The Mustangs got things started on Friday at home with an offensive explosion against Dickinson out of Jersey City, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first and bursting out with 14 runs in the bottom of the third, en route to a 23-3 mercy-rule win. Grant Lorentzen went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored and a home run – just the second of his career – while Kerwin Reynoso knocked in four. The Mustangs worked out 15 walks in the game and stole six bases. Kennedy’s GMC slate kicks off Tuesday at Sayreville in the first of a home-and-home.
• Perth Amboy (0-1): The Panthers dropped a 14-4 decision at Teaneck Saturday, done in early on a five-run second inning and a four-run third by the Highwaymen. But it was a friendly game, as new Perth Amboy coach Anthony Apreda – in his first game with the Panthers – got to coach against his brother, Mike, for the first time. The Panthers visit St. Mary-Rutherford Monday at 5 pm before opening their GMC schedule Tuesday at South Brunswick at 4:30.
• North Plainfield (2-0): The Canucks already have two games on the board, both wins, beating a pair of Jersey City Schools: Dickinson 3-0 at home back on Wednesday in their opener, and 3-1 over Ferris at home this past Saturday. In the first of the two, Bennie Sokolowski threw five no-hit innings – a complete game in the mercy-rule win – and struck out 13. North Plainfield will be on Central Jersey Sports Radio later this month, in an Autism Awareness Challenge game against South River on Monday, April 20th at 6 pm at Krausche Field. In the second game against Ferris, Ian Lameiera got the win, allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out eleven in five innings of work. GMC play begins Monday at 4:30 at home against JP Stevens.
• South River (0-1): The Rams – who we’ll see at North Plainfield on April 20th – lost 3-2 at Princeton Saturday, as the Little Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off win. Two Princeton pitchers combined for a no-hitter, as both South River runs – one in the first and another in the fourth – were unearned. The Rams start GMC play Monday at 4 pm at North Brunswick.
• Perth Amboy Magnet (0-2): The Patriots dropped a pair against Shore Conference squads to start the season, falling 26-2 in five innings on Thursday against Henry Hudson and 9-1 Friday against Keyport, both at home. Perth Amboy Magnet will open GMC play Friday at 2 pm at Piscataway Magnet.

Somerset County

• Montgomery (1-0): The Cougars nickeled-and-dimed Warren Hills into a five-inning, mercy-rule win, 13-1, on Saturday afternoon, led by a solid mound outing from starter Jake Hayes, who allowed three hits and one earned run, while striking out seven. Michael Englert went 2-for-3 and knocked in four runs. Montgomery opens Skyland Conference play Wednesday at Hillsborough when they meet for a noon game over Spring Break.
• Gill St. Bernard’s (0-1): The Knights lost a tight one to Chatham, 2-0, Saturday afternoon, allowing a run each in the fifth and sixth innings, only one of which was earned. The teams combined for just eight hits in the game. Gill won’t play again until Saturday, when they host Montclair-Kimberley at 11 am, then open up Skyland Conference action Tuesday when the Knights visit Bernards at 4 pm.

Central Jersey Sports Radio opens up its live coverage of high school baseball with two games this week. Tuesday, it’s No. 2 and defending Somerset County Tournament champion Immaculata at No. 8 and defending Central Jersey Group 4 champion Hillsborough at 4 pm. Then, on Thursday, defending state Group 1 champion and fourth-ranked Middlesex travels to Spotswood for a 3 pm game.

Click here to listen to CJSr’s live coverage of high school baseball all season long!