Tag: North Brunswick

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg again No. 1 in CJSR Top Ten; Somerville and Hunterdon Central join rankings

Off to a 2-0 start, Phillipsburg maintained its No. 1 ranking in the Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten for Week Two.

There was little change in this week’s rankings, which narrowed a bit. No. 10 Westfield dropped out after a loss to previously-No. 9 Watchung Hills, which moved up to sixth.

And two new teams joined the poll: Somerville (2-0) tied for tenth with Hunterdon Central (2-0). The Pioneers also received votes last week, while Hunterdon Central got its first-ever vote for the CJSR Top Ten. (CJSR’s first Top Ten came out in our inaugural season, 2020.)

No teams ended up in the Also Received Votes category, as Somerville and Central were the last two vote-getters, and both ended up in the Top Ten.

Below are the full Week Two CJSR H.S. Football Rankings:

by Mike Pavlichko

Idle Phillipsburg remains atop Big Central Media Poll, as Watchung Hills and Montgomery make inroads

Three teams who don’t open their season until this Friday night hold the top three spots in the Big Central Media Poll for Week One, while two new teams made their debut.

Watchung Hills and Montgomery made the cut in Week One after receiving votes in the preseason rankings. The Warriors are tied for eighth with Westfield, while Montgomery takes the tenth spot.

Three teams dropped out from last week (there were 11 overall in the rankings, with two teams having been tied for tenth): Colonia, Edison and North Hunterdon, all of whom lost their opening games in Week Zero.

Below are the full Week One Big Central Media Poll rankings:

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg retains top spot, Sayreville moves up, Aquinas moves into Week 1 rankings

While Phillipsburg hasn’t opened its 2023 season yet – they host Sayreville this Friday in a highly-anticipated matchup – the Stateliners remain No. 1 in the Week One Central Jersey Sports Radio rankings.

The biggest gains in Week Zero play were made by Sayreville and St. Thomas Aquinas. The previously-No. 4 Bombers were 42-21 winners on the road against No. 8 Colonia, and moved up to No. 2 this week. St. Thomas Aquinas – which also received votes last week – debuted in this week’s rankings at seven.

No. 8 St. Joseph-Metuchen dropped out, despite being idle, making room for the Trojans.

Below are the full Week One Central Jersey Sports Radio H.S. Football rankings:

by Mike Pavlichko

North Brunswick still has plenty of talent in search for elusive title

The Raiders have had household names and role players since Mike Cipot took over as head coach in 2017. They have never had a losing season. But this is the year they hope they can add one more thing to the list of successes North Brunswick football has had for the past six years: a championship.

Sure, some significant pieces may be gone, like three-year starting quarterback Frankie Garbolino, defensive back Zamir Dahud and speedster receiver Alani Ajigbotosho.

But there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. There’s another Garbolino – Jack – who remains. The junior linebacker/wide receiver is back, along with transfer Samaad Hicks who comes in from neighboring New Brunswick.

Their biggest challenge in the division may be Sayreville, which by all accounts this preseason has looked very good, followed by Edison, which is in a similar situation to North Brunswick, losing a veteran QB and some other key skill players.

But the constant in North Brunswick is head coach Mike Cipot, who seemingly continues to churn out solid seasons, despite question marks after graduation losses.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Raiders’ head coach Mike Cipot, along with players Jack Garbolino, Samaad Hicks, and Payton Wieczerzak:

by Mike Pavlichko

2023 Big Central Preview: National Silver Division

North Brunswick won the National Silver Division in 2022, but Edison beat them in a wild game in the playoffs en route to its first sectional title in 31 years. Both teams have lost significant players, but both return some key parts, too.

The Raiders and Eagles should be right there again, along with Sayreville, now under the direction of veteran coach Don Sofilkanich.

The division actually has three new coaches this year, as veteran Carteret coach Matt Yascko – who was Edison’s Offensive Coordinator for three seasons – takes over for the retiring Matt Fulham, while Steve Gluchowski comes over from an assistant role at Spotswood to helm struggling New Brunswick. Blair Wilson, in his second season at Franklin, will also try to turn the Warriors around.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko’s preview of the National Silver Division from the Big Central Conference’s inaugural Media Days:

by Mike Pavlichko

CJSR will air Big Central doubleheader in “Rumble on the Raritan” at Rutgers in September

As part of the five-game “Rumble on the Raritan” high school football showcase at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway this September, the event will feature a Big Central Conference doubleheader on its second and final day, and Central Jersey Sports Radio will be along for the ride.

The two-day slate features three games on Saturday featuring North and South Jersey teams, while the Sunday slate includes two big-school, Big Central divisional matchups, with Phillipsburg taking on Hillsborough and North Brunswick battling Sayreville.

Phillipsburg was last year’s American Silver Division champs, with Hillsborough finishing second. They’ll play at noon on Sunday, September 24th. They’ll be followed by the 3:30 game between North Brunswick and Sayreville. Those Raiders won the National Silver Division last year, with the Bombers finishing second.

This will be Hillsborough’s first trip to SHI Stadium since beating Kingsway in the South 5 Regional Championship game in 2021. P’burg’s last time at Rutgers was also a win, almost a decade ago: they beat Colonia in overtime to with the North 2, Group 4 title.

Sayreville was last on the Banks in 2016, when they beat Middletown North for the North 2, Group 4 championship. North Brunswick, meanwhile, will be playing at Rutgers for the first time in school history, according to head coach Mike Cipot.

Sayreville celebrates after winning the North 2, Group 4 title in 2016 at Rutgers University in Piscataway. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Keep an eye out on cjsportsradio.com later this summer as we announce our full broadcast schedule for our fourth season of outstanding Big Central Conference football coverage!

by Mike Pavlichko

Old Bridge finishes No. 1 in final Bellamy & Son Paving Baseball Top 10; Knights are CJSR Team of the Year

The Old Bridge baseball team reached unprecedented heights in 2023, reaching its first-ever state title game. And though they fell just a few runs short of an overall Group 4 title, the Knights – who won Central Jersey Group 4 for the first time in eight years – are the No. 1 team in the final Bellamy & Son Paving rankings, making them the Central Jersey Sports Radio Team of the Year.

Old Bridge finished 21-9 on the season, and beat North Brunswick 2-1 in the CJ4 title game, their first appearance in the finals since 2019. It was the first ring for head coach Matt Donaghue, who played for the Knights in high school under the legendary Fred Cole.

Scroll down for the full rankings.

Finishing second is St. Joseph-Metuchen (21-10), which was in the top ten during the season, but fell out in the last rankings before the state tournament started. The Falcons were the GMC Tournament champions, besting Red Division champion North Brunswick in the finals.

Ridge (25-4) finishes third in the rankings, despite the Red Devils’ being disqualified from the state tournament for a pitch count violation in their North 2, Group 4 quarterfinal game. Ridge had a successful season to that point, and still is one of the best teams in the area.

North Brunswick (21-7) comes in fourth in the final rankings, having won the Red Division in the GMC. But they fell just short in the league tournament finals, and lost to Old Bridge in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game.

Checking in at No. 5 is Rutgers Prep (14-15), which had a wild season. The Argonauts started 1-6, then won five straight to win the Somerset County Tournament, beating the top two teams in the county en route: Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals and Ridge in the finals. They also made it all the way to the Non-Public South B title game, losing on a walk-off single at St. Mary-Rutherford.

Bridgewater-Raritan (23-7) comes in sixth. The Panthers were the top-seed in the Somerset County Tournament, thanks to early wins over Ridge in-league, and Hunterdon Central out of conference.

Spotswood (21-8) had a terrific season, winning the GMC Blue Division title, and going all the way to the Central Jersey Group 2 title game, where the Chargers lost to Rumson-Fair Haven.

Woodbridge (20-6) comes in eighth, with its second straight 20-win season.

Coming in ninth is Middlesex (17-9), which made it all the way to the Central Jersey Group 2 championship game, where the Blue Jays lost to Point Pleasant Beach for the second year in a row.

In tenth is South Plainfield; the Tigers reached the GMC tournament semifinals – losint 2-1 to St. joe’s – and made the North 2, Group 3 semifinals, eliminated by Millburn in another 2-1 loss.

Below are the full, final Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten Rankings for 2023:

by Mike Pavlichko

Championship Knights! Old Bridge takes CJ4 title in thrilling 2-1 win over North Brunswick

The GMC was guaranteed at least one sectional champion Friday, with four teams playing in three championship games.

And in the most thrilling and closest of them all, top-seed Old Bridge wound up as the only winner, beating second-seed North Brunswick 2-1 Friday afternoon at Fred Cole Field to claim its first sectional title since 2015.

The Knights (20-8) now move on to host South Jersey Group 4 winner Eastern – which beat Rancocas Valley 4-0 Friday – at 5 pm, back on their home turf.

North Brunswick ends its season at 21-7.

The old sports saying “Defense wins championships” has lost some meaning in today’s sports world full of high-scoring affairs. But today on a 90-degree scorching hot summer day, Old Bridge and North Brunswick reminded sports fans of how fun pitchers duels can be.

Knights starter Justin Hascup did the majority of the heavy lifting for his team. He earned the win and pitched 5 1/3 innings, struck out two, and allowed one run on four hits, finishing his outing with only 65 pitches thrown.

The scoring started in the top of the second, when cleanup hitter Justin Batts hit a leadoff triple into the left-center field gap. Old Bridge recorded two quick outs, but designated hitter Josh Rodriguez was able to put a ball in play to shortstop and leg out an infield single, scoring Batts to give North Brunswick a 1-0 lead.

Old Bridge pitcher Justin Hascup throws against North Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game at Fred Cole Field in Old Bridge on June 2, 2023. (Photo: Dylan Allen)

Old Bridge responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the second. Mike Villani hit a leadoff double and eventually scored from third on an Alejandro Jabar wild pitch that knotted the game at one.

Neither team could break through until the fifth. That’s when Old Bridge’s Adam Scire, batting in the eighth spot, led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. He later reached second base after Justin Meyer grounded out to the pitcher. With two outs in the inning and Jabar rolling, the unexpected happened. The eventual game-winning run was scored on a dropped fly ball by Chris Rosario in Right Field that plated Scire from second, who was running on contact.

And yet, it still wasn’t over.

Things got dicey in the top of the seventh for Old Bridge when relief pitcher Justin Meyer had hit Frankie Gabolino of North Brunswick in the head with a pitch, then gave up a single to Josh Rodriguez, which advanced Gabolino to third. All of a sudden, North Brunswick had runners on the corners with one out, down a run in the final frame.

But Meyer bounced back – getting Sammy Berardo to strike out swinging. Then it came down to the nine-hole hitter EJ Accettura, who was 0-2 in the game. It was a hard-fought at bat, but in the end, it was Meyer who was victorious, getting Accettura to ground out to first for the final out of the game.

Meyer earned himself the save in 1.2 innings of work, allowing just one hit.

Click below for postgame reaction with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Dylan Allen:

Old Bridge starting pitcher Justin Hascup
Old Bridge players (from left to right) Kyle McSorley, MIke Villani and Thomas Papeo pose with their Central Jersey Group 4 championship trophy at Fred Cole Field on June 2, 2023. (Photo: Dylan Allen)
Old Bridge head coach Matt Donaghue
by Mike Pavlichko

Championship Preview: Five area public schools seek hardware in four sectional finals

Headlined by the all-GMC Red Division matchup between North Brunswick and Old Bridge in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game, five area teams will try to take home state sectional titles today, and move on to next week’s NJSIAA Group Championship rounds.

In addition to the Knights and Raiders, Spotswood will play for the Central Jersey Group 2 title, while Middlesex seeks the Central Jersey Group 1 crown, with both playing on the road. And in North 2, Group 4, Bridgewater-Raritan will play for a championship at home.

Below, you’ll find details on all the games, with times, notes, links to previous coverage, and more.

North 2, Group 4 Final:
(5) Bayonne (24-6) at (2) Bridgewater-Raritan (23-6)

When: Friday, 3 pm (LISTEN LIVE)
Where: Bridgewater-Raritan HS
Coverage: Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino will call the play-by-play

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN PREVIEW

BAYONNE PREVIEW

How they got here:

Bridgewater-Raritan: def. (15) Dickinson 20-1 in first round, def. (7) Hunterdon Central 19-8 in quarterfinals, def. (3) Woodbridge 9-8 in semifinals (8 inn.)

Bayonne: def. (12) Union 14-5 in first round, def. (13) Phillipsburg 3-2 in quarterfinals, def. (8) Westfield 14-3 in semifinals

The Panthers probably expected to meet Ridge in the North 2, Group 4 title game, as many others around the area and some around the state might have expected. But that went by the board when the Red Devils were forced to forfeit their 8-1 win over Westfield in the sectional quarterfinals due to a pitch count violation. The Panthers were a Somerset County Tournament semifinalist (they lost to eventual champ Rutgers Prep 4-3 in the semifinals) and have been solid all year, having lost back-to-back games only once. They have scored 49 runs in three state tournament games so far, and no fewer than ten runs in any of the three. The down side is, after a 20-1 opener against Dickinson, they allowed eight and nine in the next two games over Hunterdon Central and Woodbridge. Sure, those teams can hit, but apparently so can the Panthers.

Bayonne is red-hot, having won 16 of its last 18 games. They’ve scored 31 runs in the state tourney so far, and the Bees have a veteran lineup, too, with 13 seniors on the roster, including the entire likely starting lineup Friday afternoon. Consider them a deceptive five-seed.

Bridgewater’s last trip to a sectional final was more than a decade ago, in 2010, head coach Max Newill’s third season. They beat Edison in the sectional finals, but lost in the group semifinals to Randolph. That crown came two seasons after what’s believed to be the first and only other sectional finals appearance in program history, in 2008. Bridgewater-Raritan was formed by the merger of the East and West high schools in 1992.

Stat Leaders

Bridgewater-Raritan: Devin Goldberg (.395 average); Matthew Fattore (27 RBI); Matthew and Michael Fattore (3 HR); Matthew Fattore (0.37 ERA); Cory Rible (32 Ks)

Bayonne: Aidan Paradine (.449 average, 40 RBI, 7 HR); Nolan Geissler (59 Ks, 0.99 ERA)

Recent Coverage of Bridgewater-Raritan

Central Jersey Group 4 Final:
(2) North Brunswick (21-6) at (1) Old Bridge (19-8)

When: Friday, 4 pm
Where: Fred Cole Field in Old Bridge
Coverage: Dylan Allen will provide live updates on Twitter; follow him at @DylanAllen_1.

NORTH BRUNSWICK PREVIEW

OLD BRIDGE PREVIEW

How they got here:

North Brunswick: def. (15) Long Branch 10-0 in first round, def. (10) South Brunswick 5-1 in quarterfinals, def. (6) Monroe 4-3 in semifinals

Old Bridge: def. (16) West Windsor-Plainsboro North 3-0 in first round, def. West Windsor-Plainsboro South 10-0 in quarterfinals, def. (5) East Brunswick 8-0 in semifinals

Old Bridge is the only team to have beaten its six other opponents in the GMC Red at least once, and the Knights have beaten Old Bridge twice. Zack Konstantinovsky didn’t pitch in either of those games, and he’s not going to pitch today either. He went the distance in Tuesday’s semifinal win over Monroe, and hit two home runs in the process: a two-run shot to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth, and a solo homer to win it in walk-off fashion in the seventh. North Brunswick – a GMC Tournament finalist – is No. 13 in the latest statewide rankings; Old Bridge is unranked. The Knights have not yet given up a run in three state tournament games, while the Raiders have won their last two in walk-off fashion.

Old Bridge last made the CJ4 finals in 2019, losing to Manalapan, 3-2. They won the title in 2015, beating Hunterdon Central 5-3, but they lost to South 4 champ Williamstown in the statewide Group 4 semifinals, 6-4. North Brunswick has only two sectional titles in its history; its first came in 1983 – the first in any sport for the school – knocking off two-time defending champion Ridge 6-5, while the second came in 1984, via a 10-5 win over Delaware Valley.

Stat Leaders

Old Bridge: Thomas Papeo (.410 average); Kyle McSorley (27 RBI, 6 HR); Frank Papeo (7 Ks, 1.56 ERA)
North Brunswick: Zack Konstantinovsky (.474 average); Konstantinovsky, Yomar Carreras (22 RBI); Konstantinovksy, Omar Carreras (8 HR); Konstantinovsky (88 Ks, 0.56 ERA)

Recent Coverage

Old Bridge

North Brunswick

Central Jersey Group 2 Final:
(3) Spotswood (21-7) at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven (20-5)

When: Friday, 4 pm
Where: Rumson-Fair Haven Baseball Field

SPOTSWOOD PREVIEW

How they got here:

Spotswood: def. (14) Monmouth 1-0 in first round (8 inn.), def. (11) Wall 4-3 in quarterfinals (8 inn.), def. (10) Delran 5-3 in semifinals

Rumson-Fair Haven: def. (16) Nottingham 1-0 in first round, def. (8) Bordentown 7-2 in quarterfinals, def. (12) Ocean Twp. 2-1 in semifinals

Don’t count out the Chargers against a Bulldogs team that’s always in the mix, and the defending champion. They may be 42-10 over the past two seasons, but you can bet Glenny Fredrick’s group doesn’t know any of those numbers. He just wants them to play their game. Sure, they can hit, but they can also small-ball you to death and will be aggressive on the basepaths – just ask any team that’s played them over the last nearly two-decades now. Carter Cumiskey got the start Tuesday in the semis against Delran, so expect the ball to go to his older brother Casey on Friday, with Jackson Walsh available to shut the door, if needed. Spotswood’s first two wins in this year’s state tournament came on walk-offs in the eighth inning. Rumson finished second in its division to the No. 1 team in the state, Red Bank Catholic, which plays St. Joseph-Metuchen Saturday at home for the Non-Public South A title. And the Chargers have already beaten two teams in their division, Monmouth and Wall, in the playoffs. Junior Jack Riva is hitting .386 to lead the team, while Reece Moroney is hitting .373, while eight different players have hit home runs, with 14 going out overall on the season. Senior Jack Hinchliffe is expected to get the ball for Rumson, with a 1.16 ERA in 36 1/3 innings pitched, logging 46 strikeouts against just eight walks.

Spotswood is in the sectional finals for the first time since they won the Central Jersey Group 2 title in 2010, beating Governor Livingston 7-5 for the championship. That came three years after they won the state Group 1 title in 2007, with a team that just this past winter was inducted into the Spotswood Athletics Hall of fame, led by dominating pitcher Willie Beard, who also was enshrined as an individual.

Stat Leaders

Spotswood: Casey Cumiskey (.548 average, 32 RBI); Carter Cumiskey (4 HR, 72 Ks, 1.91 ERA)

Rumson-Fair Haven: Jack Riva (.386 average, 18 RBI); Reece Moroney (3 HR); Owen O’Toole (0.33 ERA); Jackson Hinchliffe (46 Ks)

Recent Coverage of Spotswood

Central Jersey Group 1 Final:
(3) Middlesex (17-8) at (1) Point Pleasant Beach (22-5)

When: Friday, 4 pm
Where: Point Pleasant Beach HS

MIDDLESEX PREVIEW

How they got here:

Middlesex: def. (14) Burlington City 8-1 in first round, def. (6) Palmyra 5-2 in quarterfinals, def. (2) Shore 7-2 in semifinals

Point Pleasant Beach: def. (16) Perth Amboy Magnet 14-0 in first round, def. (9) Bernards 10-0 in quarterfinals, def. (5) Manville 10-0 in semifinals

Amazingly, it’s Middlesex and Point Pleasant Beach back in the CJ1 finals again. This will be their fourth straight meeting in the title game, dating back to before COVID wiped out the 2020 season, with their first clash coming in 2019. The Blue Jays won that one and the 2021 matchup, all at home, but last year, Point Beach won at Mountainview Park. This will be the first time Middlesex will play the Garnet Gulls down the shore for the title in that stretch.

Aidan Kozak (.431 average) and Justin Gordon (.400) are the top two hitters on a team that’s right on the nose at .300 entering the finals, and the pop comes from Tomas Lavornia, who’s not far behind them at .390, but with four home runs to his credit. Pitching has been solid with Michael Canavesio – who didn’t throw a lot of innings last year – contributing a team-leading 43 2/3, with a 2.24 ERA and 52 strikeouts against just 12 walks. Point Beach on the other hand, is hitting .443 as a team – almost 150 points higher – and has a 2.35 team ERA. Freshman Tommy Conroy has 50 at bats and is hitting an eye-popping .560 on the season, with Colin Reingard hitting .517 with 24 RBIs and Kyle Kolans hitting .500 on the year. Daniel Lubach – another freshman – has six home runs on the year and is hitting .511 this season.

Stat Leaders

Middlesex: Aidan Kozak (.431 average); Tomas Lavornia (19 RBI, 4 HR); Aidan Kozak (1.40 ERA); Michael Canavesio (52 Ks)

Point Pleasant Beach: Tommy Conroy (.560 average); Colin Reinhard (24 RBI), Daniel Lubach (6 HR); James Larsen (1.48 ERA); Kyle Kolans (52 Ks)

by Mike Pavlichko

With pair of wins under their belt over Raiders, Old Bridge knows there’s no guarantee against North Brunswick in CJ4 title tilt

Yes, Old Bridge is the only team in the stacked GMC Red Division to beat every other team at least once.

And, yes, North Brunswick is one of the teams the Knights’ beat twice.

But you know how much that will mean Friday when top-seed Old Bridge (19-8) entertains second-seed North Brunswick (21-6) for the Central Jersey Group 4 title Friday at Fred Cole Field.

Zip. Nada. Zilch. Nothing.

But it should prove to be a classic, no matter what.

Try this on for size: After a 10-0 win in the first round over Long Branch, the Raiders have won the last two games on walk-off home runs, including a grand-slam by Justin Batts over South Brunswick, and a walk-off solo homer by Zack Konstantinovsky in the opening round.

But Old Bridge has yet to surrender a single run in three state tournament games. That includes a 3-0 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South, a 10-0 win over their South counterparts, and an 8-0 semifinal win over East Brunswick that saw an offensive explosion break open a tight game in the sixth, capped by Kyle McSorley’s bomb of a three-run home run. It was his sixth of the year on a team that has hit eight.

Like North Brunswick – which could go with Kyle Anderson or Alejandro Jabar in the final – Old Bridge has options, too, with nothing yet decided. It could be Justin “J.T.” Meyer, or it could be Justin Hascup, and some of the decision could come down to the desire to have Meyer’s glove in the outfield against a North Brunswick lineup that uses the entire yard, and then some.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Old Bridge head coach matt Donaghue about the Central Jersey Group 4 title game matchup with North Brunswick: