Category: Notebook

by Mike Pavlichko

Timely hitting, pitching, send Old Bridge past No. 7 South Plainfield, 9-3, and put Knights ahead of Tigers in GMC Red

Matt Chin and Adrian Lutomski each knocked in three runs and Erich Schikschneit pitched 4 2/3 solid innings in his first start of the season Thursday, as Old Bridge got past South Plainfield, 9-3, in a GMC Red Division game at Fred Cole Field heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

It was that mix of the big hit in the right spot – including a four-run fourth where the Knights batted around – and pitching out of jams that gave the Knights the win, moving them just ahead of South Plainfield in the division with three weeks to go before the GMC Tournament seeding meeting on May 8th.

There’s a lot of baseball to be played between now and then, but in the Red, every win counts, and this one was a big one to open a two-game set between the teams that will finish in South Plainfield Tuesday afternoon.

The first inning was a prime example of getting big pitches in big spots, as South Plainfield got runners on first and third with two out before Schikschneit got a ground ball to second to end the inning.

In the bottom, Old Bridge pounced. Chris Crosta led off with a single, Brady Meyer followed, and Chin drove in his first two runs with an RBI double down the left field line for a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers got one back in the bottom of the third on a groundout to second by Aiden McCarthy, scoring Dom Massaro to make it 2-1, but Old Bridge made it 3-1 during their turn at bat on a single by Chin.

Then, the Knights broke the game pen in the fourth, when they sent nine men to the plate.

Nick Natale hit a one-out single, Michael Chiarella did the same then Lutomski doubled down the left field line – just like Chin’s – to drive in both runs and make it 5-1 Knights. After a strikeout by Ryan Bannerman, Old Bridge added two more runs with two out. Crosta made it 6-1, scoring Lutomski with a triple, and Meyer knocked him in from third with a sac fly to right, giving Old Bridge a 6-1 lead.

South Plainfield got one back in the fifth on a single by Andrew Bena, who started the game on the mound for the Tigers but was lifted with two on and two out in the bottom of the fourth. But Old Bridge added two more in the bottom of the fifth, on back-t0-back sac flies by Lutomski and Bannerman.

The Tigers added one more in the top of the sixth, when Joe Stanzione scored from third on a 6-4-3 double-play ball hit by Gabe Garcia.

But all through the game, Schikschneit faced some tough situations and got out of them, stranding nine South Plainfield baserunners. Facing first and third with two out in the third he struck out eight-hitter Alex Pigna. And the rest? He made numerous Tiger hitters miss, chasing a wicked breaking ball.

Schikschneit got the win for Old Bridge (5-3 5-3 GMC Red) to improve to 2-1, while Bena took the loss for the Tigers (5-5, 5-4), falling to 1-1.

The win moved the Knights into second in the GMC Red Division by a half game over South Plainfield, tied with Monroe, both at 5-3 in Red play.

Click below for postgame reaction from Erich Schikschneit, Matt Chin and head coach Matt Donaghue, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

As GMC Red beats each other up, Old Bridge and South Plainfield tussle in Friday matchup at Fred Cole Field

With the exception of Edison – which is playing some excellent baseball right now – the entire Red Division in the Greater Middlesex Conference has been beating itself up.

After the first-place Eagles at 7-1, the next five games are no more than one or two games over or under .500 as we near the end of Week Three of the season. And the last two teams over .500 will meet Friday afternoon at Fred Cole Field off Route Nine, as Old Bridge entertains No. 7 South Plainfield.

You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio at 4 pm, with pregame set for 3:45. Mike Pavlichko has the call, and you can listen by clicking this link.

Old Bridge (4-3) took two losses to start the season to Edison, but is 4-1 since, their lone loss coming to St. Thomas Aquinas last Thursday, 3-2. But they split the series with the Trojans, picking up an 11-10 win in eleven innings last Friday, then won by the same score in East Brunswick on Tuesday in eight.

In fact, all but the Knights’ season opener have been decided by one or two runs, and they are 3-1 in one-run games, 2-1 in extra innings.

South Plainfield (5-4) had won three straight before a 7-5 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday. It’s been a series of streaks for the Tigers, who swept St. Joseph-Metuchen 11-1 and 6-2 to open the season, but they lost their next three: two to first place Edison, with a defeat at the hands of Cranford sandwiched in between.

They then swept Woodbridge and won the opener against St. Thomas at home before dropping Thursday’s matchup in North Edison, 7-5.

And all of that is just about what you expect in the GMC Red Division: quality teams, duking it out, all week long.

Click below to hear preview interviews with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko and both coaches:

South Plainfield head coach Scott Gleichenhaus
Old Bridge head coach Matt Donaghue
by Mike Pavlichko

So far, so good for South Brunswick baseball, as Perna helps lead Vikings to 5-2 start under Urbano

There was a lot of change in the South Brunswick baseball program in the off-season, and it wasn’t just the coaching staff.

Veteran GMC skipper Lou Urbano had to change the culture. Which is all fine and good in the fall and winter, but what actually happens on the field can sometimes be a different story.

Well, the Vikings got off on the right foot, sweeping Perth Amboy in their season-opening GMC White Division series, with 13-2 and 8-6 wins. The competition got a little stiffer when they faced Sayreville next, and the two split a pair, winning the opener 1-0, but dropping the next game, 5-1.

Next up: Middlesex, the defending state Group 1 champion. They split again, winning the opener 3-2, dropping the second meeting 6-2.

Tuesday brought a visit to North 2, Group 3 runner-up Colonia. And South Brunswick handed the Patriots their first loss of the season.

So far, so good, with a 5-2 start, already topping last year’s win total.

Many have contributed to the recent resurgence of Vikings baseball, but few more than Collin Perna. A senior playing his fourth-year of varsity baseball, Perna is hitting an eye-popping .532 on the season to lead the team, while junior Jack Whitlock is hitting .500, with five runs batted in and the team’s only two home runs.

And on the mound, Perna is the ace: already 3-1, with 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings, and an ERA of just 1.34.

It’s still early, and there’s a lot of baseball to be played, but Perna and Urbano know there’s something different about this team. South Brunswick isn’t that far removed from the 2021 season, in which they went 14-10 and reached the GMC Tournament final, ultimately falling to St. Joseph-Metuchen.

South Brunswick finishes the two-game set with the Patriots at home Thursday at 4 pm before heading to North Brunswick Community Park Saturday for a 7 pm Autism Awareness Challenge game against Metuchen. Find the event’s full weekend schedule here.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with South Brunswick senior Collin Perna and head coach Lou Urbano about the Vikings’ early-season success:

by Mike Pavlichko

Growing every year, Autism Awareness Challenge is back at North Brunswick Community Park in 2026, and with (mostly) great weather

The Autism Awareness Challenge is back this year at North Brunswick Community Park – to benefit Mike Garlatti’s Teamwork Unlimited Foundation – with a full four-day slate of games.

And while some previous years have been marred by bad weather, forcing games to get rescheduled, played at high school sites, or wiped altogether, this year’s forecast looks much better, at least for the first three days of the event.

After a hot one Thursday with temps in the low 90s, Friday and Saturday will be in the 70s. Sunday, though, may not crack 60, with a 50 percent chance of showers. But Sunday is still five days away, and that forecast could change.

Here’s the full, day-by-day look at the weekend’s upcoming schedule of games,

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

Baseball

  • 4 pm – Roselle Park vs. Bound Brook
  • 4 pm – South Amboy vs. Rahway
  • 7 pm – Scotch Plains-Fanwood vs. East Brunswick
  • 7 pm – Piscataway Magnet vs. East Brunswick Magnet

Softball

  • 4 pm – Sayreville vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
  • 4 pm – East Brunswick Magnet vs. Carteret
  • 6:30 pm – Hightstown vs. Governor Livingston

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

Baseball

  • 4 pm – Voorhees vs. Middlesex
  • 4 pm – Union Catholic vs. Rutgers Prep
  • 7 pm – Spotswood vs. Somerville
  • 7 pm – Delbarton vs. Randolph

Softball

  • 4 pm – Woodbridge vs. North Brunswick
  • 4 pm – Piscataway vs. Middlesex
  • 6:30 pm – Piscataway Magnet vs. JP Stevens
  • 6:30 pm – Bound Brook vs. Colonia

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Baseball

  • 10 am – Barnegat vs. JP Stevens
  • 10 am – South Plainfield vs. Millburn
  • 1 pm – Steinert vs. Sparta
  • 1 pm – Ramapo vs. Holy Spirit
  • 4 pm – Jackson Twp. vs. Livingston
  • 4 pm – South River vs. Weehawken
  • 7 pm – Carteret vs. North Brunswick
  • 7 pm – Metuchen vs. South Brunswick

Softball

  • 10 am – East Brunswick vs. Spotswood
  • 10 am – Franklin vs. Rahway
  • 12:30 pm – South Amboy vs. South River
  • 12:30 pm – Timothy Christian vs. Perth Amboy Magnet
  • 3 pm – Linden vs. Calvary Christian
  • 3 pm – Metuchen vs. Monroe
  • 5:30 pm – Edison vs JFK
  • 5:30 pm – Perth Amboy vs. Woodbridge Academy

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

Baseball

  • 10 am – Monroe vs. Red Bank Catholic
  • 10 am – Toms River East vs. St. Joseph-Metuchen
  • 1 pm – Sayreville vs. Mainland
  • 1 pm – Gloucester Catholic vs. Governor Livingston
  • 4 pm – Notre Dame vs. Gill St. Bernard’s
  • 4 pm – Columbia vs. Edison
  • 7 pm – Old Bridge vs. Westfield
  • 7 pm – Oratory Prep vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Colonia celebrates a North 2 Group 3 sectional final win over Chatham (Photo: Nick Hart)
by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA moving Colonia boys’ basketball up to Group 4 based on new success formula

With the prevalence of charter schools live Thrive Charter and College Achieve Asbury Park in basketball, as well as public schools that draw students from outside their traditional geographical boundaries, the NJSIAA created a success formula, that moves team up in Group size for playoff qualification.

And now, Middlesex County has seen its first team be affected by the new rule, as the Colonia boys’ basketball program – which has won five straight sectional titles and six of the last seven – is moving up to Group 4. The news was announced Wednesday by the NJSIAA at its monthly meeting in Robbinsville, first reported on Twitter by Darren Cooper of Varsity Aces, and confirmed by Colonia Athletic Director Lou Grasso.

Though the official classifications won’t be out until late in 2026, right before the season starts, it’s most likely the Patriots will end up in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4. It’s a brutally difficult section that this past season included Linden, Elizabeth, Piscataway, and two-time state Group 4 champion Plainfield, which beat Montgomery for a second straight year in the state final at Rutgers.

Eight other boys’ basketball teams will move up as well, according to Varsity Aces. Moving from Group 1 to Group 2 are Thrive Charter, Shabazz, and Essex County Tech. Moving from Group 2 to 3 are Middle Twp. and Camden. Besides Colonia, gGoing from Group 3 up to Group 4 are Ramapo – which had knocked out Colonia in the Group 3 semifinals four years straight from 2022 through 2025 – and Colts Neck.

Only four girls’ basketball programs made the move: Arts (Newark) from Group 1 to 2, Manasquan and Middle Twp. from Group 2 to 3, and Cherry Hill West from Group 3 to Group 4.

The Colonia boys have been in Group 3 for years, but as part of the Woodbridge Township Board of Education – which also operates Woodbridge High School and JFK Memorial High School in Iselin – they are permitted in certain special situations, but not for athletic reasons – to take students from parts of town that would normally send high schoolers to Woodbridge or Kennedy.

In the eyes of the NJSIAA, that makes them a “non-traditional public school,” and coupled with their playoff success this year, that prompted a move up, essentially saying that their success was predicated on pulling students from other areas of town who would not normally attend Colonia.

Already, one Big Central Conference school got moved up in football, as Phillipsburg will be playing in Group 5 next year instead of Group 4. The Stateliners won North 2, Group 4 each of the past two seasons, 2025 and 2024. Prior to that, they were in Group 5, and reached the sectional finals in 2023 and 2022, losing both times.

Other football schools to move up in 2026 based on the new success formula include Glassboro moving up to Group 1, Camden and Shabazz moving up from Group 2 to Group 3, Cedar Creek moving from Group 3 to 4, and Ramapo going from Group 4 to 5 along with Phillipsburg.

The moves have no bearing on league divisions in the Big Central, GMC, or Skyland Conference, nor for conference tournaments in basketball.

The idea of the formula is to deal with public schools that can take students from beyond their normal geographical boundaries, but are not non-public schools, which can admit anyone from anywhere in the state. Charters are considered public schools, based on how they are funded and accessibility. There are also choice and tuition schools, among others, like county vo-techs, academies, and magnet schools.

The success factor awards one point for each in through the sectional semifinals of the state tournament, two for winning a sectional title, three for a state semifinal and four for a state title. Those with three or more non-resident athletes on the roster while accumulating seven or more points in basketball (six in football) move up the next season, depending on the type of school. 

According to the rules, choice schools, those that accept tutition-paying students, and those with satellite campuses for county academies must meet both criteria.  Charters, county Vo-Tech, magnet/academy schools and those with open enrollment policies only need to meet the points criteria.

Responding to an email requesting information under which category Colonia was affected, NJSIAA Chief Compliance Officer Paul Popadiuk told Central Jersey Sports Radio Wednesday evening Colonia was classified as open enrollment, “allowing students outside its geographical borders.  

That means Colonia only needed to meet the point requirement, which it did, accumulating eight points as the Patriots went all the way to the Group 3 finals for the first time in program history.

Popaduik further explained that because Woodbridge has three high schools and students are permitted to attend a school outside their zone, making Colonia an open enrollment school, the issue of residency is irrelevant; Colonia only needed to pass the point threshold.

The issue first came up three seasons ago when longtime Roselle Catholic head coach Dave Boff went down the Shore to lead College Achieve Asbury Park. That raised the profile of the tiny school, as Boff brought in major Division 1 prospects.

Traditionally, many charter schools, often small, have not achieved great success in the state tournament. But Boff’s team steamrolled through the playoffs in 2023-24, beating tiny Manville for the Central Jersey Group 1 title, and Newark Tech in the state Group 1 final.

Now, College Achieve has a “regional” and national team, with the national team not playing in the NJSIAA, while the regional squad does. But it only won six games combined the last two seasons since its inception, with the most talented players being on the national team roster.

Thrive Charter also became an issue with public school coaches for similar reasons. Manville ran into them in 2025, a year after losing to College Achieve, falling to Thrive in the Central Jersey Group 2 semis to cap a 19-9 season, one of the program’s best ever in terms of wins, and certainly its best in years.

“I am in favor of the success formula,” Manville head coach Bill Rooney told Central Jersey Sports Radio Wednesday. “I think it will help even out the non-traditional publics and allow for a competitive balance for the true public schools. I wish it would have happened a few years ago, but what are you going to do?”

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY: #4 Edison 4, St. Joseph-Metuchen 0

Monmouth-bound senior Connor Murphy threw a no-hitter, striking out 13, in a 4-0 win over St. Joseph-Metuchen in GMC Red Division action. It came seven years to the day after he tossed a no-no in the Fords Clara Barton Baseball League as a ten-year-old, a game in which he also struck out 13.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Nick Hart call all the play-by-play live from Edison High School on April 14, 2026.

by Mike Pavlichko

Edison’s Connor Murphy earns redemption with no-hitter, striking out 13, in 4-0 GMC Red Division win over St. Joseph

The last time Connor Muprhy threw a pitch against St. Joseph-Metuchen, J.P. Zayle sent it over the left field fence for a grand slam to walk off with the GMC Tournament Championship.

On Tuesday, he got some measure of revenge, with a complete-game, 13-strikeout no-hitter, in a 4-0 win for his 4th-ranked Eagles over the Falcons.

In a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, Murphy was simply masterful, mixing his fastball, change and breaking ball to keep St. Joe’s off balance. He allowed just four baserunners the entire afternoon – three on walks, one on a fielder’s choice – with two of them caught stealing by catcher Damian Calandra, the second of which erased Davis Labno to end the game.

Edison catcher Damian Calandra lets out a yell after throwing out St. Joseph’s Davis Labno trying to steal second, ending the game, a no-hitter for pitcher Connor Muprhy. (Photo: Nick Hart)

It was a stellar afternoon for the senior, one of three D1 pitchers on the Edison roster; he’s going to Monmouth, while Robert Roma and Dom Innocenti will be heading to Wagner.

After a one-two-three first without a strikeout, Muprhy struck out the side in the second, got two strikeouts each in the third and fourth, struck out the side with a walk mixed in in the fifth, then added two more strikeouts in the sixth, and one in the seventh.

Ironically, it was seven years ago to the day Murphy also threw a no-hitter, when he was 10 years old playing in the Fords Clara Barton Baseball League. And, he had 13 strikeouts in that game as well.

Meanwhile, Edison – which has gotten balanced offense the first two weeks of the season – continued in that vein Tuesday to support Murphy’s stellar performance.

All four RBIs came from the top two-thirds of the lineup, while the first two runs came from the bottom third. Seven of the nine hitters in the order all figured in at least one run, either scoring or by driving them in.

The Eagles (6-1) got on the board in the third after getting just one baserunner on in the first two innings against Paul Rao, who took the loss for St. Joe’s (2-6). Isaiah Lutz led off with a walk, then went to third on a double by Damien Calandra. Leadoff hitter Darren Tirado scored him with a sac fly to center, and after Calandra went to third on a wild pitch, and a strikeout of Robert Roma, Dom Innocenti knocked him in with a single to make it 2-0.

And, after a walk to Sam Kentos, Ray Tavarez hit a ball through the wickets of second baseman Jon Boyke, allowing Innocenti to score and make it 3-0.

The Eagles added an insurance run in the sixth, when Sam Kentos singled to lead off. He went to second on passed ball, to third on a sac bunt by Ray Tavarez, who beat it out for a hit, then scored on a sac fly by DH Brayden Roma.

Click below for postgame reaction from Edison pitcher Connor Murphy and head coach Vinnie Abene with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Nick Hart

After consecutive victories, St. Joseph-Metuchen looks to keep win streak alive against No. 4 Edison

After starting the season 0-5, St. Joseph-Metuchen got off the schneid with back-to-back victories over East Brunswick. Falcons head coach Dennis McCaffery’s response to his squad’s slow start was fairly simple: “We’ve been consistently inconsistent.” 

With two wins under its belt, St. Joes now faces a tough task ahead to extend its win streak to three games as they travel to face fourth-ranked Edison. 

Tuesday will be a rematch of the instant classic that was the 2025 GMC championship, in which the Falcons reigned victorious on a walk-off on a grand slam by the now-graduated J.P. Zayle. While St. Joe’s looks to have the same success against the Eagles this time around, its squad will look much different than that of a year ago.

You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Nick Hart calling all the action. Pregame is set for 3:45 with first pitch at 4; click here to listen.

The Falcons graduated 12 seniors from their program last year, five of whom recorded 40 or more at-bats, three of whom pitched at least 30 innings, and, of course, the player responsible for the walk-off grand slam, Zayle. 

Although seniority is a common theme for St. Joes both last year and this year, underclassmen Nicholas Yacykewych and Paul Rao have made their presence felt early. 

So far on the young season, Yacykewych leads his squad with an impressive .385 batting average in 16 plate appearances. Rao, on the other hand, has made his mark on the mound, sporting a 3.27 ERA in fifteen innings of work, while recording a team-leading 10 punchouts on the mound.  

While a three-game win streak may sound nice, McCaffery has only one thing on his mind entering Tuesday’s game. 

“We don’t really worry about any past type of success or failure,” he said. “We try and just focus on that day and the whole mindset is one pitch, one out, one inning at a time.”

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Nick Hart talk with St. Joseph-Metuchen head coach Dennis McCaffery about the Falcons’ upcoming game with Edison:

by Mike Pavlichko

Edison seeks bounceback after first loss of season when defending GMC Tourney champ St. Joseph visits in finals rematch

It’s great when you start any season 5-0, but how you rebound after that first loss – whenever it happens – may say more about your team than your first five wins combined.

That will be the mindset for the Edison baseball team Tuesday afternoon – who took their first loss of the season, 2-0, at Monroe Saturday – when the fourth-ranked Eagles entertain St. Joseph-Metuchen in a rematch of last year’s Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament championship game.

You can hear the contest live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame at 3:40 and first pitch at 4 pm with Mike Pavlichko and Nick Hart on the call. Click here to listen.

One the one hand, the Eagles would love to forget that GMC title game, but on the other hand, they also want to remember it, the feeling of unfinished business. The Falcons – which had never led in any of their three prior GMC Tournament games last year – never led in that one either.

That is, until JP Zayle hit a first pitch grand slam to left field to win the game 7-4, completing an improbable run.

That lesson will be even more important since St. Joe’s comes into Tuesday’s game at 2-5. They started the year at No. 1 in the Bellamy & Son Paving Preseason Top Ten, but promptly fell all the way out, following an 0-4 start. They took one more loss, but then swept East Brunswick in a home-and-home and now are on a two-game winning streak.

Edison head coach Vinnie Abene is a veteran. He knows St. Joe’s is better than its 2-5 record. Asked if he’s seen why or how they were “struggling,” or if they actually aren’t, and it’s just life in the stacked GMC Red Division, Abene says – very matter-of-factly – “Mike, they’re not struggling.”

Well-put. And his team will find out when they meet on the red turf Tuesday morning. And what they’ll remember? No game in the Red Division is ever over until the final out is made.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Edison head coach Vinnie Abene about the Eagles’ upcoming game with St. Joseph-Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Top four stay the same, led by Immaculata, Ridge, in Bellamy & Son Paving Week 2 baseball rankings

There was much more stability in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten for Week 2 of the high school baseball season, with the top four teams remaining right where they are. There was minimal movement below that, with Monroe rising and Watchung Hills joining the rankings after a 3-0 week, knocking out Bernards.

Immaculata (5-1) holds at No. 1 after 1 2-1 week down in Florida playing teams from around the country. The Spartans beat Riverdale Baptist (MD) 6-0 on Tuesday, fell 7-2 to Winter Park (FL) Wednesday, then beat Proctor (NY) 13-12. They’ll return this week for a Tuesday/Thursday home-and-home with Bridgewater-Raritan.

Holding in second is Ridge (7-1), which got in five games this week, and won four of them. After a 6-4 win over Randolph at home on onday, the Red Devils lost 12-7 to Hunterdon Central on Tuesday. But they rebounded to split the Delaware Division series with a 9-5 win in Flemington Thursday, followed by a 12-8 win Saturday at Warren Hills. Sunday, they beat New Providence, 11-8

Middlesex (5-1) is the top GMC team in the rankings, holding at No. 3, and the first of three straight league teams all with the same record. The Blye Jays were 15-4 winners Tuesday at Perth Amboy, then split with South Brunswick. They lost 3-2 to the Vikings at home Thursday, but came back to win on the road Saturday, 6-2.

Next is Edison (5-1), holding at four. The Eagles went to 5-0 with a 10-8 win at South Plainfield Tuesday and a 7-1 home win Thursday over Monroe, but lost 2-0 to the Falcons on Saturday to split the season series, taking their first loss of the season.

Monroe (5-1) – which is tied with Edison for first in the GMC Red Division after their split – moves up a spot to fifth. Besides their games with Edison, they finished off a two-game sweep of St. Joseph-Metuchen on Tuesday with a 4-3 win, helping them go 2-1 in the week gone by..

Colonia (5-0) also moves up a spot – to sixth – as the GMC White Division leader went 3-0 in the past week. Tuesday, the finished off a two-game sweep of JFK with a 12-2 home win, then swept two from Sayreville with a 7-1 home win Thursday and a 13-3 road win on Saturday.

Down to seventh is South Plainfield (4-3), which went 2-2 in the week gone by. After taking their first loss of the season at Edison two Saturdays ago (before the most recent rankings) they lost their next two, 9-2 to Cranford, and then 10-8 at home again to Edison. But they bounced back with a two-game sweep of Woodbridge, including a 4-3 home win Thursday and an 8-5 road win Friday.

New to the rankings this week, Watchung Hills (4-1) enters at No. 8. The Warriors had a 3-0 week, including a 9-1 win at Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday, a 7-6 walk-off win over the Panthers at home Thursday, and a 12-2 win at Roxbury on Saturday.

South Brunswick (4-2) is down a spot to nine. After a 3-0 start, the Vikings dropped their first game of the year 5-1 at Sayreville Tuesday, but rebounded with a 3-2 road win Thursday, handing Middlesex its first loss of the year. But the Blue Jays earned a split Saturday, beating South Brunswick, 6-2.

In tenth is Carteret (6-1), which dropped one spot. The Ramblers beat North Plainfield Monday 2-1, then were 5-4 winners at South River Wednesday, before taking their first loss of the season at home to the Rams, 7-2, on Thursday.

Dropping out is Bernards (3-2), which was swept 11-2 and 16-0 by Gill St. Bernard’s in a two-game home-and-home, before rebounding with a 7-3 win Saturday at home over Franklin.

Below is the complete Bellamy & Son Paving H.S. Baseball Top Ten for Week Two: