After a rough-and-tumble year in the Delaware Division of the Skyland Conference – one of the toughest in the state – Somerville is down into the Raritan this year, and it’s paying dividends.

Watchung Hills is still in the Raritan, and they’re having success, too.

And so, the Pioneers and Warriors will meet up Tuesday for a morning game over Spring Break with both on winning streaks. Somerville has won two straight; Watchung Hills has won three.

First pitch is set for 11 am at the Torpey Athletic Complex in Bridgewater, and you can hear it on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with pregame set for 10:45. Mike Pavlichko will be on the call; click here to listen.

Somerville is 3-1, 1-1 in the Skyland Raritan after a split with Franklin. The Pioneers are a veteran group, with several third-year starters in the lineup, including their “field general” of sorts, catcher Owen Melchione, a steadying force for the pitching staff, and the Pioneers in general.

Coach Chris Banos’ son, CJ, and Robby Wright also are third-year starters, along with expected starting pitcher Ryan Ciesla. And centerfielder Chase Koplitz has been on varsity since he was a freshman.

Such experience has been invaluable, even if the Pioneers haven’t yet heated up at the plate the way they know they can, hitting just .250 as a team despite the 3-1 overall record. Banos believes it’s a matter of time.

Watchung Hills comes in at 4-1, 3-1 in the Raritan. They split their opening series with Phillipsburg and won a crossover with Pingry before sweeping two from Franklin last week.

The Warriors scored a lot of runs in the process – 21 in two games – and are hitting .331 as a team with three home runs. They have four everyday players just tearing the cover off the ball. There’s sophomore Stefano DiGeronimo (.500) and seniors Jake Kierstad (.471, 1 HR, 8 RBIs) and Max Eder (.461), but then there’s junior Brody Griffith. All he does is get on base, hitting a whopping .692, with five runs batted in and a home run.

Senior Rob Centamore is expected to start for Watchung Hills.

Click below to hear pregame interview with both coaches: