Tag: state tournament

by Mike Pavlichko

Trey Lyerly walks it off for Piscataway Magnet, 5-4 in 9, over Delaware Valley in CJ1 quarterfinals

For a group that has been tight-knit their entire careers, freshman Trey Lyerly fit right in.

And after Friday afternoon’s Central Jersey Group 2 semifinal game, he’s now officially a hero.

After a leadoff, five-pitch walk by Vincent Canavan in the bottom of the ninth, then a stolen base with Lyerly at the plate, the shortstop singled to drive him in from second with the game-winning run, setting off a wild celebration, and giving second-seed Piscataway Magenet a 5-4 win over ten-seed Delaware Valley in the Central Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals.

The Raiders’ first-round win over Henry Hudson Monday – also by a 5-4 score, and in walk-off fashion, with a four-run bottom-of-the-seventh – is believed to be their first ever, at least as far as head coach Greg Sampson has been able to figure out by combing through records and talking to former players and coaches. If that was the first, that would make this just the second.

And now, they are one win away from the title game. Next Wednesday, they’ll be in the semifinals, hosting third-seed and perennial contender Point Pleasant Beach (16-6). The Garnet Gulls have made the last five CJ1 title games, winning three straight from 2022 through 2024.

Piscataway Magnet (25-3) took a 3-0 lead in its first at bat. Canavan walked on four pitches, then Lyerly singled, and after a strikeout of Kyle Malchiodi, Colton Lyerly – Trey’s older brother, a junior – walked to load the bases. Derek Mejias then singled to center on a 1-1 pitch to score two, and a groundout by Elvis Rodriguez made it 3-0 Raiders.

Del Val would take a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth. After two singles to start the winning, a walk loaded the bases and another drove in the first run. A fielder’s choice and an error allowed two more runs to score, and the fourth came in on a passed ball.

After that, Jack Garrison came on in relief, and threw the final five innings, allowing just four hits and no runs, giving the Raiders a chance to come back.

And they did, tying the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out single by Adam Morales, driving in pinch-hitter Rodhen Santos, who walked to leadoff the inning.

Then the teams played scoreless until Magnet walked it off in the ninth.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko with Piscataway Magnet freshman Trey Lylerly and head coach Greg Sampson:

by Mike Pavlichko

Thursday NJSIAA State Tournament Roundup: Immaculata, St. Thomas Aquinas advance, while Perez K’s all 15 outs in Rutgers Prep win

There was an “immaculate inning” in the second, and it wasn’t a perfect game, but it was pretty close.

Rutgers Prep senior Li Perez allowed just one-hit and struck out 15 Pope John hitters Thursday afternoon in Non-Public North B quarterfinal action, as the second-seeded Argonauts (17-7) routed the 10th-seeded Lions 16-0 in a five-inning, ten-run rule win. All 15 outs recorded by Perez coming via strikeout. And he did it with just 59 pitches thrown.

Meanwhile, the offense pumped out its second-biggest run total of the year, one shy of the 17 Rutgers Prep scored in a 17-10 win over Union Catholic in the Autism Awareness Challenge on April 17th. Fellow senior Maddox Chu drove in five runs on a 2-for-2 day, which included a three-run homer to center in the first inning, and a two-run homer to right in the second, giving the Argos an 8-0 lead they would extend to 10-0 by the time the inning was over.

And just to make sure the ending was not in doubt, Rutgers Prep added a five-spot in the third, and one more in their final at bat, in the fourth, just for good measure.

Click here to listen to Rutgers Prep senior Li Perez talk about his 15-strikeout, one-hitter with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.

The Argonauts move on to the North B semifinals next Tuesday, where they’ll play third-seed St. Thomas Aquinas in a Skyland Conference-GMC crossover. The Trojans (13-14) were 7-0 winners over Morris Catholic (13-11) Thursday in North Edison, and Louis Rizzolo (9 Ks in 6 innings) and Nikash Patel combined for a one-hit shutout.

Aquinas opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third, and added three more in the fourth and another in the fifth. Patel stole home for the third run in the third, then drove in a run with a single in the fourth. Adrian Sanchez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

  • (1) St. Mary-Rutherford def. (8) Montclair Kimberley, 12-1 (5 inn.)
  • (5) Morristown-Beard def. (4) Newark Academy, 4-2
  • (3) St. Thomas Aquinas def. (6) Morris Catholic, 7-0
  • (2) Rutgers Prep def. (10) Pope John, 16-0 (5 inn.)

Non-Public South A:

Top-seed Immaculata (22-5) won its playoff opener Thursday, 7-0 over Paul VI of Haddonfield. The Spartans picked up a run each in the first and second off the bat of Luca Catanzerite – with a solo home run to right (his second of the year) to leadoff the bottom of the first, then a groundout in the second – before exploding for five in the third, all coming with two outs. Bryson Auten had the big blow in that inning, a three-run homer for his third of the season.

His older brother, Ryan, struck out 14, and allowed just one-hit in a complete-game shutout, to improve to 7-1 on the season.

The Spartans will host fifth-seed Christian Brothers Academy (17-8), in the first meeting between the teams in 15 years, at Diamond Nation in Flemington next Tuesday in the semifinals. CBA beat four-seed Union Catholic 9-2 in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

On the other side of the bracket, 10-seed Pingry (11-15) lost 8-0 down at second-seed St. Augustine (20-7). The Hermits did their damage early, with one in the first and three in the second, then another in the third and three more in the fourth. The Big Blue were held to three hits by Aug’s starter Alex Weingartner, who went five innings, with two other relievers combining for two innings of no-hit ball.

  • (1) Immaculata def. (8) Paul VI, 7-0
  • (5) Christian Brothers def. (4) Union Catholic, 9-2
  • (3) Red Bank Catholic def. (6) St. John Vianney, 4-1
  • (2) St. Augustine def. (10) Pingry, 8-0

UPCOMING SCHEUDLE:

Friday, May 29 (all games 4pm unless otherwise noted)

Central Jersey Group 4 Quarterfinals

  • (8) Freehold Twp. at (1) Old Bridge
  • (5) Monroe at (4) Hightstown
  • (6) Manalapan at (3) Hunterdon Central
  • (15) Franklin at (10) Hillsborough or (7) Jackson Twp.

Central Jersey Group 1 Quarterfinals

  • (4) Metuchen at (1) Middlesex
  • (5) Shore at (4) Metuchen
  • (11) Florence at (3) Point Pleasant Beach
  • (10) Delaware Valley at (2) Piscataway Magnet

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Quarterfinals

  • (8) Phillipsburg at (1) Ridge
  • (5) Bridgewater-Raritan at (4) JP Stevens
  • (6) Westfield at (3) Watchung Hills
  • (10) Woodbridge at (2) Bayonne, 4:30 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Quarterfinals

  • (9) Middletown North at (1) Chatham
  • (5) North Plainfield at (4) South Plainfield
  • (11) Summit at (3) Cranford
  • (7) Millburn at (2) North Hunterdon

Tuesday, June 3 (all games 4 pm unless otherwise noted)

Non-Public North B Semifinals

  • (5) Morristown Beard at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford
  • (3) St. Thomas Aquinas at (2) Rutgers Prep

Non-Public South A Semifinals

  • (5) Christian Brothers Academy at (1) Immaculata (at Diamond Nation, Flemington)
  • (3) Red Bank Catholic at (2) St. Augustine

by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA First Round: Franklin shocks second-seed Edison; firsts “in a while” for JP Stevens, North Plainfield, and Piscataway Magnet; GMC Finalists Old Bridge, Monroe survive

The first round of the NJSIAA state baseball playoffs had a number of intriguing matchups, but there were probably more surprises than anyone bargained for.

Starting with the top-seeds, Middlesex and Ridge rolled, but Jim Muldowney GMC Championship Tournament finalist Old Bridge – the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 4 – survived with a 1-0- win, as did their opponent in this Saturday’s county final, Monroe.

Meanwhile, second-seed Edison – still reeling from injury issues with its starters – got upset in the first round by 15-seed Franklin, 5-4, while North Plainfield won its first playoff game in 15 years, and JP Stevens won its first in seven, in its first home game since 2019 as well.

Piscataway Magnet also got its first playoff win in at least a quarter century, maybe more. (More on that later.)

Here’s a rundown of every section in which Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area teams played – although one, Hillsborough at Jackson in CJ4 was postponed to Thursday due to rain – along with the upcoming schedule for Thursday’s non-public sectional quarterfinals, and Friday’s public sectional quarters.

Central Jersey Group 4:

The big story here was second-seed Edison (19-8) going down, 5-4, to 15-seed Franklin (8-11). The Eagles came into the season with three Division 1 starting pitchers: Connor Murphy (Monmouth) and Dom Innocenti and Rob Roma (Wagner). Those last two, however, have been limited over the last month or so, with Roma limited to under 40 pitches a game most of the year and Innocenti having not pitched in a month. Ray Tavarez took the first round start, and gave up five runs – though only two were earned – and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, and took the hard-luck loss as the defense committed three errors. As big a loss as it was for the Eagles, it was a huge win for Franklin, and you can read more about that game from Alec Crouthamel, who also talked with first-year head coach Grant Neary after the game.

GMCT finalist and CJ4 top-seed Old Bridge (19-8) escaped with a 1-0 home win over 16-seed East Brunswick, taking the rubber match of three meetings this year. Chris Crosta’s single in the third inning drove in the lone run of the game. And the other of Saturday’s GMCT finalists – CJ4 fifth-seed Monroe (14-13) – also escaped with a 1-0 win, this one over 12-seed Montgomery, and on a walk-off. After a single by Tyler Bacon to start the home seventh, a sac bunt by Rob Profaci, another single from Justin Mangano, and an intentional walk to Ben Faigin loaded the bases, Alex Marcus got hit on the very next pitch, bringing home Bacon with the winning run.

Of note were the starting pitchers. Old Bridge went with Blake Dunleavy, who threw 6 2/3 innings of four-hit shutout ball. Brady Meyer finished it off, but just threw eight pitches, so he would have 110 in the tank for either Friday’s quarterfinal home game against eight-seed Freehold Twp., or Saturday’s noon GMCT title game against Monroe. The Falcons mixed it up with their two aces. Ben Faigin started and went three innings, throwing 45 pitches and striking out six. Andre Love finished it off and allowed just one hit, also striking out six, throwing just 54 pitches. That means Faigin could come back Friday – in the quarterfinals at four-seed Hightstown – or Saturday in the GMCT final, and throw 105 either day (but not both), while Love would have to rest Friday, but could come back Saturday in the GMCT title game and would have 96 pitches available.

  • (1) Old Bridge def. (16) East Brunswick, 1-0
  • (8) Freehold Twp. def. (9) South Brunswick, 4-3
  • (5) Monroe def. (12) Montgomery, 1-0
  • (4) Hightstown def. (13) Sayreville, 5-4
  • (3) Hunterdon Central def. (14) Princeton, 6-2
  • (6) Manalapan def. (11) Marlboro, 4-2
  • (10) Hillsborough at (7) Jackson Twp. (PPD to Thursday, 2 pm)
  • (15) Franklin def. (2) Edison, 5-4

Central Jersey Group 2:

Sixth-seed South River (17-10) fell before 4-0 before they could even get on the board, scoring their lone run in the bottom of the second on a Travis Maloney ground ball to third, with an error on the play allowing Noah Barrero to score. But that was all they’d get, as the Ravens scored no more than two runs in any inning, but did so in every inning but the third. The Rams were held to just three hits.

And ninth-seed Spotswood (14-13) saw its season end with a 4-1 loss at eight-seed Allentown. Brady DeStefano had a 3-for-4 day and drove in the lone run for the Chargers, who committed four errors, although only one of the four runs allowed by losing pitcher Jack Korneski was unearned.

Those were the only two CJSR-area teams in the section.

Central Jersey Group 1:

Top-seed Middlesex (21-5) rebounded from a 7-1 regular season tune-up loss to South Plainfield with a first-round laugher, scoring 21 runs in their 21st win of the season to defeat 16-seed Highland Park (5-17) by the final of 21-1. Sean Hughes led the offensive onslaught with a 4-for-5 day and four RBI and three runs scored, while Luke Jones scored four times and Lucas Blanco was 2-for-2 with three runs batted in. The Blue Jays also worked out nine walks, while senior Chris Kozak got the start and threw 50 pitches in four innings, striking out seven, walking one in a two-hit effort. The Blue Jays get eight-seed South Hunterdon (12-10) in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, fourth-seed Metuchen (19-7) advanced with a 12-2 five-inning win over 13-seed Somerset Tech (11-10). Lucas Malamung and Jon Nugent – who got the win – combined on a two-hitter in the win; Malamung gave up both runs, but they were unearned. Nugent, Sean Dereka and Mason Messina each knocked in three runs for the Bulldogs, who will host five-seed Shore Friday in the quarterfinals.

And on the other side of the bracket, two-seed Piscataway Magnet topped 15-seed Henry Hudson, 5-4, in what is believed to be its first playoff win since at least the 1990s, according to head coach Greg Sampson – who tells CJSR he’s still researching it at press time! And they almost didn’t get it, as the Raiders (24-3) trailed the Admirals (8-11) 4-1 heading into the final inning. But they got four runs in the seventh. After getting within a run, Colton Lyerly hit a sac fly to score his brother, Trey, and tie the game at 4-4. That left runners at the corners after an Elvis Rodriguez single moved Kyle Malchiodi to third, and an infield error on a grounder by Rodhen Santos brought home Malchiodi for a 5-4 win, and the first walk-off victory of the season for Piscataway Magnet, which now will host 10-seed Delaware Valley (12-8) Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals.

In other games, 12-seed Manville (9-14) was shutout at five-seed Shore, 4-0, while 14th-seed South Amboy (9-11) got walked-off in five by third-seed Point Pleasant Beach, 10-0, and sixth-seed Dunellen (18-8) lost 11-1 at home to 11-seed Florence.

  • (1) Middlesex def. (16) Highland Park, 21-1 (5 inn.)
  • (8) South Hunterdon def. (9) New Egypt, 2-1
  • (5) Shore def. (12) Manville, 4-0
  • (4) Metuchen def. (13) Somerset Tech, 12-2 (5 inn.)
  • (3) Point Pleasant Boro def. (14) South Amboy, 10-0 (5 inn.)
  • (11) Florence def. (6) Dunellen, 11-1 (7 inn.)
  • (10) Delaware Valley def. (7) Keyport, 2-0
  • (2) Piscataway Magnet def. (15) Henry Hudson, 5-4

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4:

All went to chalk here except for one game, with 10-seed Woodbridge (16-10) getting past seven-seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood (14-12) on the road, 8-5. The Barrons led 1-0 after one, but then exploded for a six-spot in the third, and held off the Raiders the rest of the way. Senior Gavin Slicner was 3-for-4 in the win, driving in three, scoring three, and hitting a blast of a home run. He now has 45 hits on the season, setting a new school record, and got his 100th career hit in the win. Nick Lukachyk also homered, hitting a solo shot. The Barrons will travel to second-seed Bayonne Friday afternoon at 4:30 for a quarterfinal game; the Bees (20-8) beat 15-seed Piscataway 5-2 in the opening round.

Top-seed Ridge (16-10) advanced with a 13-3 five-inning win over 16-seed Barringer (5-14) out of Newark. Sawyer Paul drove in a game-high three runs on a 4-for-4 day – all singles – while Casey Kucerka, Toby Nicholson and Colin Newcomb each drove in two runs. Lucas Listen went the distance, scattering six hits and three earned runs over five innings, striking out six. The Red Devils face Skyland Conference foe and eight-seed Phillipsburg (14-9) at home Friday in the quarterfinals.

Five-seed Bridgewater-Raritan – who were 6-14 just three weeks ago – now has won six of its last eight games after blitzing 12-seed Plainfield (14-5) by an 11-0 score in five innings. Starter Jack Braswell got the win, and flirted with a perfect game through 3 2/3 before giving up a two-out single in the fourth. He finished out five innings, allowing just that one hit, striking out eight, and doing it all in just 56 pitches. Read more about the Panthers’ win and hear from head coach Max Newill at the link. The Panthers will visit four-seed JP Stevens (18-8) in the quarterfinals, after the Hawks were 11-2 winners over 13-seed Ferris at home Wednesday. It was their first home playoff game in the states since they hosted Barringer in the first round in 2019, a game they won, and it was their first state playoff win since then, as well. Read more about the Hawks’ big win and hear from head coach Tyler Jackow at the link.

And third-seed and 2026 Somerset County Tournament champion Watchung Hills (16-8) also advanced, picking up a 10-0 five-inning win over Elizabeth (8-17). Landon Pudlak was 5-for-5 with a walk-off three-run homer in the fifth that ended the game with the mercy rule. He also plated runs with a walk in the third and a sac fly in the first. Rob Centamore scattered two hits and struck out nine in five innings to improve to 7-0, and the Hustlin’ Warriors will host six-seed Westfield (14-11-1) Friday in the second round.

  • (1) Ridge def. (16) Barringer, 13-3 (5 inn.)
  • (8) Phillipsburg def. (9) Columbia, 2-1
  • (5) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (12) Plainfield, 11-0 (5 inn.)
  • (4) JP Stevens def. (13) Ferris, 11-2 (5 inn.)
  • (3) Watchung Hills def. (14) Elizabeth, 10-0 (5 inn.)
  • (6) Westfield def. (11) Union, 6-3
  • (10) Woodbridge def. (7) Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 8-5
  • (3) Bayonne def. (15) Piscataway, 5-2

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3:

We’re going to get an all-Plainfield surburb quarterfinal matchup in this one Friday, as both fourth-seed South Plainfield and fifth-seed North Plainfield were the only two area teams to advance. The Tigers (15-11) blanked 13-seed JFK (18-8) by a score of 5-0, behind a complete-game, 89-pitch effort from Aiden “The Bull” McCarthy, who allowed just three hits and struck out 12. The Tigers scored in each of the first four innings – one each in the first three, two in the fourth – as Andrew Bena knocked in two runs, while Dom Massaro and McCarthy each scored twice. As for the Canucks, it was their first playoff win in 15 years, a 2-1 win over 12-seed Matawan (9-13-1). Both runs came in the fourth, and it started with Jake Zotollo getting plunked, then a single by Victor Ceda, putting runners at the corners. Ian Lamiera grounded out to short, scoring the first run of the game, and after another groundout, Victor Ceda stole home on a 2-2 pitch to make it 2-0. In the top of the seventh, the Huskies got to within 2-1 after a leadoff single, a couple of stolen bases and a groundout to third, but Bennie Sokolowski – who went the distance, allowing just two hits, fanning nine – got two strikeouts to end the game.

Elsewhere, 8th-seed Colonia (14-10) lost 5-1 at home to nine-seed Middletown North (15-10), cutting a 2-0 deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth only to see the Lions get three in the top of the seventh to take a 5-1 lead they’d hold on to. Sixth-seed Carteret (17-7) was upset at home, 9-6, by 11-seed Summit (9-15-1). And ten-seed Somerville (9-17) was beaten on the road by seven-seed Millburn (13-14), 4-1.

  • (1) Chatham def. (16) Orange, 10-0 (5 inn.)
  • (9) Middletown North def. (8) Colonia, 5-1
  • (5) North Plainfield def. (12) Matawan, 2-1
  • (4) South Plainfield def. (13) JFK, 5-0-
  • (3) Cranford def. (14) Rahway, 14-2
  • (11) Summit def. (6) Carteret, 9-6
  • (7) Millburn def. (10) Somerville, 4-1
  • (2) North Hunterdon def. (15) Payne Tech, 6-0 (Tuesday)

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1:

The only area team in this section was 11-seed Bernards and the Mountaineers (13-11) were beaten 4-1 by six-seed Lyndhurst on a four-hitter by Tyler Herman, who struck out ten and scattered four hits over seven innings.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Thursday, May 28 – Non-Public Sectional Quarterfinals (all games 4pm unless otherwise noted)

Non-Public South A

  • (8) Montclair-Kimberley at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford, 3 pm
  • (5) Morristown-Beard at (4) Newark Academy
  • (6) Morris Catholic at (3) St. Thomas Aquinas
  • (10) Pope John at (2) Rutgers Prep

Non-Public North B

  • (8) Paul VI at (1) Immaculata, 4 pm (at Diamond Nation, Flemington)
  • (5) Christian Brothers at (4) Union Catholic
  • (6) St. John Vianney at (3) Red Bank Catholic, 3 pm
  • (10) Pingry at (2) St. Augustine

Friday, May 29- Non-Public Sectional Quarterfinals (all games 4pm unless otherwise noted)

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (8) Freehold Twp. at (1) Old Bridge
  • (5) Monroe at (4) Hightstown
  • (6) Manalapan at (3) Hunterdon Central
  • (15) Franklin at (10) Hillsborough or (7) Jackson Twp.

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (4) Metuchen at (1) Middlesex
  • (5) Shore at (4) Metuchen
  • (11) Florence at (3) Point Pleasant Beach
  • (10) Delaware Valley at (2) Piscataway Magnet

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (8) Phillipsburg at (1) Ridge
  • (5) Bridgewater-Raritan at (4) JP Stevens
  • (6) Westfield at (3) Watchung Hills
  • (10) Woodbridge at (2) Bayonne, 4:30 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (9) Middletown North at (1) Chatham
  • (5) North Plainfield at (4) South Plainfield
  • (11) Summit at (3) Cranford
  • (7) Millburn at (2) North Hunterdon
by Mike Pavlichko

In first state playoff home game since 2019, JP Stevens picks up first playoff victory in same span, with 11-2 win over Ferris

In first state playoff home game since 2019, JP Stevens picks up first playoff victory in seven years, with 11-2 win over Ferris

Getting a first round state playoff game at home was one big accomplishment for JP Stevens, a program that hadn’t done so in seven years.

Well, Wednesday night, not only did the fourth-seeded Hawks open the third season with an 11-2 victory over 13th-seed Ferris in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 first round – their first playoff win since 2019 – they’ll get a chance to host a second state game at home Friday afternoon.

They’ll take on fifth-seed Bridgewater-Raritan, an 11-0 winner over 12-seed Plainfield in five innings Wednesday, at home at 4 pm this Friday.

For the previous three years, Stevens (18-8) has been in the boat Ferris (8-19) was in Wednesday: a single-digit win team, playing on the road, no one expecting them to win.

But wth eleven seniors on the club, head coach Tyler Jackow – now in his fourth season – says the program has been building to this moment during his entire tenure, with seniors that were freshman when he came over to North Edison after a season at Perth Amboy Magnet.

To wit, it was senior Nolan Overmyer who had four RBIs against the Bulldogs (who hail from Jersey City, by the way). Senior Arav Patel had three hits on the day. And senior starting pitcher Soham Prajapati went the distance, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out 13, to give him 102 on the season.

The Hawks were the higher seed Wednesday, expected to win. And everything came together as they planned and hoped.

It’s nice when that works out. One more, and they’re a win away from an appearance in the sectional finals.

Click below to hear JP Stevens head coach Tyler Jackow talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA State Tournament kicks into high gear Wednesday as public open play with 32 CJSR-area teams in action; here’s the full Wednesday schedule, plus Thursday’s non-public quarterfinal matchups:

With a full slate of baseball games on tap Wednesday across New Jersey as the NJSIAA state tournament gets underway for public schools – although a shower could pass through the area, with highs expected around 80 – there are 32 teams from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area in action.

Here’s a look at the full schedule for today for all sections with area teams participating, as well as Thursday’s non-public sectional quarterfinals. All games are at 4 pm unless otherwise noted.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 – PUBLIC FIRST ROUND

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (16) East Brunswick at (1) Old Bridge, 5 pm
  • (9) South Brunswick at (8) Freehold Twp.
  • (12) Montgomery at (5) Monroe
  • (13) Sayreville at (4) Hightstown
  • (14) Princeton at (3) Hunterdon Central
  • (11) Marlboro at (6) Manalapan, 3:45 pm
  • (10) Hillsborough at (7) Jackson Twp. (PP’D to 2 pm Thursday)
  • (15) Franklin at (2) Edison

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Holmdel at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven
  • (9) Spotswood at (8) Allentown
  • (12) Raritan at (5) Delran
  • (13) Ocean Twp. at (4) Wall
  • (14) Bordentown at (3) Johnson
  • (11) Robbinsville at (6) South River
  • (10) Manasquan at (7) Point Pleasant Boro
  • (15) Cinnaminson at (2) Governor Livingston

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (16) Highland Park at (1) Middlesex
  • (8) New Egypt at (8) South Hunterdon
  • (12) Manville at (5) Shore)
  • (13) Somerset Tech at (4) Metuchen
  • (14) South Amboy at (3) Point Pleasant Beach
  • (11) Florence at (6) Dunellen
  • (10) Delaware Valley at (7) Keyport
  • (15) Henry Hudson at (2) Piscataway Magnet

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) Barringer at (1) Ridge
  • (9) Columbia at (8) Phillipsburg
  • (12) Plainfield at (5) Bridgewater-Raritan
  • (13) Ferris at (4) JP Stevens, 4:30 pm
  • (14) Elizabeth at (3) Watchung Hills
  • (11) Union at (6) Westfield
  • (10) Woodbridge at (7) Scotch Plains-Fanwood
  • (15) Piscataway at (2) Bayonne, 4:30 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (16) Orange at (1) Chatham
  • (9) Middletown North at (8) Colonia, 3 pm
  • (12) Matawan at (5) North Plainfield
  • (13) JFK at (4) South Plainfield
  • (14) Rahway at (3) Cranford
  • (11) Summit at (6) Carteret
  • (10) Somerville at (7) Millburn
  • (2) North Hunterdon 6, (15) Payne Tech 0 (Tuesday)

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Hillside at (1) Caldwell
  • (9) Parsippany Hills at (8) Hackettstown
  • (12) Passaic Valley at (5) Rutherford
  • (13) Shabazz at (4) Madison
  • (14) Voorhees at (3) West Morris
  • (11) Bernards at (6) Lyndhurst
  • (10) Becton at (7) Mendham
  • (15) Parsippany at (2) West Essex

THURSDAY, MAY 28 – NON-PUBLIC QUARTERFINALS

Non-Public South A

  • (8) Montclair-Kimberley at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford
  • (5) Morristown-Beard at (4) Newark Academy
  • (6) Morris Catholic at (3) St. Thomas Aquinas
  • (10) Pope John at (2) Rutgers Prep

Non-Public North B

  • (8) Paul VI at (1) Immaculata (at Diamond Nation, Flemington)
  • (5) Christian Brothers at (4) Union Catholic
  • (6) St. John Vianney at (3) Red Bank Catholic
  • (10) Pingry at (2) St. Augustine
by Mike Pavlichko

State Playoff Preview: Top-seed Ridge and several other contenders open North 2 sectional action Wednesday

Hard to believe, but it’s already state tournament time in high school baseball.

The county tournaments are (mostly) done – with the GMC still to be decided this coming Saturday after rain throughout Memorial Day weekend – and everyone non-public schools began play on Tuesday afternoon.

Today, we continue a look at each and every matchup involving Central Jersey Sports Radio teams with the 13 qualifiers in three North Jersey, Section 2 sections: Groups 2, 3 and 4. You can catch our Non-Public preview, which dropped Sunday, here. And our preview of the 19 teams in the Central Jersey sections dropped Monday.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 4:

(16) Barringer (5-13) at (1) Ridge (15-9), 4 pm Wednesday: Barringer has lost nine of its last ten games – it’s only win in that stretch being a 1-0 win over Belleville in the first round of the Greater Newark Tournament – while the Red Devils are a Somerset County Tournament semifinalist who went 4-5 in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division, with four of those losses coming to the SCT champion Watchung Hills, and two more to runner-up Immaculata, both of whom are now state-ranked. This one really shouldn’t be close, but that’s why they play the games, of course. Guys like Jake Dolan (.435, 32 RBI) and Kieran Callanan (.406, 16 RBI) are killing it at the plate, but the pitching staff needs to cut down on the runs allowed. These teams have no recent history, having not played at least in the last 15 years.

(12) Plainfield (14-4) at (5) Bridgewater-Raritan (11-16), 4 pm Wednesday: Don’t let the Panthers’ record fool you. They’re in a very tough division, and even now at five games below .500 were good enough to reach the Somerset County Tournament semifinals. Plainfield, meanwhile, started the year 7-0, and has won five of six coming in. They’re hitting .325 as a team, better than BR’s .288, and have a team ERA that’s a little more than a point lower, but the Panthers play a more challenging schedule, which is why they’re seeded as high as five. Bridgewater has the parts to make a run here with still a fairly young squad. These teams also have not met in the last 15 years.

(13) Ferris (8-18) at (4) JP Stevens (17-8), 4:30 pm Wednesday: The Hawks are having a fantastic year, their first time with ten more more wins since 2021. They’ve won six of eight coming into the states, and twice beat a pretty good Carteret team this year with a similar record (17-6). They also swept North Plainfield (now 17-8) to start the year. And they’re led in hitting by two sophomores: Chase Sullivan (.415, 14 RBI) and Collin Casey (.407, 18 RBI), and have gotten some solid pitching from senior ace Soham Prajapati (7-3, 0.92 ERA), who has 89 strikeouts on the year. Ferris, meanwhile, has had an up and down year, only winning back-to-back games once, and that came last week, with wins over Hoboken and McNair. They’re hitting .291 on the year; Stevens is at .344 on the season, with a team ERA of 3.01. Ferris is giving up nearly seven earned runs a game. This is also their first meeting in the last 15 years.

(14) Elizabeth at (3) Watchung Hills, 4 pm Wednesday: This will be the first meeting between the schools since the middle of the last decade, with the Warriors earning wins in 2014 and 2013. But that won’t matter this year. Watchung Hills has two great starting pitchers, including Rob Centamore (6-0, 1.26 ERA), who got the win in the SCT semifinals last Monday over Ridge with a career-high 13 strikeouts, and Lucas Sheehan (6-2, 4.50 ERA), who became the first sophomore to earn a win in the SCT final on Friday when Hills beat top-seed Immaculata, 1-0, for the crown. Jacob Jaconski is the big hitter in the lineup, hitting .458 with 12 RBI, while Rob Centamore delivers the power, with three home runs and 18 RBI. The Minutemen have won two straight heading in, but lost eight in a row before that. The Warriors get the pitching and hitting edge in this one.

(10) Woodbridge (15-10) at (7) Scotch Plains-Fanwood (14-11), 4 pm Wednesday: Here’s another one where the records could be misleading, with Woodbridge playing in the GMC Red Division, the league’s top grouping. And the Barrons went 7-7 with that schedule, rebounding from a 1-5 start to the season to go a solid 14-5 the rest of the way. Gavin Slicner has been an absolute beast for Mike Monaco’s gritty squad, hitting .506 while driving in 29 runs and hitting eight home runs, while stealing 23 bases; the kid does it all. And of the five pitchers who have thrown over 15 innings this year, only one has an ERA over three, and that’s Kevin Arroyo at a highly-respectable 3.11 with a record of 5-2. The Barrons have the hitting and pitching to get this done, and a win would be an upset by seed only. The Raiders won the most recent meeting between the teams, 3-2, two years ago.

(15) Piscataway (11-10) at (2) Bayonne (18-8), 4:30 pm Wednesday: The Chiefs have won five straight heading int the states, most recently a 3-0 decision over Dunellen Friday to win the Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational Tournament. Sumedh Shingala got the start there and could get the ball again here in the first round. Senior Dominick Summonte (.436, 15 RBI) and junior Jason Mann (.432, 20 walks) are the top hitters for the Chiefs going up against a Bees ballclub that won ten of its first eleven games. They’re both hitting in the .280s, but the Bayonne pitchers have been stingy this year, with a team 1.96 earned run average. Whoever gets the ball should present a challenge for Piscataway, going up against a team with a legit shot to win the section.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3:

(9) Middletown North (14-10) at (8) Colonia (14-9), 3 pm Wednesday: The Patriots beat the Lions last year in the sectional quarterfinals, 5-0, behind a 16-strikeout no-hitter from senior Cory Pascarella. But starter Colin Kroner missed a good chunk of May, including the first round of the GMC Tournament, and the Patriots were eliminated in their opening game. He came back this past Saturday – after nearly three weeks on the shelf – to pitch the final inning of a 6-3 win over Dayton, giving up no hits, walking one and striking out one. How much he’ll be available in the stretch run is probably an inside secret at this point, but if not – or if not yet – they’ll have to piece it together, at least for the first round. And that’ll be a challenge against an offensively-blessed team in Middletown North.

(12) Matawan (9-12-1) at (5) North Plainfield (17-8), 4 pm Wednesday: These teams haven’t played at all in the last decade-and-a-half, so no recent history to go off of here. The Canucks have had a great season under first-year head coach Ben Donaghy, whose 17 wins are the most they’ve had in at least a couple of decades. While they’ve lost three of their last five – a combo of crossovers, the GMC tournament, and some non-conference games, they did win nine straight from mid-April through early May, and are led offensively by seniors Jake Zotollo (.438, 21 RBI, 2 HR) and Victor Ceda (.400, 20 RBI), while senior Bennie Sokolowski (7-0, 0.47 ERA) and junior Ian Lameira (5-1, 2.17 ERA) are the kind of one-two punch this kind of tournament is made for, with every other game a week apart. The Huskies, meanwhile, have given up more runs, and are hitting about 40 points lower that North Plainfield, and are coming off the rare tie, 4-4, last Wednesday at Pemberton in a state tournament tuneup.

(13) JFK (7-18) at (4) South Plainfield (14-11) , 4 pm Wednesday: The Tigers won an earlier matchup this season, back on May 7th, as Dom Massaro led an offensive onslaught, going 4-for-4 and hitting for the cycle with three RBIs in a 14-4 win. South Plainfield is coming off a 7-1 win over Middlesex today (Tuesday) and has a very balanced lineup. Hitting .296 as a team, Massaro is smoking the ball, hitting an unheard of .552 on the year, with 25 RBI and two home runs. For the defending champs – who have a chance to win it every year – we’ll see if the Tigers go with “The Bull,” ace Aiden McCarthy, or hold him to the semis and put big Andrew Bena or Jayden Jiminez in to start. Kennedy, meanwhile, was 5-4 smack dab in the middle of April, but has tumbled since, losing 14 of its last 16 games. Senior Grant Lorentzen (.470, 18 RBI) makes the offense go, and is their ace pitcher (4-4 record, but a 1.76 ERA) and this year achieved the rare milestones of reaching 200 career strikeouts as a pitcher and 100 career hits as a batter – in addition to becoming a 1,000-point scorer in basketball.

(11) Summit (8-15-1) at (6) Carteret (17-6), 4 pm Wednesday: This one could be interesting. Besides having no recent history (last 15 years), the Ramblers bounced back nicely from a late-season two-game skid – falling to Colonia and Edison by a combined 22-1 – with an 11-2 thumping of Rahway back on Friday. Carteret is hitting .318 on the year, led by Gatik Nhardwaj (.424, 14 RBI, 1 HR) and Erick Martinez (.407, 15 RBI), both seniors. Somehow, they’ve used just five pitchers all year. Summit, meanwhile, is a tough one to figure. Though they are seven games below .500, if you take out their 1-11 record in the Union County Conference’s Watchung Division, they are 7-4-1 otherwise. Problem is, they’re giving up about two unearned runs per game, and that won’t win you many.

(10) Somerville (9-16) at (7) Millburn (12-14) , 4 pm Wednesday: The only time these two teams have played in the last 15 years was last season, in the sectional quarterfinals, with the Millers taking a 1-0 win on a three-hitter from then-sophomore Leo Dalton. This year, he’s come back down to earth a bit, with his ERA up from 1.77 to 3.76, with a 2-2 record. As for the Pioneers, they’ve had a rough go the last few weeks, losing six straight after a three-game early-May win streak that included a two-game sweep of Montgomery. Senior Jordan Snow leads the way for The ‘Ville offensively, hitting .370 with ten runs batted in. Both teams are hitting around the same, with similar team ERAs around four, but Somerville has scored just 108 runs in 25 games, while Millburn has scored 148 in 26.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 2:

(11) Bernards (13-10) at (6) Lyndhurst (15-12), 4 pm Wednesday: The most recent meeting between the teams came in 2021, with the Mountaineers taking a 10-4 decision in the North 2, Group 2 first round. A first round Somerset County Tournament win over Bound Brook had given Bernards a six-game win streak, their longest of the year, but they got shutout 3-0 in the second round by Hillsborough, then lost 7-0 to Phillipsburg, and have lost four of five overall heading into this one. The Mountaineers are a light-hitting club at .245, and are led by Sean Arcelay, a junior hitting .327 with seven runs batted in. James Ferrante (.309) leads the team with three home runs. Lyndhurst, meanwhile, has won two straight, and his hitting a solid .318 as a team, led by seniors Tyler Herman (.442, 29 RBI) and Max Gonzalez (.423, 21 RBI, 2 HR), the Golden Bears’ slugging catcher. Herman also is the ace on the mound, at 5-3, with a 1.58 ERA. Expect him in the opener.

by Mike Pavlichko

Pingry is lone winner among three CJSR-area non-publics to open playoffs Tuesday; St. Joseph-Metuchen and Gill St. Bernard’s are eliminated

Of the three non-public schools from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area to begin play in the NJSIAA state tournament Tuesday afternoon, only Pinrgy came out a winner.

The Big Blue advanced in Non-Public South A first round action, while St. Joseph-Metuchen lost in the same section, and Gill St. Bernard’s was ousted in Non-Public North B.

Read through for a rundown of Tuesday’s light action – with many non-public teams getting first round byes – along with all scores, and look ahead for the upcoming schedule in the non-public brackets.

NON-PUBLIC SOUTH A

(10) Pingry 5, (7) Notre Dame 2: On paper, this looked like a winnable game for Pingry – we essentially said so in our preview Sunday – and the Big Blue certainly delivered. Tied at 1-1 after three innings, Pingry scored four times in the final three frames, and survived a threat in the bottom of the seventh.

In the top of the first, a one-out ground out by Aaron Wu scored Riley Wong, who’d led off the game by reaching on an error. But The Irish got it back in the bottom of the third when Tommy Swietek grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate a run and tie the game at one.

Pingry took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a sac fly by Shane Varenckas, scoring Zach Zaslow. Then, they went ahead 3-1 in the sixth on a Langston McDonald double to centerfield, bringing home Wu from first.

Then, they got some insurance in the top of the seventh, when three straight batters reached via error. Varneckas hit a ground ball to first that got booted. Pinch hitter Vivaan Gandhi reached on an error by the shortstop, and Wong reached on an error by the third baseman. After Andrew Crowley struck out, Wu hit a ground ball to shortstop that resulted in another error and brought in Wong and Ghandi to make it 5-1.

Notre Dame would threaten in the home half, getting a single, ground out and single before Swietek drove in another run with a single, but reliever Michael Cardona got a fly out and pop out for the final two outs of the game to seal the deal.

Starter Zach Zaslow got the win, scattering eight hits over five innings, striking out three and walking just one.

Next up, the Big Blue visit second-seed St. Augustine (19-7) at 4 pm Thursday in the sectional quarterfinals.

Click below to hear Pingry head coach Anthony Feltre talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

(6) St. John Vianney 10, (11) St. Joseph-Metuchen 7: The Lancers built up a 4-0 lead over the first three innings before the Falcons got two in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Walter Christian and a passed ball that allowed John Boyke to score. But St. John Vianney got five back in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-2 lead.

St. Joe’s would chip away, though. They got one in the fifth on a sac fly by Luke Baranauskas, but give it right back in the bottom on a home run and trailed 10-3 heading into the sixth. Nick Yacykewych then hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the sixth to get it back to 10-5, then scored two more to cut it to 10-7 in the seventh, on a Boyke two-RBI double. But that was as close as they get.

St. Joseph finishes its season at 6-17.

Other results…

  • (8) Paul 6 4, (9) Donovan Catholic 1
  • (5) Christian Brothers 8, (12) Camden Catholic 1

NON-PUBLIC NORTH B

(10) Pope John 4, (7) Gill St. Bernard’s 1: The Lions scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to keep the Knights at bay in pulling off the upset. Pope John got a run in the first and another in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead before Gill scored in the bottom of the inning on a Niko West leadoff home run to left. But that was all they would get, as Pope John’s Patrick Black went 6 2/3, allowing just five hits, striking out eleven. And they added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a single and a sac fly.

Joey Fava started for Gill St. Bernard’s and allowed just three hits and two unearned runs through five innings of work, striking out six. West pitched the final two innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits, as the Knights’ season ends at 9-12.

Other scores…

  • (8) Montclair-Kimberley 5, (9) Hawthorne Christian/Eastern Christian Co-Op 1

UPCOMING NON-PUBLIC SCHEDULE:

Thursday, May 27

Non-Public South A:
(8) Montclair-Kimberley at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford
(5) Morristown-Beard at (4) Newark Academy
(6) Morris Catholic at (3) St. Thomas Aquinas
(10) Pope John at (2) Rutgers Prep, 4 pm

Non-Public North B:
(8) Paul VI at (1) Immaculata (at Diamond Nation, Flemington)
(5) Christian Brothers at (4) Union Catholic
(6) St. John Vianney at (3) Red Bank Catholic
(10) Pingry at (2) St. Augustine, 4 pm

by Mike Pavlichko

State Tournament Schedule: Here’s how the final few weeks of the high school baseball season in New Jersey will play out

Sure, the Greater Middlesex Conference hasn’t crowned its postseason tournament champion yet, beset by rain all Memorial Day weekend, but it’s time for the NJSIAA State Tournament.

The third season begins today across New Jersey with non-public first round games, while public schools start tomorrow, on Wednesday.

Here’s the schedule for the next three weeks, all the way through the state championship games, which will be held at Rutgers University’s Bainton Field in Piscataway this year.

Non-Public Sectionals (all games at higher seeds):

  • Tuesday, May 26: First Round
  • Thursday, May 28: Quarterfinals
  • Tuesday, June 2: Semifinals
  • Thursday, June 4: Finals

Public Sectionals (all games at higher seeds):

  • Wednesday, May 27: First Round
  • Friday, May 29: Quarterfinals
  • Wednesday, June 3: Semifinals
  • Friday, May 5: Finals

State Tournament:

  • Monday, June 8: Public State Semifinals (hosted by the higher power point team, all at 4 pm)
  • Wednesday, June 10: Non-Public State Finals (at Bainton Field, Rutgers)
  • Sunday, June 14: Non-Public State Finals (at Bainton Field, Rutgers)
by Mike Pavlichko

State Playoff Preview: Top-seeds Old Bridge, Middlesex among 19 area teams opening state tourney play in Central Jersey sections

Hard to believe, but it’s already state tournament time in high school baseball.

The county tournaments are (mostly) done – with the GMC still to be decided this coming Saturday after rain throughout Memorial Day weekend – and everyone is set to begin sectional play in the NJSIAA tournament.

Today, we continue a look at each and every matchup involving Central Jersey Sports Radio teams with the 19 qualifiers in three Central Jersey sections, Groups 1, 2 and 4. You can catch our Non-Public preview, which dropped Sunday, here. Previews for North Jersey, Section 2, Groups 2, 3 and 4 will drop on Tuesday.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4:

(16) East Brunswick (7-15) at (1) Old Bridge (18-8), 5 pm Wednesday: Throw out the records; no game is an easy one when it’s a pair of GMC Red Division teams going at it, as they are in this one. While the Bears were just 5-9 in the division this year, these two teams split a pair, with Old Bridge winning the opener of their two-game set, 11-10 on April 14th, but the Bears coming back for a 10-4 win on April 27th. But since then, Old Bridge – which was just 6-7 after that loss, has reeled off 12 wins in its last 13 games, and ten straight since a 9-0 loss to Immaculata on May 2. And East Brunswick has been going the opposite direction during that span. Prior to an 8-5 win at Hamilton West Friday, the Bears had lost eight in a row. The Knights have made deep runs here the last few years, falling to Hillsborough in the title game last year, to Monroe in the semis in 2024, and winning the title in 2023, going all the way to the state Group 4 final, eventually falling to Ridgewood. It’ll be interesting to watch who gets the start here, and – if they win – in Friday’s quarterfinals, with the GMC title game against Monroe looming Saturday afternoon.

(9) South Brunswick (12-11) at (8) Freehold Twp (13-12), 4 pm Wednesday: The Vikings are having a solid bounceback year under first-year but veteran head coach Lou Urbano, and will play the Patriots in the first round for the second time in three years; they beat Freehold Twp. 1-0 in 2024. Senior Collin Perna has been solid all year, 7-3 with a 1.69 ERA and 65 strikeouts on the season, while he also leads the team on offense, hitting .485 with 14 RBIs and a home run. Junior Jack Whitlock also is tearing rhe cover off the ball, hitting .451. The Patriots are a lighter-hitting team, batting just .238 as a group, but they’ve only scored 15 fewer runs (130 to 115) than the Vikings. There are no common opponents between the two this season.

(12) Montgomery (9-17) at (5) Monroe (13-13), 4 pm Wednesday: This will be the first meeting between the teams since 2017, and with only two since 2011, the teams split them. So there’s not much recent history to look at here. The Falcons started hot (4-0), then had a few rough patches during the season, but with three wins in the GMC Championship Tournament, they’ve won five of their last six – and still have the final this Friday. Much like Old Bridge, it’ll be interesting to see who Monroe throws here, and who they save for Saturday, if anyone. Top starter Ben Faigin – a Rutgers commit – also is the leading Falcon hitter, at .507 with 17 RBIs and two of the team’s three home runs. The Cougars come in on a six-game skid, with their last win coming via an 11-4 score over Gill St. Bernard’s in the SCT’s second round on May 11. As the lower seed and underdog, they are more likely to go with their best pitcher in this one, most likely senior Jake Hayes, who’s 4-3 with a 3.08 ERA.

(13) Sayreville (11-14) at (4) Hightstown (16-7), 4 pm Wednesday: These two have only played once int he last 15 years: two seasons ago, when the Bombers beat Hightstown, 4-3, in the opening round of the playoffs. Sayreville has lost two straight coming in, dropping an 8-4 decision at Woodbridge back on Wednesday, and taking a 9-8 loss at Old Bridge Friday on the Knights’ senior night, while the Rams have dropped two of their last three. Sayreville will have to deal with a potent lineup hitting .337 on the year, almost 100 points higher than the Bombers, who are led by junior Will Lukie hitting .333, the only player with more than ten at bats hitting over the .300 mark. Meanwhile, Hightstown junior Brian Drews is hitting .421 with 20 RBI, while senior Dylan Stables is hitting .405 with a team-best 28 runs batted in. The question is, will the Rams throw their best arm – senior Anthony Benitez at 6-2, with a 0.68 ERA – or hold him for the quarterfinals to line him up for a possible finals appearance?

(10) Hillsborough (11-10) at (7) Jackson (10-15), POSTPONED to 2 pm Thursday: The Jaguars are the higher seed here, but are five games under .500. In fact, they were just 6-15 two weeks ago, winning three straight before the cutoff to make a run in the standings in Central 4, and have won four straight overall. The Raiders, meanwhile, have won five of their last six, and two straight following a quarterfinal exit in the Somerset County Tournament at the hands of Ridge. This being the first year of the merged Jackson Twp. High School, the two have never met as currently constituted, but Hillsborough lost to Jackson Memorial in the CJ4 quarters in 2015. The Raiders are led offensively by Elijah Dawes (.393, 17 RBI) and Gavin Glazewski (.315, 12 RBI). Matt Mosko has a few options to start this one as Hillsborough looks to defend its sectional title from a year ago. The last team to repeat was Hunterdon Central, winning three straight from 2016 through 2018. Jackson has three players hitting close to .400 on the year, but they’ve allowed more runs than ‘Boro, which plays in a tremendously difficult division – the Skyland Delaware – where runs are a plenty, so much so that last-place Bridgewater-Raritan has scored more runs than anyone else in the group.

(15) Franklin (7-11) at (2) Edison (19-7), 4 pm Wednesday: The only meeting between these two in the last 15 years came last season, a 4-2 Edison win in the CJ4 quarterfinals, with Dom Innocenti getting the win in relief of Connor Muprhy. And while Murphy has been outstanding all year long, Innocenti has not pitched since April 23rd, and Roma – who had not thrown more than 44 pitches or three innings in a game since the season opener on March 31 – got shelled for three hits (a single and two doubles), allowing two earned runs in facing just four batters in what turned out to be a 9-1 loss in the GMC Tournament quarterfinals to Monroe, which will play for the championship this weekend. Can Roma – who has been banged up – go again? Or will the Eagles have to rely on Murphy in Game One and piece it together with the rest of the staff in the quarterfinals – or vice versa, considering Edison should be a heavy favorite? Though hitting a respectable .288, our of Edison’s seven losses, three have been shutouts, and they only scored one run in a fourth. So, regardless who pitches the opener, the bats will need to take care of their end of the bargain, too. The Warriors, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five, the only win in that stretch an 11-6 victory last Saturday over Pingry. They have a team ERA a shade over five, but also are a better-hitting team than Edison, at .325, led by freshman Mason Bonds (.426, 17 RBI, 1 HR) and junior Dyland Roche (.423, 8 RBI, 1 HR).

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2:

(9) Spotswood (14-12) at (8) Allentown (18-8), 4 pm Wednesday: It’s been an up-and-down season for the Chargers, who started the season 0-4, then had a four-game win streak in mid-April. But they head into the state tournament as winners of five of their last six games, the only defeat coming in the first round of the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament, a 3-0 loss to Metuchen. Here, they get Allentown, which has won 12 of its last 14 since a three-game losing streak in the middle of April. The Chargers are led offensively by senior Gavin romeo, hitting .324 with 14 runs batted in, but overall, Spotswood his hitting just .233, while the Redbirds are hitting .312 and have a solid pitching staff with a 2.52 earned run average, and four on the staff who’ve thrown at least 20 innings with an ERA under three. This is quite the challenge for Spotswood in an 8/9 game.

(11) Robbinsville (17-7) at (6) South River (17-9), 4 pm Wednesday: These two haven’t met in at least the last 15 years, so there’s no recent history between the clubs. The Rams stumbled a little after a first round loss to Middlesex, 12-2, in the GMC Tournament, dropping their next three straight to South Brunswick, Spotswood and Sayreville, before beating Monmouth last Thursday in a tune-up, 8-4. But overall, they’ve been good, and it’s a new season. Mike Lepore, Jr., has two solid starters he can go with here – and in the quarters, if they get there – in Julien Borusovic (5-4, 2.21 ERA) and Hunter Krainski (5-2, 2.55 ERA). And the two are among the team’s best hitters, too, with Burusevic hitting .397 with 24 RBIs and Krainski .403 with 26 RBIs and 2 HR. The Ravens are hitting about .50 points better as a team, .333, led by senior Tyler Bunnell (.456, 21 RBI), who is committed to Pitt, and also the all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball history at Robbinsville.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1:

(16) Highland Park (5-16) at (1) Middlesex (20-4), 4 pm Wednesday: While we don’t pick games, this one should go to the Blue Jays, who have been tremendous all year, and are the defending Group 1 state champions, with a ton of players back, most importantly their two ace starters, Dominic Long and Chris Kozak. Whoever second-year head coach Blaze Iannetti goes with, just take your pick: They are a combined 12-2, with Long pitching to a 1.87 ERA and Kozak to a 1.13 ERA. Inf act, of the six pitchers who have seen action this year, none has an ERA over 2.94 (sophomore Devin Jackson, in 16 2/3 innings pitched over six appearances). They’re hitting .303 as a team, and do all the small things right. The Owls, meanwhile, have lost eleven of their last dozen games, and six straight overall, which include three shutouts, and a pair of 5-1 losses.

(12) Manville (0-13) at (5) Shore (17-8), 4 pm Wednesday: The Blue Devils are always one of those really tough, battle-tested Shore Conference teams, but they have bookended their season so far with losses. They started 0-4 and have lost three straight heading into the states, which makes them 17-1 in the stretch in between. Shore has won the last three in the series, but those were in 2018, 2021 and 2022 and have little bearing here. The Mustangs also have lost three straight coming in, to Morris Tech, at Lenape Valley and at JP Stevens. Seniors Brandon Shimp and Josh D’Ambrosio each pace the offense, hitting .338, but the lineup is a bit top-heavy, batting .260 overall, though Shore isn’t much higher, at .288 on the season. Manville, however, has scored more runs, and in fewer games. Shore has a slight edge in the pitching department overall, though Manville has two – Shimp and fellow senior Evan Canica – who’ve thrown well over 40 innings, and have ERAs of 1.04 and 1.84, respectively. If the bats can take care of business, the Mustangs might be primed to pull an upset.

(13) Somerset Tech (11-9) at (4) Metuchen (18-7), 4 pm Wednesday: This may very well be their first meeting ever, but at least since 2011; Tech only joined the GMC in the last few years. The Bulldogs are the second-place team in the White Division, but come in off a loss to Gold Division champion Piscataway Magnet, which is having a program season for the ages at 23-3. And Metuchen hung in with South Plainfield in a 7-6 loss in the GMC Tournament quarterfinals; the Bulldogs have wins in 14 of their last 17 games after starting the year 4-4. With three solid pitchers in Matt Jelleme and Lucas Malamung (seniors) and sophomore James Fenton, Metuchen has the arms for a run, and his hitting .313 as a team as well, led by Jelleme at .429, with 14 RBIs and one home run, while Fenton has hit four, and is batting .383 with 23 RBI. Tech is hitting .300 as a team, and would likely throw their best, junior Nate White (2-1, 1.89 ERA).

(14) South Amboy (9-10) at (3) Point Pleasant Beach (14-6), 4 pm Wednesday: The Garnet Gulls – a finalist last year after wining three straight from 2022 to 2024 – have won the last two meetings with the Governors, the most recent coming last year, a 12-2 decision in the CJ1 quarterfinals. After starting 2-0, and winning five straight in mid-April, Amboy has only gone 2-8 in its last ten games, including two straight overall, an 11-5 loss at eventual GMC Invitational champ Piscataway in the quarterfinals, and 10-0 at Colonia in a regular season game two Fridays ago; the Guvs haven’t played since that May 15th contest. With a team ERA of nearly six, can the bats compensate? They have some big hitters, including Robert Senape (.459, 21 RBI), Micah Nemeth (.455, 23 RBI) – both juniors – and senior Joseph Foreman (.424, 19 RBI). The Gulls have only used five pitchers all year, but they have two starters – Tommy Conroy and Thomas Slobiski – with ERAs under two.

(11) Florence (5-14) at (6) Dunellen (18-7), 4 pm Wednesday: The Destroyers are coming off a 3-0 loss to Piscataway in last Friday’s Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational Final, but had won five of six heading into that matchup, including a four-hour marathon in the semis, 22-17 over Perth Amboy. And in those five games, they scored 64 runs. But their last two losses have been via shutout. But here’s a stat for you: they’re averaging six walks a game while also hitting .341 on the season, led by Juan Luis Rodriguez, hitting .429 with 18 RBI and a triple, while senior Michael Dow is batting .400 with 20 runs batted in and a triple. The Flashes, meanwhile, have won three of their last four, and were just 2-13 ten days before the cutoff. Dunellen has the tools to get this one done.

(15) Henry Hudson (8-10) at (2) Piscataway Magnet (23-3), 4 pm Wednesday: These two teams have played three times since COVID, with the Admirals taking a 2022 decision, but the Raiders winning in 2023 and a matchup earlier this season, 9-1, on April 11th. Magnet started the year 18-0 before a 6-4 loss to North Plainfield, and just won the NJTAC Tournament for tech schools in Groups 1 and 2 on Friday, beating Morris Tech 23-3. The Raiders are hitting .343 as a team, led by Colton Lyerly (.429, 23 RBI, 2 triples) and Kyle Malchiodi (.417m 32 RBI, 2 HR). Those two are also their two top starters, and whoever gets the nod here is probably irrelevant; the Raiders should win this one.

by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA releases baseball brackets for state tournament; as expected, Old Bridge, Ridge, Middlesex, Immaculata gain top seeds

The NJSIAA has announced the brackets for the 2026 state high school baseball playoffs, with four Central Jersey Sports Radio-area teams gaining top-seeds.

GMC Tournament finalist Old Bridge will be the top seed in Central Jersey Group 4, while Ridge was slotted in at No. 1 in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4. GMC White Division champion Middlesex will be the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 1, and Somerset County Tournament finalist Immaculata got the top-seed in Non-Public South A.

Overall, 35 teams from the area qualified, and of those, 19 will be playing their first game – whether in the first round of sectionals or the quarterfinals – at home, with 16 starting out on the road.

The first round for non-public public schools will be next Tuesday, May 26, the day after Memorial Day. Wednesday, May 27, will be the opening round for public schools.

Brackets become official – pending any appeals or discrepancies – at noon on Wednesday, May 20th.

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (16) East Brunswick at (1) Old Bridge
  • (9) South Brunswick at (8) Freehold Twp.
  • (12) Montgomery at (5) Monroe
  • (13) Sayreville at (4) Hightstown
  • (14) Princeton at (3) Hunterdon Central
  • (11) Marlboro at (6) Manalapan
  • (10) Hillsborough at (7) Jackson Twp.
  • (15) Franklin at (2) Edison

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Holmdel at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven
  • (9) Spotswood at (8) Allentown
  • (12) Raritan at (5) Delran
  • (13) Ocean Twp. at (4) Wall
  • (14) Bordentown at (3) Johnson
  • (11) Robbinsville at (6) South River
  • (10) Manasquan at (7) Point Pleasant Boro
  • (15) Cinnaminson at (2) Governor Livingston

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (16) Highland Park at (1) Middlesex
  • (9) New Egypt at (8) South Hunterdon
  • (12) Manville at (5) Shore
  • (13) Somerset Tech at (4) Metuchen
  • (14) South Amboy at (3) Point Pleasant Beach
  • (11) Florence at (6) Dunellen
  • (10) Delaware Valley at (7) Keyport
  • (15) Henry Hudson at (2) Piscataway Magnet

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) Barringer at (1) Ridge
  • (9) Columbia at (8) Phillipsburg
  • (12) Plainfield at (5) Bridgewater-Raritan
  • (13) Ferris at (4) JP Stevens
  • (14) Elizabeth at (3) Watchung Hills
  • (11) Union at (6) Westfield
  • (10) Woodbridge at (7) Scotch Plains-Fanwood
  • (15) Piscataway at (2) Bayonne

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (16) Orange at (1) Chatham
  • (9) Middletown North at (8) Colonia
  • (12) Matawan at (5) North Plainfield
  • (13) JFK at (4) South Plainfield
  • (140 Rahway at (3) Cranford
  • (11) Summit at (6) Carteret
  • (10) Somerville at (7) Millburn
  • (15) Payne Tech at (2) North Hunterdon

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Hillside at (1) Caldwell
  • (9) Parsippany Hills at (8) Hackettstown
  • (12) Passaic Valley at (5) Rutherford
  • (13) Shabazz at (4) Madison
  • (14) Voorhees at (3) West Morris
  • (11) Bernards at (6) Lyndhurst
  • (10) Becton at (7) Mendham
  • (15) Parsippany at (2) West Essex

Non-Public North A

  • As expected, Timothy Christian has opted out.

Non-Public North B

  • (9) Hawthorne Christian at (8) Montclair-Kimberley, winner at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford
  • Bye to Quarterfinals: (5) Morristown-Beard at (4) Newark Academy
  • (10) Pope John at (7) Gill St. Bernard’s, winner at (2) Rutgers Prep
  • Bye to Quarterfinals: (6) Morris Catholic at (3) St. Thomas Aquinas

Non-Public South A

  • (9) Donovan Catholic at (8) Paul VI, winner at (1) Immaculata
  • (12) Camden Catholic at (5) Christian Brothers, winner at at (4) Union Catholic
  • (11) St. Joseph-Metuchen at (6) St. John Vianney, winner at (3) Red Bank Cathlic
  • (10) Pingry at (7) Notre Dame, winner at (2) St. Augustine