Photo Gallery: We stopped by the new home of the NJSIAA state baseball finals at Rutgers, and all seemed to be having a good time

Bainton Field at Rutgers, home of the 2026 NJSIAA state baseball finals. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Baseball Notebook
by Mike Pavlichko

Free parking, free admission, a day in the sun with seat-back chairs, or a chance to spread out on a blanket on the grassy hill in left field.

That pretty much summed up a beautiful (if not on the warm side) Sunday afternoon at Rutgers University’s Bainton Field in Piscataway, where the NJSIAA held its four public state championship games, just a few days after crowning the Non-Public champions on Wednesday night.

Back when this reporter was calling Rutgers baseball games on student radio station WRSU 88.7 FM in New Brunswick, the field – not yet named Bainton – was a lot different: natural grass, smaller bleachers, and an uncovered platform behind the plate on ground level for a press box.

But in recent years, the field was completely turfed, and a video board and lights were added for night baseball. And this past off-season, the bleachers were replaced and expanded, including several hundred seat-back chairs behind home plate. The press box was relocated to the top of the bleachers, with room for media, a broadcast booth, and stadium operations booth, along with additional wings on the side for press.

Those upgrades, and the central location – with easy access from Routes 287 and the Turnpike – made it a no-brainer for the NJSIAA to move the finals to Rutgers from Veterans’ Park in Hamilton, where the natural grass surface limited play after rain, parking was limited, and a curfew affected some late-running games.

Let’s call the move to Bainton a home run for the NJSIAA and the 12 teams that got to play for state championships there. (Scroll down for all the state finals results.)

Here’s a photo gallery from our visit to the opening game of the day, the Group 3 state final, in which Old Tappan beat Brick Memorial 5-0 to win its second state title in program history:

A panoramic view of Bainton Field at Rutgers, home of the 2026 NJSIAA state baseball finals. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Fans watch Old Tappan and Brick Memorial play in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
A Brick Memorial meeting on the mound during the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Brody Moore throws a pitch for Brick Memorial against Old Tappan the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Fans watch Old Tappan and Brick Memorial from the stands at the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Old Tappan players watch the state Group 3 final against Brick Memorial from the dugout at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Fans watch Brick Memorial play Old Tappan in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Old Tappan players watch the state Group 3 final against Brick Memorial from the dugout at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Caden Yoon of Old Tappan lays down a bunt against Brick Memorial in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Brick Memorial and Old Tappan play in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Brody Moore of Brick Memorial pitches against Old Tappan in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Brick Memorial hits against Old Tappan in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

A.J. Aiello of Old Tappan earns a walk against Brick Memorial in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Old Tappan hist against Brick Memorial in the state Group 3 final at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
The new video board at Rutgers’ Bainton Field. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Brick Memorial players watch from the dugout in between innings of the state Group 3 final against Old Tappan at Rutgers’ Bainton Field on June 14, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Bainton Field at Rutgers, home of the 2026 NJSIAA state baseball finals. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

NJSIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES:

Wednesday, June 10:

  • Non-Public A: Delbarton 4, St. Augustine 1 (10 inn.)
  • Non-Public B: Gloucester Catholic 11, St. Mary-Rutherford 1 (5 inn.)

Sunday, June 14:

  • Group 4: Ridgewood 7, Kingsway 6
  • Group 3: Old Tappan 5, Brick Memorial 0
  • Group 2: Ramsey 4, Governor Livingston 2
  • Group 1: Point Pleasant Beach 10, Pompton Lakes 4

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