Middlesex pitcher Dominic Long (3) throws a pitch against Point Pleasant Beach in the Central Jersey Group 1 final on June 5th, 2025 (Photo: Alec Crouthamel).
No. 2 Middlesex baseball reached the mountaintop once again last season with its seventh NJSIAA state title, but the Blue Jays (14-1) are looking for more.
They had four goals in mind before the season started, already accomplishing one of them on Tuesday. Middlesex clinched the GMC White Division title in a 4-0 win over Colonia, the first of a two-game set against the Patriots.
Next up? The conference title — with the Jim Muldowney GMC Championship Tournament seeding meeting eight days away — then the sectional and state titles. With a blistering 14-1 record, each win brings the Blue Jays closer to a potential championship run.
With one goal conquered, the second game of the series comes up on Thursday afternoon for a 4 pm home game, which you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Pregame starts at 3:45 from Mountain View Park with Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel on the call; click here to listen.
Tuesday’s victory was a bit of a wild one at Colonia. Both starting pitchers, Colin Kroner and Chris Kozak, went the distance, but the Blue Jays were able to put pressure on the basepaths and make good things happen. Even some unexpected, including an RBI single from Dominic Long — Thursday’s projected starter on the bump — where a Patriot fielder collided with an umpire.
But that’s all Middlesex does. The Blue Jays stick to their approach, putting the ball in play by any means necessary, and forcing the opposition to make the plays.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the defending Group 1 champions, of course. The team is still dealing with the loss of left fielder James Matula, who passed away in November. But the friendly confines of Mountain View Park have brought the team even closer, says second-year skipper Blaze Iannetti. And since an emotional Opening Day, featuring a heartfelt pregame ceremony and dedication to the young star, the Blue Jays have found their stride on the diamond.
They’ve been able to win big, and also win the close ones. Iannetti and his coaching staff has done some shuffling of the order and positional alignments throughout the recent weeks, but the ball keeps meeting the bat, and the pitching and defense continues to shine.
Having two “bulldogs” on the bump like Kozak and Long each day certainly helps, and the respective senior and junior have only improved since last season’s state title run. Seven of the nine regular starters return from last year’s team, as well, and at about the midway point of the year, have fully taken a step forward, whether it’s newcomers stepping into new roles, or returners progressing in their same spot.
Middlesex goes for its 11th straight victory coming up against the Patriots, already with a division title in hand, but the Blue Jays are looking for more, with some more steps ahead.
Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel talk with Middlesex head coach Blaze Iannetti about the Blue Jays’ upcoming game against Colonia and their hot start to the season:
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