Tag: Tom Blackwell

by Mike Pavlichko

Ridge seeking second straight title as Red Devils, ace Byrne, take on Rutgers Prep

Nobody’s perfect all of the time, but even if Connor Byrne isn’t tonight, he still has a chance to be.

Byrne pitched a perfect game against exactly two weeks ago, a 1-0 win in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals against Bernards. But if he doesn’t duplicate the effort tonight in the SCT title game against Rutgers Prep – presented by Zoned Sports Academy on Central Jersey Sports Radio – he still may be unblemished.

That is: 2-0 in county finals, a rare feat.

You can hear the game Tuesday night as second-seed and defending champion Ridge takes on 12th-seed Rutgers Prep live from TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas call all the action. Pregame starts at 6:40; click here to listen.

The Red Devils started the season 3-2, with the losses coming to Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater-Raritan. But that defeat to the Panthers – the SCT’s top-seed, who got knocked out in the semis by Prep – was on April 11th, their last loss, coming nearly a month ago. That means Ridge is riding a 14-game winning streak, their latest victory a 5-3 road win just yesterday afternoon at Seton Hall Prep, a game in which they took the lead down to their final out in the top of the seventh.

Back to that rare feat: the last time a starting pitcher won two SCT finals was in 1999 and 2000, when Casey Cahill did it for Immaculata during the Spartans’ run of six straight titles and ten in 12 seasons.

Click below to hear Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell talk about the Red Devils’ quest for a second straight Somerset County title:

by Mike Pavlichko

Callanan’s strong 6 innings, 6-run outburst propel Ridge into SCT finals with 6-2 win over Pingry

When Brendan Callanan struck out five six of the first seven batters he faced, retiring the first seven he faced, one could be forgiven if they thought: “Could it happen again?”

No, Callanan didn’t throw a perfect game like Connor Byrne did Tuesday in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals against Bernards, but he pitched a pretty good game himself. He gave pitched five shutout innings, scattering three hits and struck out eleven, as second-seed Ridge (10-2) beat Pingry (6-4) in the first of two SCT semifinal games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater Thursday afternoon, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Zoned Sports Academy.

Callanan took a 1-0 lead into the second after catcher Nick Rossi blasted a one-out solo homer to left in the bottom of the first. It was the first homer of his scholastic career.

For a while, that looked like it was all Ridge would need, until Pingry got two runs in the seventh on a two-RBI single by Nick Lorenzo.

Ridge got three runs in the third, on an RBI single by Julian Kielb, and a two-RBI single by Connor Byrne, which chased Pingry starter Alex Payne.

The Red Devils added two more in the fourth on a two-RBI single by Callanan, helping his cause.

Ridge moves on to play either top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan or 12th-seed Rutgers Prep, which played in the later semifinal at 4 pm.

It will be the third straight trip to the finals for defending champion Ridge, which made it in 2019 (there was no tournament in 2020 or 2021) and won it last season.

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Click below for postgame reaction from Ridge, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!

Ridge pitcher Brendan Callanan
Ridge catcher Nick Rossi
Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell
by Mike Pavlichko

Perfect game a team effort? Blackwell says that’s Connor Byrne “in a nutshell”

When baseball scout JT Kroeger tweeted Tuesday night about Connor Byrne’s perfect game for Ridge in a 1-0 win over Bernards to advance to the Somerset County Tournament semifinals, Byrne thanked him and said, “Great team win. Onto Thursday!”

And that pretty much tells you all you need to know about Byrne, according to his head coach Tom Blackwell.

Byrne was might efficient in a gem to end all gems: 76 pitches, 10 strikeouts – no runs, hits, walks, or errors. A perfecto.

But he and Blackwell know it doesn’t get done without great fielding behind them, a team effort.

For a full game recap with audio from Byrne, click here.

Click below to hear Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell take a closer look at Byrne’s perfect game – believed to be the first in Red Devil history – with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Second-seed Ridge moves on to face 6-seed Pingry in Thursday’s SCT semifinals at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. That game begins at 1 pm, followed by top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan taking on 12-seed Rutgers Prep at 4:00.

READ MORE: Perfect game by Ridge’s Byrne powers Ridge into SCT Semis, along with Bridgewater-Raritan, Rutgers Prep and Pingry

You can hear all the action of the Somerset County Tournament presented by Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with pregame coverage at 12:35 pm Thursday. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call the play-by-play. Click here to listen live.

by Mike Pavlichko

Top-ranked Ridge wins pitchers’ duel on Opening Day, drops Immaculata 2-0

What did we learn from Opening Day?

Well, Ridge learned it can put the bat on the ball, and that it can rely on its top to pitchers, Brendan Callanan and Connor Byrne.

But we also learned Immaculata has pitching, too.

No. 1 Ridge eked out a 2-0 win on Opening Day over No. 9 Immaculata at Diamond Nation in Flemington, behind seven scoreless innings from the two pitchers head coach Tom Blackwell used.

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Callanan started the game, and threw five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and five baserunners. One was caught stealing, one was picked off, one was erased on a fielder’s choice to end the third, and the other two were left on.

When Byrne came in to start the sixth, he one-upped his teammate. He retired all six batters to face him, striking out two, avoiding any chance of a comeback by the Spartans.

The Red Devils themselves didn’t get on the board until the sixth. At that point, they had already stranded eight runners, and ended up leaving on 11 in the game.

Catcher Nick Rossi drew a one-out walk, then after a Steven Dressner fly-out, Zack Kucerka – pinch-hitting for Adam Meiner – was hit by a pitch, leaving runners on first and second with two out for leadoff man Nick Selitti, who singled to drive in Josh LaTourette, the courtesy runner for Rossi, the catcher. But Matt Shawah struck out to strand two.

In the top of the seventh, Ridge pushed an insurance run across. Callanan – still in the game at second base – singled, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored when Jonathan Kielb hit a sharp grounder to short that rocketed up in the air off Troy Rabosky’s glove, and was scored a bit.

For the Spartans, despite the loss, their pitchers did pretty well, and once the bats come around, could be a force to be reckoned with.

To wit, starter Josh Thompson pitched five-and-a-third solid innings, allowing just one run and four hits, striking out two, and hitting two batters. On any other day at the plate that would be enough for the win.

And after Greg Zimmerman got in trouble in the top of the seventh, Nick Bozzo retired all three batters he faced to keep Ridge from picking up any extra insurance runs.

Ridge senior starting pitcher Brendan Callanan
Ridge senior Brendan Callanan (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell
by Mike Pavlichko

No. 1 Ridge looks to start ’23 strong as Red Devils face No. 9 Immaculata on road to open season

By all accounts, the Ridge baseball team is the top-ranked team out of Somerset County in all the preseason rankings. Which would have to make them the favorite to win the Somerset County Tournament.

But you can’t do that without starting the season strong, and a good way to do that is to win on Opening Day.

That comes Tuesday when top-ranked Ridge travels out to Flemington’s Diamond Nation to meet No. 9 Immaculata to begin 2023. First pitch is set for 4 pm with pregame at 3:45. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action. Click here to listen.

READ MORE: Ridge will look to defend Somerset County Tourney title with a mix of veterans and newcomers

Ridge has a mix of newcomers and veterans, both at the plate and on the pitching staff, and head coach Tom Blackwell Sunday night wasn’t ready to commit to a starter yet between his 1a and 1b, Connor Byrne and Brendan Callanan, both of whom are expected to be top pitchers for the Red Devils this season.

Click here to listen to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Taskonas talk with Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell about the season opener:

by Mike Pavlichko

Ridge will look to defend Somerset County Tourney title with a mix of veterans and newcomers

Win some, lose some. Graduate some, return some.

That’s the story for the Ridge baseball team as it embarks upon the 2023 season, which it will open on Tuesday, April 4th at Diamond Nation in Flemington against Immaculata, a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

The Red Devils won the Somerset County Tournament championship in 2022, blanking Rutgers Prep in the final 6-0. And they had the horses to make a run at the North 2, Group 4 championship, but they lost an epic 5-4 game in 11 innings in the sectional semis to Woodbridge.

It might not have been how he planned it, but Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell says the emotions of that game are still felt, and it’s given the 2023 club a fuel for the fire, a sense that they left some unfinished business.

That’s the win some, lose some.

On the roster side of things, the offense will lose catcher George Busnach (2 HR, 17 RBI), centerfielder Mike Olivo (.433, 1 HR, 17 RBI) and left fielder Brian Leitz (.411, 1 HR, 16 RBI). But Ridge returns outfielder Luke Somelofske (.413, 10 RBI), shortstop Brendan Callanan (.446, 1 HR, 22 RBI) and top run producer and infielder/outfielder Julian Kielb (.429, 2 HR, 27 RBI).

On the mound, the Red Devils also will miss Olivo and his miniscule 0.31 ERA in 45 1/3 innings pitched, as well as Andrew Shahwah. But they bring back Callanan and Connor Byrne, who combined for over 102 innings thrown last year, neither, with Callanan sporting a 2.03 ERA, and Byrne at 1.83.

Blackwell believes his team – which has spent a lot of time with each other win the offseason – will be poised for another run this year.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko preview the Ridge season with head coach Tom Blackwell:

by Mike Pavlichko

Ridge “hitting” on all cylinders headed into sectional semi matchup with Woodbridge

Ridge and Bridgewater-Raritan played five-and-a-half innings of scoreless baseball Saturday afternoon in Basking Ridge. And when the Red Devils scored in the bottom of the sixth, with Connor Byrne cruising, that looked like it would be all they needed.

But in the top of the seventh, the Panthers got a baserunner, and Byrne came out nearing his pitch count limit. BR scored, and it was off to the home half of the seventh, with the bottom of the order coming up.

With two outs, the seven, eight and nine hitters took their turns setting the table. George Busnach walked, Luke Somelofskie singled, and Andrew Shawah walked, teeing things up for his younger bother, Matt.

An infield hit off the shortstop’s glove on a rocket of a ball in the hole won the ballgame. And that’s the type of timely hitting and quality at bats – throughout the lineup – that has been a staple of Ridge baseball this year.

READ MORE: Defending champ Ridge walks off Bridgewater-Rartitan in another playoff thriller to advance to North 2, Group 4 semifinals

And, to be frank, last year, too, en route to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 championship.

The Red Devils are a win away from playing for that title again this year, when second-seeded Ridge takes on third-seed Woodbridge Tuesday in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals. Central Jersey Sports Radio will broadcast the game live, with pregame at 3:45 and first pitch set for 4:00.

Mike Pavlichko will call all the action; click here to listen.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with Woodbridge:

by Mike Pavlichko

Defending champ Ridge walks off Bridgewater-Rartitan in another playoff thriller to advance to North 2, Group 4 semifinals

After playing five-and-a-half scoreless innings, with both pitchers throwing well – and getting out of minor jams when they had to – second-seed Ridge finally broke thorough against seventh-seed Bridgewater-Raritan in their North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon.

The Red Devils got a leadoff walk from Matt Shawah, and after a sac bunt moved him to second, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch, Mike Olivo put his team up 1-0 with an RBI single. And they could have had more, had Olivo not been caught trying to steal third after a pitch in the dirt that he may have thought Bridgewater catcher Matt Salinger had lost in front of him.

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But the Panthers came back. Connor Byrne – looking to go the distance for Ridge – struck out JR Rosado and Frankie Verano. But he reached his one-game pitch count after a double by Matt Moore, and came out of the game. Brendan Callanan came in from shortstop and gave up an RBI single to BR pinch-hitter Tim Travisano, and we were back tied again, now at 1-1.

Now, it was Ridge’s turn not to be denied. Starter Jason Cozzi entered the seventh allowing just two hits all afternoon to the Red Devils. But after a fly-out to center by Matt Aber and a pop up to second by Julian Kielb, catcher George Busnach walked. Luke Somelofske singled. And Andrew Shawah walked. Yes, the bottom three in the order – a lineup with no one hitting less than .280 all year – had set it up for leadoff man Matt Shahwah.

He hit a line drive roller between third and short that Matt Moore couldn’t handle off his glove, but deep in the hole, he probably wouldn’t have had a play anywhere for the third out. It was ruled a hit – a two-out RBI infield hit – driving in courtesy runner Brian Capato from third, and Ridge walked-off with a 2-1 win over the Panthers, to move on to the North 2 Group 4 semifinals on Tuesday afternoon, likely at 4 pm, here in Basking Ridge.

Byrne struck out seven, including the first two outs in the seventh. Callanan got the win in relief, his third against the Panthers this season.

The Red Devils will play third-seed Woodbridge in the semis, as the Barrons beat 6th-seed Westfield 8-4 at home Saturday afternoon.

Click below for postgame reaction from Ridge’s quarterfinal win over Bridgewater-Raritan:

Matt Shawah, with the game-winning RBI infield hit
Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell

by Mike Pavlichko

Masterful Byrne blanks Rutgers Prep, Ridge bats do the rest as Red Devils win 7th Somerset County crown

Junior pitcher Connor Byrne remembers watching Ridge’s last trip to the Somerset County Tournament finals. He was in junior high, and sat down the right field at TD Bank Park, where his future Red Devil team lost 6-5 to Immaculata in a marathon, four-hour, 12-inning game.

One day, he wanted to be out on that field.

He’s now been on it twice, and come out a winner both times. Now, he’s a Somerset County Tournament Champion. And so are his Red Devil teammates.

Click the logo above to learn more about baseball training and more at Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater!

Top-seed Ridge won its seventh Somerset County Tournament Championship Monday night, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beating 6th-seed Rutgers Prep 6-0 behind an outstanding performance from Byrne on the mound.

He went the distance, allowing just four baserunners all night and two hits, striking out ten, and walking one.

Ridge’s Connor Byrne pitches in the top of the 4th of the Somerset County Tournament Championship Game at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 23, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

It was a pitchers’ duel until the bottom of the fourth. In a scoreless game, Mike Olivo got on with a double, and moved to third on a fly ball to right by Matt Aber.

The first runner to reach third all night for either team, Julian Kielb hit a grounder to third that should have been the final out. But third baseman Max Treonze threw wild to first, allowing Ridge the only run it turns out they would need all night.

But that wasn’t all they’d get. George Busnach blooped one into left field to score Kielb from second, since he was running with two outs, and Luke Somelefske followed with a double to drive in Busnach, before Rutgers Prep starter Zach Fronio could strike out Andrew Shahwah to get out of the inning. All three runs were unearned.

Ridge would add insurance in the fifth. With one out, Brian Leitz was hit by a pitch in his right hip for the second time in the game. After Brendan Callanan struck out, Mike Olivo drove Leitz in from first with a double to make it 4-0. Olivo stole third – continuing the Red Devils’ aggressiveness on the basepaths, and Matt Aber drove him in with a double. A third double by Julian Kielb made it 6-0, giving him his second RBI on the night.

Ridge players watch from the dugout in the 2022 Somerset County Tournament Championship Game at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 23, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

In the top of the seventh, Prep got two on with one out when Anthony Brigante walked and Evan Laub singled. But Byrne fanned the last two batters – strikeout victims Nos. 9 and 10 – to seal the deal.

Byrne improved to 9-1 on the season with the win, while Prep freshman starter Zach Fronio fell to 3-2.

Click below for postgame reaction from Ridge’s Somerset County Tournament win over Rutgers Prep:

Ridge junior pitcher Connor Byrne
Junior Connor Byrne holds the 2022 Somerset County Tournament Championship trophy. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell

Notes and Nuggets:

Seventh Heaven: Ridge is now 7-8 all-time in Somerset County Tournament finals. It was the Red Devils’ second straight appearance in the title game, since their 2019 appearance was the last event, which went on a two-year hiatus due to the 2020 season being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year’s tournament wasn’t played due to the condensed season.

Ridge also won titles in 2011, 1989, 1985, 1984, 1980 and 1976.

Rutgers Prep falls to 1-1 in county title games. They won in their only other appearance in 2017.

Blackwell’s 3rd County Ring: Tom Blackwell was a DH in the 1989 title game, when Ridge beat Bridgewater-Raritan West 5-4 in the 1989 SCT final. Now, he’s got two as a coach: this year’s win, and the 2011 title win over Hillsborough, 4-3 in 8 innings.

Quick one: While Ridge’s 2011 loss was an over four-hour affair that saw 11 runs scored between the teams and went 12 innings, tonight’s game was over lickety-split. Starting at 7:06, the game ended at 8:36, a speedy 90-minute game. Who needs pitch clocks?

Nothing Extra: “I didn’t need that text this morning,” said Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell before the game. He was referring to how we joked with him to rest his pitchers, since the last three times Ridge has been to a final, they’ve gone to extra innings. Once they exploded for six runs by the end of the sixth inning, it was clear that wouldn’t be in the cards tonight.

by Mike Pavlichko

Ridge is rolling as Red Devils head into SCT finals

Often times in sports, winning has a lot to do with momentum. A good team looks so-so throughout the year, then gets hot at the right time, goes on a run, and wins a title of some kind.

That’s not the case with the Ridge baseball team. They’ve been red-hot all year long, coming into Monday night’s Somerset County Tournament Championship Game (7 pm, on CJSR) with a 19-2 mark, winners of six straight, and owners of a 12-game winning streak that took up just about all of April.

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The Somerset County Tournament itself hasn’t really allowed for teams to get postseason momentum. The semifinals were two weeks ago already, and Ridge has played four games since then. In fact, they should have played five, but their regular season matchup against Rutgers Prep – yes, the same Argonauts they’ll face in the finals Monday night – was rained out.

So, two teams who had anticipated they would see each other – no matter how cautiously guarded they might have planned to play that game – will go in cold, and yet red hot at the same time.

Ridge will throw Connor Byrne, a junior with an 8-1 record and a 1.69 ERA in Monday night’s title game, as the Red Devils look for their first title since 2011.

They’ve lost twice since then – in 2014 to Hillsborough and 2019 to Immaculata – and are 6-8 all-time in the Somerset County Tournament finals (this will be the Red Devils’ 15th appearance) but have only won once since 1989. They won the crown that year, as well as in 1985 and 1984, 1980 and 1976.

The SCT began play in 1973.

Click below to hear CJSR’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell: