Hillsborough bats against Old Bridge in the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game against Old Bridge at Fred Cole Field on June 5, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Talk about a senior exodus.
The Hillsborough baseball team that won the 2025 Central Jersey Group 5 championship as a nine-seed – knocking off top-seed Hunterdon Central in the quarterfinals in extra innings, then second-seed Old Bridge in the title game – looks very different in 2026.
Six players with at least 50 at bats have graduated, and only one pitcher who recorded a win last year returns, and Samuel Malone is likely going to be the every day catcher.
So, yes, Hillsborough head coach Matt Mosko – the Central Jersey Sports Radio Somerset County Coach of the Year last season – will have his work cut out for him trying to piece it all together. Focusing on what the certainties, though, Mosko believes he has a solid outfield – one of the strengths of the program under his tenure – and there are three senior pitchers, albeit light on experience, he’ll rely on, including Opening Day starter Shane Borer.
He’ll get the ball Tuesday when No. 8 Hillsborough entertains No. 2 Immaculata at 4 pm to get the 2026 season going, in a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel have the call, with pregame set for 3:45 pm; click here to listen.
No one in Somerset County was truly dominant last year, or even in the GMC for that matter. The Raiders were 14-11 and won a sectional title. The Spartans were 17-8, and won the Somerset County title over Ridge, which finished 21-7, the only Skyland Conference squad to crack 20 wins.
Immaculata loses a ton to graduation as well, including big hitters like Jayden Campindica, Aidan English, Collin Kassai and Jayson Labrador. The last of those, Jayson, hit .365 last season, second only to his brother, Justin Labrador, who batted .370, and is back for his senior season.
The Spartans have more proven talent back on the mound, as top starter Ryan Auten is back for one ore go-round, while Jackson Trego (3-2, 1.66 ERA) is back as well.
Click below to hear Hillsborough baseball coach Matt Mosko talk about the Raiders’ 2026 season and their opening day matchup against Immaculata with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
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