Tag: Rutgers Prep

New Rutgers Prep boys' basketball head coach Will Abrams (Photo: @CoachWillAbrams - X)

August 19, 2026August 21, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

Rutgers Prep tabs Associate Head Coach, alum Will Abrams as new boys’ basketball coach

Rutgers Prep will have a familiar face patrolling the boys’ basketball sideline, as the school has announced a successor to former head coach Matt Bloom, who stepped down on Friday after nine years at the helm.

Will Abrams, an alum of the school and the program’s associate head coach for the last five seasons, was promoted to head coach, the school announced on social media.

He inherits a strong program that won a sectional title in 2022, and has appeared in four of the last five Somerset County Tournament finals.

“Will has earned this opportunity through five years of dedicated leadership as our top assistant,” Bloom told CJSR on Wednesday night. “He’s ready to lead a terrific group of returning players, and I can’t wait to support him as he takes the program to new heights!”

It’s a full-circle moment for Abrams, taking over the reins 20 years after his standout playing career with the Argonauts under Bloom’s predecessor, former Rutgers Prep and Franklin head coach Tony Mento.

Abrams went on to play at Division III Utica University, becoming a team captain in his final two seasons. He ended his playing career averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior.

He entered the coaching world two years after graduating, remaining with the Pioneers as an assistant in 2013. In two years on staff, he helped in all facets of the program, including day-to-day operations, scouting, recruiting, as well as game and practice preparation, while also helping guide three players into the program’s top-ten record books.

From there, he spent a year as the basketball director at USA Sports Group in New Jersey.

Abrams then got back into college coaching, spending a year as an assistant coach at Division II Felician University in North Jersey.

After that season, Abrams both returned to New Jersey and got his first Division I opportunity, joining Rutgers’ Women’s Basketball coaching staff under Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer. He first arrived in 2017 as a recruiting assistant, working in that role for two years before being promoted to Director of Player Development. In that role, his responsibilities included “coordinating the community outreach program, managing male practice squad and walk-ons, serving as the academic liaison, and assisting in scouting and game preparation.”

He moved down Easton Avenue after three years with the Scarlet Knights, joining Bloom as Rutgers Prep’s associate head coach. In his time with Bloom, Abrams helped lead the Argonauts to a sectional title in 2022 and four straight Somerset County Tournament final appearances, winning the county crown in 2023 and 2024.

Rutgers Prep is set to enter 2026 off an 18-10 campaign, making it to yet another Somerset County Tournament final, before falling in the Non-Public South A semifinal to Bishop Eustace. The Argonauts return a solid stable of veteran upperclassmen, even with the departure of star sophomore Will Brunson to Florida’s IMG Academy.

Abrams will be just the third head coach at Rutgers Prep in the last 23 years.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel talk with new Rutgers Prep Boys’ Basketball coach Will Abrams:

August 14, 2026August 14, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

Rutgers Prep boys basketball coach Matt Bloom steps down after nine years leading the Argonauts

There will be two new head coaches on the hardwood this upcoming season at Rutgers Prep.

Matt Bloom, the Argonauts’ boys basketball head coach, announced on Instagram Friday afternoon that he will step down from the position after nine years at the helm.

Bloom led Rutgers Prep to three Somerset County championships and seven finals appearances, and was named CJSR’s Boys Coach of the Year in 2022 after winning the Non-Public South A sectional championship and making the state final. A successor was not announced at the time of publishing.

His statement reads as follows:

“After much reflection, I have made the decision to resign from my position as RPS Boys Basketball Coach. This is a decision I have made thoughtfully and independently, and while it is not easy to step away from something that has meant so much to me and my family, I am confident that it is the right decision. It has been an honor to work with and advocate for our tremendous student-athletes and coaches. Some of my life’s most cherished memories have come from my time on the sidelines coaching the Argonauts. I am incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve made and am very proud of the championship program we have built over the last nine seasons. While I will no longer be coaching basketball, I am excited to continue teaching at Rutgers Prep and remain an active member of this terrific community. I look forward to continuing to support our students and the school across a multitude of activities and programs. To the student-athletes I have had the privilege to coach—thank you for trusting me and know that I will always be proud to have been your coach.“

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In all, Bloom compiled a 173-64 record during his nine-year tenure, led the Argonauts to its first sectional title in program history, and broke a long county title drought in 2020, the first of three they’d win under his guide.

A graduate of Teaneck High School, and later the University of Pennsylvania, Bloom spent all four years as a manager for the Quakers’ men’s basketball team under head coach Fran Dunphy.

He couldn’t stay away from basketball long even after graduating. Bloom spent three years on Fred Hill Jr’s staff at Rutgers, including two as the operations coordinator. He then stayed in the Division I ranks at La Salle after Hill’s dismissal, starting as a video coordinator before rising up to become the Explorers’ Director of Basketball Operations for his last three seasons in Philadelphia.

Then, when head coach Dr. John Giannini (now the AD at Rowan) left La Salle after 14 years, Bloom had to find another opportunity. That’s when he arrived at Rutgers Prep, and the rest was history.

The Argonauts went 18-10 and made it to the Somerset County Tournament final in his first year at the helm, then the semifinals in 2018-19. They finally broke through in Bloom’s third season, winning the program’s first Somerset County title since 1983.

That year, led by future Division I players Otega Oweh (Oklahoma/Kentucky), Nico Galette (Sacred Heart/Youngstown State), Trey Patterson (Villanova/Saint Peter’s/Rice) and Noah Harris (Marist), they went 27-2, won the county tournament as the top seed, and made it to the sectional final, where they lost to Wildwood Catholic.

Rutgers Prep also won back-to-back county tournaments in 2023 and 2024, giving Bloom and the Argonauts four titles in five years, when counting the sectional crown in 2022.

This past season, Rutgers Prep went 18-10, making it to yet another Somerset County Tournament final, before falling in the Non-Public South A semifinal to Bishop Eustace.

Always quick to give credit to his players, Bloom departs coaching the Argonauts, but noted in his statement he will remain in the classroom as a teacher at the school.

June 11, 2026June 12, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

Skyland Conference 2026 All-Division baseball honorees unveiled

The coaches from the Skyland Conference have unveiled their 2026 All-Division teams, honoring 139 players from across its four divisions, including the 14 Somerset County schools in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area.

Here’s the full list of players honored, by division, with teams in alphabetical order:

SKYLAND CONFERENCE – DELAWARE DIVISION

First Team

Bridgewater-Raritan: Kellan Komline (P/OF), Michael Lobosco (C)
Hillsborough: Elijah Dawes (SS)
Hunterdon Central: Dany Contillano (OF), Nick Holot (OF)
Immaculata: Luca Catanzarite (2B), Owen Schilling (C), Ryan Auten (P), Cole Raymond (P)
Ridge: Jake Dolan (CF), Kieran Callanan (SS), Casey Kucerka (C)
Watchung Hills: Robert Centamore (P/DH), Jacob Jaconski (C), Lucas Sheehan (P)

Immaculata senior Ryan Auten threw a complete-game two-hit shutout in a 6-0 win over Ridge at Diamond Nation in Flemington, NJ, on April 22, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Second Team:

Bridgewater-Raritan: Kevin Kelly (3B/P), Andrew Schmeider (OF), Nick Spirra (2B/P)
Hillsborough: Tommy Kester (OF), Gavin Glazewski (P/1B), Jon Feltre (P)
Hunterdon Central: Jack Edwards (P), Liam Goyette (P)
Immaculata: Bryson Auten (P/3B), Justin Labrador (SS)
Ridge: Sawyer Paul (1B), Dimitri Romer (P/3B)
Watchung Hills: Brady Simo (3B), Stefano DiGeronimo (SS)

Honorable Mention:

Bridgewater-Raritan: Stephen Pikulin (1B/DH)
Hillsborough: Anthony Guerrero (OF)
Hunterdon Central: Cola Jacobs (P)
Immaculata: Jackson Lewis (OF)
Ridge: Lucas Grob (2B)
Watchung Hills: Landon Pudlak (2B)

SKYLAND CONFERENCE – RARITAN DIVISION

First Team:

Franklin: Stanley Madera, Mason Bonds
Montgomery: Ian Quinn, Henry Maddox
North Hunterdon: Hunter Brown, Alex Famolari, Brooks Lunger, Graham Berry
Phillipsburg: Nick Yaccarino, Chase Passmore, Mike Bracco
Rutgers Prep: Li Perez, Alex Perez, Maddox Chu, Ethan Nepomuceno
Somerville: Justin Snow, Michael Meyers

*Rutgers Prep’s Li Perez pitches in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals against Bridgewater-Raritan in Somerset, NJ, on May 14, 2026. (Photo: Alec Crouthamel)*

Second Team:

Franklin: Dylan Shah, Shayne Rooney
Montgomery: Jake Hayes, Alex Bender, Mason Neufeld
North Hunterdon: Ty Kane, Jason Krisanda, Zach Linzer
Phillipsburg: Wyatt Garrison, Kevin Buonocole
Rutgers Prep: Peter Wheeler, Mason Cimini, Okasha Asrar
Somerville: Matty Brong, Jordan Snow, Michael Murphy

Honorable Mention:

Montgomery: Liam McDonnell
North Hunterdon: Evan Doty
Phillipsburg: Brent Ottw
Rutgers Prep: Micah Krugar-Serrano
Somerville: Dalton Carman

SKYLAND CONFERENCE – VALLEY DIVISION:

First Team:

Bernards: Casey Hoeckele, Sean Arcelay, James Ferrante
Gill St. Bernards: Gavin Bucceri, Niko West, Joey Fava, Jack Markovich, Trip Hogarty
Pingry: Langston McDonald, Aaron Wu
Voorhees: Alexander Dyevich, Matteo Tramutola
Warren Hills: Cohl Stevens, Owen Spender

*Pingry’s Zach Zaslow pitches against Montgomery at TD Bank Park on April 11, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Second Team:

Bernards: Tyce Hanratty, James Gallagher
Gill St. Bernards: Andersen Eide, Noah Schultz, Jude Walters, Steve McRae
Pingry: Andrew Crowley, Zach Zaslow, Connor Lahay
Voorhees: Dylan Vernick, Jack Schlaudecker
Warren Hills: Reece Schott, Ryan Everett

Honorable Mention:

Bernards: Alex Frankfelder
Gill St. Bernards: A.J. Kolenski
Pingry: Michael Cardona
Voorhees: Turner Toombs
Warren Hills: Kyle Kucharski

SKYLAND CONFERENCE – MOUNTAIN DIVISION

First Team:

Belvidere: Jake Ackerman, Chris Knight
Bound Brook: Aiden Boehm, Ryan Cunha
Delaware Valley: Dylan Rasimowicz, Gabriel Miller, Cooper Fransen, David Hudock, Brooks Brunner, Carter Glacken
Manville: Collin Shimp, Brandon Shimp, Evan Canica, Josh D’Ambrosio
South Hunterdon: Trevor Lingerfield, Jack Budrewicz

*Manville (in white) and Montgomery square off at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 7, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Second Team:

Belvidere: Justin Hummel, Troy Boehm, Carter Crow
Bound Brook: Gabriel Valentin, Jayden Cruz
Delaware Valley: Chris Cialone, Matt Feeney, Danny Cialone
Manville: Aidan Johnson, Ben Canuso, Bobby Petrone
South Hunterdon: Trevor Sinkus, Landon Katz, Michael Budrewicz

Note: The Mountain Division coaches did not choose any Honorable Mentions.

June 11, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

A year after joining Klinger’s staff at Rutgers Prep, Audrey Taylor takes the reigns following her friend’s retirement

“I can barely believe I’m writing this, but it’s true: I’m joining the Legendary Coach Mary Klinger’s (Rutgers Preparatory School) staff this season.”

That was the first line from a blog post on Audrey Taylor’s website on November 10th of last year. After 13 years coaching at Franklin – with some amazing teams, and players like Diamond Miller and others, who helped the Warriors win not one, but two Tournament of Champions titles and much more hardware in the process – and a year away from the high school game, Taylor was ready to get back into it, and did so by joining her friend and former rival on the bench.

Klinger had been a big influence on Taylor, who said the legendary coach “extended her hand” early in her career, something she’s never forgotten. Klinger did it again after Taylor stepped down from Franklin, but says Taylor wasn’t ready at the time.

Audrey Taylor, left, will be taking over the Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball program after Mary Klinger – right, after winning her 700th career game – announced her retirement following 42 years at the Somerset school. (Source: coachaudreytaylor.com)

A year later when they met at an event, she asked Taylor again to join her staff, and this time she accepted. And it helped lead the Argonauts to yet another Somerset County Tournament title, their 11th as a program, all under Klinger.

Now, with Klinger’s retirement after 42 years at Rutgers Prep, the school moved to immediately elevate Taylor to be the program’s next head coach.

“No one can follow in the precise footsteps that coach Klinger has left us, but we are fortunate that Audrey Taylor had accepted our invitation to be the next Varsity Coach of the Rutgers Prep Women’s Basketball Team, and she is ready for the challenge,” said Rutgers Prep Head of School Dr. Steven Loy, in an email to the school community late Wednesday afternoon.

Audrey Taylor’s Coaching Accolades at Franklin:

USA Today National Coach of the Year, 2019 (33-0)
National No. 1 Ranking, 2019 (33-0)
Back-to-Back Somerset County Tournament Champions: 2018 and 2019
Six NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 Championships: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Four NJSIAA Group 4 State Championships: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
Three Tournament of Champions berths: 2017, 2018, 2019
Tournament of Champions winners: 2017, 2019 (one of just 5 schools to win multiple titles)
Overall Record at Franklin: 138-91

June 11, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

Looking back: Mary Klinger reflects on 42 years at Rutgers Prep, as legendary coach announces her retirement

Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball coach Mary Klinger has announced her retirement after 42 years leading the Argonauts, and her assistant last season – former Franklin coach Audrey Taylor – has been named as her successor.

READ OUR FULL STORY HERE: Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball coach, AD Mary Klinger retiring after more than four decades; Audrey Taylor to lead program

We’ll have a full, one-on-one interview with Taylor later on this morning. In the meantime, Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko got to have an extensive conversation with Klinger. Click below to listen to the interview:

Rutgers Prep head coach Mary Klinger with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko

June 10, 2026June 11, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball coach, AD Mary Klinger retiring after more than four decades; Audrey Taylor to lead program

Longtime Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball coach Mary Klinger is retiring after 42 years at the Easton Avenue school.

The Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team broke the news Wednesday night on Instagram.

Assistant and friend Audrey Taylor – the former Franklin coach who won two Tournament of Champions titles there – has been named the program’s new head coach, Klinger confirmed to Central Jersey Sports Radio on Thursday morning.

INTERVIEW: Looking back: Mary Klinger reflects on 42 years at Rutgers Prep, as legendary coach announces her retirement

Klinger – then Mary Coyle – was a member of the 1982 Rutgers women’s basketball team that won the final AIAW National Championship, along with her twin sister Patty and future UConn asssistant Chris Dailey.

Soon after college, she landed at Rutgers Prep, where she amassed a 757-267 record in 42 years leading the girls’ program. She earned her 700th win in January of 2024, in an 85-42 victory over Ridge.

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A large part of that success came in the last decade or so. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Rutgers Prep was 289-50. They have won eight of the last 11 Somerset County Tournament titles, and has had eleven straight full seasons with 20 or more wins.

Klinger also sent numerous players on to play high-level college basketball, most recently and most notably Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, who also was a McDonald’s All-American.

*Then-Franklin coach Audrey Taylor and now-retired Rutgers Prep coach Mary Klinger before a December 15, 2022 game in Somerset. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Klinger’s retirement never seemed imminent, and yet it wasn’t much of a surprise either. And her successor, it turns out, was not too far away.

It will be former rival coach and good friend Audrey Taylor, whom Klinger brought on as her top assistant this past season after the departure of Michelle Sharp, who runs Team Sharp for seven- to 17-year-olds in the New Balance, UA Rise and Elite 40 Leagues.

The two showed a very good rapport last season, as the Argonauts won yet another Somerset County Tournament championship, their 12th as a program, all under Klinger.

Her programs won six NJSIAA Non-Public South B sectional titles, three state championships in Non-Public B. They made the now-defunct Tournament of Champions three times, most recently in the last TOC before the NJSIAA scrapped it in 2022. They lost in the finals that year to St. John Vianney.

More Mary Klinger accolades…

15 NJISAA (New Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association) Prep Championchips
11 Skyland Conference Divisional titles
11 Somerset County Tournament titles
Skyland Conference top pod winner, 2021 (COVID season, no SCT)
6 NJSIAA Non-Public South B championships
3 NJSIAA Non-Public Group B state championships
John Wooden Legacy Award Winner, 2023
NFHS National Coach of the Year, 2021-22
Member NJSCA Hall of Fame
Member New Jersey Sports Writers Hall of Fame
Member West Catholic (PA) High School Hall of Fame
Member Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame (part of 1982 AIAW National Championship team, inducted 1993
Selection Committee Member WBCA & McDonald’s All-American Team
McDonald’s All-American Team Head Coach, 2011
Assistant Coach USA Women’s Basketball U17 World Championship Team, 2014
Served on staff of USA Junior National Basketball Team

In an email to the Rutgers Prep community, the school said it will share plans in the coming months on how it will recognize and honor Mary Klinger’s legacy at the school.

“I know you join all of us on campus in wishing Mary, along with her husband Jimmy and son mike, the very best as she embarks on the next stages of her amazing journey,” the statement added.

June 10, 2026June 9, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

New No. 1 highlights final 2026 Bellamy & Son Paving H.S. Baseball Top Ten as Ridge takes top spot

It’s not where you start, but where you finish.

But, to be honest, the Ridge baseball team didn’t have very far to go.

The Red Devils – the only Central Jersey Sports Radio-area team to win an NJSIAA sectional title this season – finish the year at No. 1 in the final Bellamy & Son Paving High School Baseball rankings, and are the Central Jersey Sports Radio Team of the Year.

The Skyland Conference Delaware Division was a beast this year. Immaculata won the division, second-place Watchung Hills won the Somerset County Tournament, and Ridge beat the Warriors to win the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title last Friday. The Red Devils’ season came to an end, however, in dramatic fashion Monday afternoon, in an 8-7 loss to Ridgewood on a walk-off, leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. They finish the year at 19-11.

Watchung Hills (18-9) – which lost two of three to Ridge this season – finishes second. In the past week, they beat second-seed Bayonne by run-rule, 10-0 in five innings, in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals before falling to Ridge Friday in the title game.

Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament champion Monroe (15-14) comes in third. The Falcons were the tournament’s nine-seed, but beat five-seed Old Bridge to win the title two Saturdays ago in their season finale, after getting knocked out of the state tournament the day before the GMC final.

In fourth is Immaculata (22-6), which was knocked out of the state tournament in the Non-Public South A semifinals by CBA, 1-0 in eight innings. The Spartans won the Skyland Conference Delaware Division at 9-1, their lone regular season division loss coming to Watchung Hills, and they lost to the Warriors in the SCT title game as well.

At five is GMC Tournament finalist Old Bridge (21-10), which won last Wednesday in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals, 10-0 over Hightstown in five innings, but then lost in the title game, 14-1, at home to Hunterdon Central on Friday.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 finalist South Plainfield (17-12) finishes sixth. They got the the title game with a 4-2 semifinal win at top-seed Chatham last Wednesday, but fell Friday to Cranford in the final, 10-5.

GMC White Division champion Middlesex (22-6) comes in at seven. The Blue Jays fell in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals last Wednesday to Shore, 2-0 at home, preventing them from having a chance to repeat as CJ1 and state Group 1 champions.

At eight is Edison (19-8). The Eagles – beset by pitching injuries later in the season – got knocked out of the stats in the first round, and the GMC Tournament in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Monroe, but won the GMC’s top division, the GMC Red, with an 11-3 mark, finishing two full games ahead of second-place Old Bridge

Checking in ninth is St. Thomas Aquinas (14-15) – ranked for the first time this season. STA reached the finals in Non-Public North B for the second time in three years with a 7-3 road win at second-seed Rutgers Prep in the semifinals. But the third-seeded Trojans lost at top-seed St. Mary-Rutherford in the title game last Friday, 11-7.

And in tenth, it’s Rutgers Prep (17-8). The Argonauts were Skyland Conference Raritan Division Co-Champions with North Hunterdon – who they split with in the regular season – finishing 8-2 in divisional play, and were knocked out of the states in the Non-Public North B semis last Wednesday by St. Thomas Aquinas, with a 7-3 loss.

Below is the complete and final Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten for the 2026 season:

June 3, 2026June 3, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament – Non-Public North B Semifinal: (3) St. Thomas Aquinas 7, (2) Rutgers Prep 3

Nikash Patel hit a grand slam, while Louis Rizzolo hit a three-run homer and had a solid outing on the mound as third-seed St. Thomas Aquinas beat Rutgers Prep for a third straight year in the state tournament, picking up a 6-3 win over the second-seeded Argonauts. Aquinas will now visit top-seed St. Mary-Rutherford in the Non-Public North B final on Friday afternoon at 4 pm.

READ THE FULL GAME STORY HERE!

Click below to listen to Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play live from Somerset, NJ, on June 2, 2026:

June 2, 2026June 3, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

Rizzolo, Patel power St. Thomas Aquinas to 7-3 win over Rutgers Prep for third postseason year in Non-Public North B semifinals

Three straight years Louis Rizzolo got the ball against Rutgers Prep in the Non-Public North B sectional tournament.

And three straight years, the senior southpaw helped guide St. Thomas Aquinas to a playoff victory.

The third-seeded Trojans (13-14) went on the road to defeat second-seeded Rutgers Prep 7-3 in the semifinals, advancing to their second sectional final appearance in three years. The Argonauts (17-7) saw their season come to a close after another strong campaign.

Rizzolo and junior Nikash Patel applied much of the damage, with both of them going the distance on the mound and accounting for all seven runs on two homers.

Both came with runners on, as Rizzolo mashed a two-out three-run blast on the first pitch to open St. Thomas Aquinas’ scoring in the second inning, and Patel launched a grand slam to extend a one-run lead to five. The seven earned runs were the most all season for Rutgers Prep ace Li Perez, and just the second outing all year he allowed any earned runs.

The Argonauts struck first in the game, as Perez worked a shutout top half of the first to set up his offense well. Second baseman Matt Bilmes reached on an infield single and advanced on an error, before designated hitter Maddox Chu lined an RBI double to bring him home.

But the Trojans responded immediately.

Perez retired two of the first three batters, but freshman Justin Monterosso – one of four first-years in the lineup – worked a key walk on four pitches to flip the lineup card over and bring Rizzolo up in a big spot.

The senior came through, as a fast-moving fastball from Perez left the yard even faster off the bat of Rizzolo, instantly putting St. Thomas Aquinas ahead with a 3-1 lead.

Rutgers Prep brought a response of their own after that, as Bilmes scored his second run of the day on a sacrifice fly from Perez, but Rizzolo limited the damage to just a run after loading the bases, striking out first baseman Mason Cimini looking to end the trouble. Perez struck out the side and retired seven straight after allowing the home run, and it looked like the veteran-laden Argonauts were setting themselves up to get right back into the game.

But in the top of the fifth, the Trojans’ veteran power struck again.

Monterosso worked his second important walk of the afternoon, reaching to lead off the inning on a full count, and Rizzolo singled to set up another big inning. Catcher Adrian Sanchez worked a full-count walk himself to load the bases with nobody out. Then came Patel. Perez got off to a solid start, working a 1-2 count, but Patel got a breaking ball he liked and powered it the opposite way, sending the ball over the right-centerfield fence to take a commanding 7-2 lead.

Perez retired the next three batters to get out of the inning, but the damage had been done.

Argonauts catcher Ethan Nepomuceno launched a solo home run off Rizzolo to lead off the bottom half of the inning, but Rizzolo didn’t let another baserunner on in the inning, keeping the lead at four runs.

Senior reliever Peter Wheeler pitched the final two frames for Rutgers Prep, working around a hit-by-pitch to Monterosso and an intentional walk to Rizzolo to keep the score at 7-3.

Rutgers Prep had one final shot in the bottom half of the seventh. With Rizzolo up against his pitch count, he struck out Bilmes on four pitches, then shortstop Alex Perez on three. But Perez reached on a dropped third strike and wide throw from Sanchez for pitch 111.

But as the two have so many times, Patel picked up his starter, ending the game in just three pitches as Nepomuceno grounded into a 2-0, 4-6-3 double play to seal the win.

Rizzolo earned the win in 6 1/3 innings pitched, with three earned runs on six hits, with just one walk and 12 strikeouts. Perez was given the loss with seven earned runs in five innings, with five hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.

The Trojans will advance to the Non-Public North B semifinals for the second time in three years – they won it over the Argonauts in 2024 – and will face top-seeded St. Mary in Rutherford on Friday at 4 pm.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel talk with St. Thomas Aquinas senior Louis Rizzolo, junior Nikash Patel, and freshman Justin Monterosso, as well as head coach Tom D’Agostino, about the Trojans’ semifinal victory over Rutgers Prep, presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen:

June 2, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA State tournament resumes Tuesday after weekend hiatus, as three CJSR-area non-publics vie for a spot – and we have both games covered!

Last year, they met in the quarterfinals, two years ago for a sectional title in Non-Public North B.

St. Thomas Aquinas and Rutgers Prep will play for a trip back to that title game on Tuesday afternoon, while Immaculata will host Christian Brothers Academy out of Lincroft in the South B semifinals, with all three Central Jersey Sports Radio area teams looking to punch their ticket to a sectional title game.

And Central Jersey Sports Radio has you covered for all three as the state playoffs heat up.

Alec Crouthamel will be in Somerset to bring you live play-by-play of St. Thomas and Rutgers Prep (listen here), while Sean Newcomb will be reporting via Twitter on Immaculata out at Diamond Nation in Flemington. You can find game stories from both – along with postgame reaction – later in the evening at cjsportsradio.com.

Read through for capsules and links for more on Tuesday’s action, followed by Wednesday’s public semifinal schedule.

(3) St. Thomas Aquinas (13-4, 6-8 GMC Red) at (2) Rutgers Prep (17-7, 8-2 Skyland Raritan), 4:30 pm: The Trojans have ended the Argonauts’ season each of the last two years. In 2024, St. Thomas won 5-4 to claim its first sectional title in 18 years. Louis Rizzolo – one of their top pitchers now, but then just a sophomore – came on in relief to get a big out then tied the game with an RBI double as the Trojans had to come from behind for the win. STA would eventually fall to powerhouse Gloucester Catholic in the Group B final in Hamilton.

Last year, the two met in the quarterfinals – playing at Fred Cole Field in Old Bridge – with Rizzolo getting the W in a 6-1 victory over Rutgers Prep, before falling to Montclair-Kimberley in the semis.

Read Alec Crouthamel’s game preview here, including interviews with both head coaches.

Click here to listen to the game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

(5) CBA (17-8, 7-3 Shore North A) at (1) Immaculata (22-5, 9-1 Skyland Delaware), 4 pm (at Diamond Nation, Flemington): This will be the first meeting between the schools since 2015, when CBA took a 14-4 win in the semifinals of this section. But that year, the records were basically flipped. CBA went 27-5 and finished the season on a 14-game win streak, taking the Shore Conference Tournament title and the Non-Public South A and State Group A title. Immaculata was just 15-3.

The Spartans will have everyone available for this one, pitching-wise, but the question is: who will head coach Kevin Cust go with? Cole Raymond got the start Tuesday in Immaculata’s regular season finale, a 7-0 win over Rutgers Prep, and pitched very well, allowing just three hits in six innings of work, striking out eight, and not issuing a single walk. We figure Raymond goes here, with Ryan Auten penciled in for a potential title game on Thursday, where they would face the winner of Tuesday’s other semifinal between third-seed Red Bank Catholic (18-8) and second-seed St. Augustine (20-7).

The Spartans have an incredibly balanced lineup, which is hitting .313, with all but one regular hitting .281 or higher. Sophomore Luca Catanzarite is leading the pack, hitting .424 with 19 RBIs and two home runs, while senior Owen Schilling is also tearing it up. hitting .342 with 19 RBI and three home runs.

CBA has won ten straight since a May first, 4-2 loss to Ranney in the Monmouth County Tournament, which left the Colts 7-8 on the year. Luke Grbic won the opener in the first round, 9-2 over 12-seed Camden Catholic, while Danny DiTullio got the W in a 9-2 road win at fourth-seed Union Catholic on Thursday. It should be Grbic back on the mound in the semis, which would line DiDtullio up for the final, should they beat Immaculata.

The Colts also can hit, batting .336 as a team, led by junior first baseman Michael Knox among the regulars, hitting .411 with 12 RBI and two home runs. Senior Jayden Matecjicka is hitting .407 with a team best 21 RBI and three homers. And overall, they’re about as balanced as the Spartans.

Follow Sean Newcomb on Twitter for updates.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals

(4) Hightstown (18-7) at (1) Old Bridge (20-9), 5 pm
(7) Jackson Twp. (12-15) at (3) Hunterdon Central (16-13), 2:30 pm

Central Jersey Group 1 Semifinals

(5) Shore (19-8) at (1) Middlesex (22-5), 4 pm
(3) Point Pleasant Beach (16-6) at (2) Piscataway Magnet (25-3), 4 pm (Follow Alec Crouthamel on Twitter for updates)

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4