Tag: Tom D’Agostino

June 5, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

St. Thomas Aquinas falls to top-seeded St. Mary in Non-Public North B final for Gaels’ first title since 2023

Each coach had a similar message heading into Friday’s Non-Public B final.

If we take care of our own business, we’ll be in a good spot.

Top-seeded St. Mary of Rutherford did so at a higher level than third-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas, winning its first sectional title since 2023, 11-7, at Tamblyn Field in Rutherford.

The Gaels (17-11-1) built up a 7-2 lead after just three innings of play, and even after a late rally from the Trojans (14-15), sealed the win in seven full innings.

Two freshmen faced off on the mound, a tough task for both sides. But St. Mary southpaw Ayden Vargas was ready for the challenge and then some, earning the win with 6 1/3 strong innings.

St. Thomas Aquinas freshman Justin Monterosso got the start for the visitors, but only recorded four outs before the Trojans went with junior Nikash Patel out of the bullpen.

Aquinas never backed down, scoring six runs in the final two innings and raising some blood pressures on the home side, but in the end ran out of innings and time to fully make a comeback.

The Trojans left the bases loaded in the top half of the first, and the Gaels responded with a run in the bottom half, as right fielder Andres Bracho singled home centerfielder Jakhi Gale to open the scoring. Gale reached base in all five plate appearances, and scored three runs on the afternoon.

St. Thomas Aquinas tied the game up in the top of the second, as they loaded the bases for the second straight inning. Catcher Adrian Sanchez got the Trojans on the board with a bases-loaded walk, but Vargas worked two consecutive strikeouts in the heart of the order to leave the bases loaded for the second straight inning.

St. Mary started to take full control in the bottom of the second with four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Five straight batters reached after the first was retired, with Patel replacing Monterosso on the mound in the middle of that stretch. Patel walked in two runs with the bases loaded for his first two batters faced, and even after a strikeout of first baseman Jeffrey Paulino, the Gaels added more.

Bracho stepped up once again, and singled into right field to bring home two more runs to make it a four-spot in the inning.

The Trojans added another run of their own in the top of the third, a sacrifice fly from right fielder Aiden Alberto, but St. Mary got right back to its mojo in the bottom half. The Gaels worked two more runs off a two-RBI double from shortstop Roysell Rivera, taking a commanding 7-2 lead early on.

Each team threw a shutout fourth, but in the bottom of the fifth, St. Mary fully broke the game wide open.

The Gaels worked four straight hits with one out, including RBI base hits by Gale and Rivera, before Paulino mashed a long home run up the left-field hill. By that point, St. Mary worked an 11-2 run, and with a runner on second, came close to ending the game in five innings.

Courtesy runner, Logan Bartley rounded third with a full head of steam after a single by catcher Joshua Figueroa, but Trojans right fielder Justin Brown launched a long throw from the outfield to throw Bartley out at the plate, and keep the game alive.

From there, St. Thomas Aquinas fought to the very last pitch.

The Trojans added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Brown to score senior Louis Rizzolo, cutting the deficit to eight runs. Reliever Chris Gutaukas threw a shutout bottom half of the inning, setting up the Gaels to win the game in the top half of the seventh.

But as a wise man once said on ESPN, “Not so fast, my friends.”

St. Thomas Aquinas refused to go down without a fight, putting up four runs in the final frame to make things interesting. Designated hitter Harrison Eng reached on a full-count walk with one out, prompting St. Mary to go to the bullpen, as Vargas earned a round of applause for his efforts.

Designated hitter Demir Giddens replaced Vargas on the mound, but the Trojans kept fighting. Giddens struck out pinch-hitter Vic Burgos, setting the Gaels up one out away from a title, but it took a bit longer than anticipated. Monterosso worked a walk of his own, flipping the lineup back to the top one last time. Rizzolo worked another walk on four pitches, then catcher Adrian Sanchez brought home pinch-runner Andrew Scaff with a scorching RBI single. Patel came up and brought two more home with another single up the middle, and Brown made it three straight, going station-to-station with an RBI single of his own, as St. Mary made another pitching change during that stretch, putting Xavier Vargas on the bump.

All of a sudden, it was 11-7 with two runners on.

Vargas didn’t waver, though, facing third baseman Tyler Coello, the ninth batter of the inning. Even in a full count, Vargas trusted his stuff and froze Coello looking to seal the title.

Monterosso took the loss in 1 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk. Patel pitched four innings, allowing six earned runs, while Gutaukas allowed none in an inning and two thirds of his own.

Ayden Vargas earned the win with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.

In the end, the Gaels took advantage of their chances. Their top five hitters reached base 18 times, accounting for nine of the 11 runs on the scoreboard.

St. Mary won its 16th sectional championship – 13th in Non-Public North B – and will move on to the Non-Public B final against South champion Gloucester Catholic on Wednesday at Rutgers. St. Thomas Aquinas’ season comes to a close.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from both head coaches with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel, presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen:

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Tom D’Agostino

St. Mary head coach Nigel Archibald

June 4, 2026June 4, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

Third seed St. Thomas Aquinas, top seed St. Mary, battle for Non-Public North B crown, in matchup between two of the last three sectional champs

It would be an understatement to say St. Thomas Aquinas – particularly its seniors – have had an eventful week or so.

Tuesday, the third-seeded Trojans (14-14) defeated second-seeded Rutgers Prep in the Non-Public North B semifinals, advancing to the sectional final for the second time in three years.

Thursday, the school held its graduation, meaning the aforementioned title game was moved to Friday.

On Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas will head up to Tamblyn Field to battle top-seeded St. Mary (Ruth.) for its third sectional title in program history.

The Gaels (16-11-1) and Trojans represent two of the last three sectional champions, with St. Mary hoisting the championship trophy in 2023, the first year under head coach Nigel Archibald.

First pitch is set for 4 pm in Rutherford, and you can hear the game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Alec Crouthamel on the call. Pregame begins at 3:45 pm.

***Click the above link to listen LIVE to***
***the Non-Public North B final between***
***St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Mary!!***

The two teams each bring some similarities and differences to the field.

The Gaels are coming off back-to-back 12-1 victories over eighth-seeded Montclair Kimberley and fifth-seeded Morristown-Beard, and the Trojans won each of their two playoff games 7-0 over sixth-seeded Morris Catholic, and 7-3 over the Argonauts.

They each bring a core top of the lineup to the table, led by veterans such as Louis Rizzolo for St. Thomas Aquinas, and Sebastian Santana and Jeffrey Paulino for the Gaels, with the bottom of the order featuring developing talent, getting invaluable experience along the way.

One of the main differences comes in the history. St. Mary has long been a non-public power on the diamond, looking for its 16th sectional championship dating back to 1958.

But none of that history will matter once the two teams take the field. They’re both battled-tested, the Gaels playing a tough NJIC and out-of-conference schedule, and the Trojans in a rugged GMC Red Division.

With the season on the line, all hands are on deck, as each team looks to make it two sectional titles in the decade.

Click below to hear both head coaches preview Friday’s Non-Public North B sectional final, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:

St. Mary head coach Nigel Archibald

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Tom D’Agostino

Championship History

St. Thomas Aquinas: The Trojans won their second sectional title in 2024, and their first in 18 years at the time. They defeated Rutgers Prep in the final, the first of three straight years with victories over the Argonauts in postseason play.

Non-Public South A
- 2006 (Then Bishop Ahr), lost to Seton Hall Prep in Non-Public A Final
Non-Public North B
- 2024, lost to Gloucester Catholic in Non-Public B Final

St. Mary: The Gaels have a long history of dominance in their program’s history, racking up 15 sectional titles, including eight since the turn of the century. Their best stretch was a run of six titles in 11 years from 1998 to 2008. St. Mary’s most recent championship came in 2023 over Rutgers Prep, in Archibald’s first year at the helm.

Non-Public North B
- 1956
- 1962
- 1968
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2003
- 2006
- 2008
- 2016
- 2019
- 2023
Non-Public North C (Discontinued in 1979)
- 1974
- 1976
- 1977

List of previous Non-Public North B Sectional Champions

1948: Holy Family/Union City/Our Lady of the Valley/St. Patrick’s (Elizabeth)
1949: St. Mary’s (Elizabeth)
1951: Our Lady of the Valley
1953: St. Luke’s (Ho-Ho-Kus)/St. Michael’s (Jersey City)
1954: St. Luke’s (Ho-Ho-Kus)/Don Bosco Prep
1955: Pope Pius XII
1956: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
1957: Pope Pius XII
1958: Immaculate Conception (Montclair)
1959: Bayley-Ellard
1960: Don Bosco Tech (Paterson)
1961: St. Luke’s (Ho-Ho-Kus)
1962: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
1963: St. Mary’s (Elizabeth)
1964: St. Mary’s (Jersey City)
1965: St. Mary’s (Elizabeth)
1966: St. Michael’s (Jersey City)
1967: Don Bosco Tech (Paterson)
1968: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
1969: Bayley-Ellard
1970: Bayley-Ellard
1971: Morris Catholic
1972: Pope Pius XII
1973: Paterson Catholic
1974: Paul VI (Clifton)
1975: St. Cecilia’s (Englewood)
1976: Don Bosco Tech (Paterson)
1977: Our Lady of the Valley
1978: Paul VI (Clifton)
1979: Don Bosco Prep
1980: St. Mary’s (Jersey City)
1981: St. Mary’s (Jersey City)
1982: St. Mary’s (Elizabeth)
1983: St. Mary’s (Elizabeth)
1984: Bayley-Ellard
1985: Immaculata
1986: Phillipsburg Catholic
1987: St. Anthony’s (Jersey City)
1988: Pope John XXIII
1989: Marist
1990: St. Anthony’s (Jersey City)
1991: Marist
1992: Essex Catholic
1993: Marist
1994: Pingry
1995: Immaculata
1996: Pope John XXIII
1997: Montclair Kimberley
1998: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
1999: Paterson Catholic
2000: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2001: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2002: Montclair Kimberley
2003: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2004: Newark Academy
2005: Morristown-Beard
2006: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2007: Newark Academy
2008: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2009: Montclair Kimberley
2010: Morristown-Beard
2011: Newark Academy
2012: Newark Academy
2013: Morris Catholic
2014: Hudson Catholic
2015: Newark Academy
2016: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2017: Newark Academy
2018: DePaul Catholic
2019: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2021: Morristown-Beard
2022: Immaculata
2023: St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
2024: St. Thomas Aquinas
2025: Pope John XXIII

Bold and italics represent CJSR-area teams

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, 2026June 1, 2026 by Alec Crouthamel

Rutgers Prep and St. Thomas Aquinas face off for third straight year with Non-Public North B final berth on the line

Three things have been certain over the last three high school baseball seasons.

Death, taxes, and a playoff battle between St. Thomas Aquinas and Rutgers Prep.

This year marks the third iteration of the two teams facing off in the North Jersey, Non-Public B sectional tournament in Tuesday’s semifinal round.

The third-seeded Trojans (13-14) won the first two, taking the sectional title in 2024 and winning in the quarterfinals in 2025, but it’s a whole new season, with two very different teams. The second-seeded Argonauts (17-7) bring a lot of veteran experience to the table – including those losses in each of the last two seasons – and are battle-tested. St. Thomas Aquinas brings some of its own veterans, but also young talent that has progressed with more exposure to the big-game environment.

Will the third time be the charm for Rutgers Prep? Or will the Trojans end the Argonauts’ season for the third straight time? It all gets started with first pitch at 4:30 pm from Rutgers Prep, in a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Pregame starts at 4:15 with Alec Crouthamel on the call; click here to listen.

Eight of the combined projected starters – including both pitchers – faced off in the 2024 game, and 12 in 2025, so there’s not a lot of unfamiliarity, even in a GMC/Skyland Conference crossover.

But these are different teams from those that took the field 368 days ago. They’ve both overcome some bumps along the way, but have found themselves in recent weeks to make it within a game of a sectional final appearance.

The Trojans got off to a bit of a bumpy start, breaking in multiple newcomers to the lineup and getting the youth movement as much experience as possible. But since the calendar flipped to May, St. Thomas Aquinas has gone 7-4, including a 7-0 quarterfinal win over sixth-seeded Morris Catholic. Senior Louis Rizzolo and junior Nikash Patel – a dangerous pitching duo on their third year of postseason action together – combined for a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in just 75 pitches, while four different hitters recorded at least one RBI.

The Argonauts have blazed a bit of a different trail in 2026, but still have overcome some obstacles. They won 11 straight games over a month-long span, but dealt with a 2-3 stretch over the next nine days, including an extra-inning loss to Bridgewater-Raritan, where the Panthers overcame a four-run deficit and outscored Rutgers Prep 10-1 after the second inning.

From there, though, the Argonauts re-found their focus, including a five-inning, 16-0 victory over tenth-seeded Pope John in the sectional quarterfinals. Star pitcher Li Perez was nothing short of spectacular, allowing just one baserunner and recording all 15 outs via strikeout, while the offense got contributions from all over, including two home runs and five RBIs from senior Maddox Chu.

Both aces – Rizzolo and Perez – will take the ball for the second straight year (Rizzolo also started the 2024 game while Perez played the field) and if both have their best stuff as they did in the quarterfinals, runs will be at a premium.

But with a trip to the sectional final on the line – each team’s first since that 2024 matchup – nothing in the past matters once Perez throws that first pitch of the game.

Click below to hear Central jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel talk with both head coaches about their respective seasons and the upcoming matchup in the Non-Public North B semifinal:

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Tom D’Agostino

Rutgers Prep head coach Larry Santowasso

May 30, 2025May 30, 2025 by Alec Crouthamel

St. Thomas Aquinas uses five-run sixth, bursts past Rutgers Prep 6-1 to advance to second straight Non-Public North B semifinal

For the first five and a half innings of the Non-Public North B quarterfinal between fourth-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas and fifth-seeded Rutgers Prep, the two evenly matched teams were entrenched in a classic pitcher’s duel.

Trojans southpaw Louis Rizzolo and Argonauts righty Li Perez dazzled through their first five innings, leaving the game deadlocked at 1-1 headed into a pivotal bottom of the sixth inning.

In that inning, St. Thomas Aquinas’ bats showed up. In a big way.

The Trojans batted around and tacked on five runs in the frame to take a 6-1 lead, ultimately winning by the same score to advance to their second straight sectional semifinal, on the back of a complete game from Rizzolo.

St. Thomas Aquinas struck first, scoring in the bottom of the second inning after right fielder Josh Figueiredo hit a two-out RBI double to the centerfield wall to score Declan DiCarlo, who led off the inning with a full-count walk. Perez rebounded with a strikeout of the ensuing batter to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Rutgers Prep made its move. Catcher Maddox Chu drew a one-out hit-by-pitch and stole second base. The very next batter, left fielder Ethan Nepomuceno, tied the game with an RBI double to left field.

The bottom half of the inning saw the Trojans nearly strike again, but Perez battled through an inning where he walked three batters to load the bases. With two outs, the bases loaded, and down to his last batter due to the pitch count limit, Perez struck out Lucas Cassino swinging with a full-count fastball to end his outing in a gutsy way.

Rizzolo stifled any Argonaut momentum gained from that moment, however, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a groundout.

With the game still deadlocked at one run apiece going into the bottom of the sixth, the Trojans needed a difference-maker and got one.

Peter Wheeler relieved Perez on the mound, and he struggled to find the zone from the start. He walked designated hitter Harrison Eng on four pitches, then Figueiredo on a full count to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Left fielder Junior Perez laid a perfectly executed bunt down the third base line to load the bases with an infield single, setting up centerfielder Jack Valenzuela in a tie game.

On a 3-1 count, Valenzuela saw the fastball he wanted and sent it out to left field, scoring two runs and giving the Trojans the lead back. With the lineup card flipped over, Rizzolo reached on a jam shot that bounced off the glove of shortstop Alex Perez to reload the bases, still with nobody out.

Catcher Adrian Sanchez, the ensuing batter, laced a ground-ball single through the middle of the infield to score two more runs. Third baseman Will Bethea struck out swinging to record the inning’s first out after six straight St. Thomas Aquinas batters reached base.

Second baseman Declan DiCarlo drew an intentional walk on a 3-0 count to load the bases for the third time in the inning, leading to an RBI sacrifice fly from Cassino. Batting for the second time in the inning, Eng flew out to centerfield to end the sixth, but the damage had been done.

Rizzolo continued his cruising outing into the seventh, getting two flyouts in short order, but the Argonauts put up one last fight with back-to-back hits to put runners at the corners. The very next batter, however, Rizzolo shut the door by striking out Rutgers Prep third baseman Okasha Asrar.

Rizzolo finished his complete game with seven innings pitched, allowing five hits and one run, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Perez had a strong outing of his own in five innings, allowing one run on three hits, five walks, and 11 strikeouts.

St. Thomas Aquinas improves to 16-8 on the season and will face the winner of the top-seeded Montclair Kimberley and ninth-seeded Newark Academy in the sectional semifinals. The Argonauts’ tournament run comes to an end at 13-10 on the season, with one game against North Brunswick left on the schedule on June 5th.

Click below for postgame reaction from St. Thomas Aquinas pitcher Louis Rizzolo, centerfielder Jack Valenzuela, and head coach Tom D’Agostino, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Pitcher Louis Rizzolo & centerfielder Jack Valenzuela

Head Coach Tom D’Agostino

June 7, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

DeRias no-hitter, first-inning outburst give Gloucester Catholic 21st state title with 10-0 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in Non-Public B final

And just like that, it was over.

St. Thomas Aquinas – the last Greater Middlesex Conference team standing in the state playoffs – lost 10-0 in a five-inning Non-Public North B title game, with Miami-bound Tate DeRias throwing a no-hitter for victorious Gloucester Catholic, which won by the mercy rule in walk-off fashion.

For the Rams, it was their record 21st state title – the closest teams to them have only eight – and they did it in style, scoring seven runs in the first inning, then punching across three more in the fifth to end the game, as DH Gavin Franchetti tagged a ball to left that scored Jason Bogart.

St. Thomas starter Gavin Sansone allowed six runs of the seven first-inning runs, facing seven batters, recording only one out. But it wasn’t sloppy. There was one hit batter, there were no errors; the Rams just hit the ball where the fielders weren’t – between infielders, and in the gaps.

Luis Rizzolo came in to face the No. 8 hitter, and he stopped the bleeding, allowing one run, and escaping much more damage. He the Rams off the board until the fifth, trying to give his team a chance.

But against the velocity, movement, and placement of DeRias – who threw his second career no-hitter, both five-inning games, and both coming this year – it was too much for Aquinas.

DeRias allowed only two baserunners, both on walks, and matched a career high with 13 strikeouts, all of which came before allowing a ball to be put in play. The first 13 outs he recorded were Ks, with Jack Valenzuela’s bunt in the top of the fifth with one out the only ball St. Thomas put between the foul lines. That was the second out of the fifth, then Louis Cassino flew out to first.

And Aquinas wouldn’t get to bat again as the Rams walked it off.

Gloucester Catholic finishes 27-2, winners of the Group B crown two straight years now. Aquinas finishes 19-9.

Click below for postgame reaction, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

*Miami-bound Gloucester Catholic pitcher Tate DeRia. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Gloucester Catholic starting pitcher Tate DeRias

*St. Thomas Aquinas coach Tom D’Agostino. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Tom D’Agostino

June 6, 2024June 5, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

Non-Public Group B Preview: St. Thomas Aquinas treks to Hamilton to challenge juggernaut Gloucester Catholic for state title

The year was 2006, and it was the last time St. Thomas Aquinas (then called Bishop Ahr) won a sectional title, that is until this year.

It was their only piece of state hardware in baseball, again, until this season.

And then they go for their first ever state title Thursday night, they will be going up against one of the all-time great baseball programs in New Jersey scholastic history. Gloucester Catholic, the defending Non-Public B champion, has won 20 state titles, more than any other program in the Garden State, and it’s not even close.

Next on the list is Bishop Eustace, the team the Rams beat in the Non-Public South B title game this year, with a paltry eight by comparison, along with Don Bosco and Seton Hall Prep.

But Aquinas is used to the underdog role. They finished second in the GMC Blue this year, coming right down to the wire against Spotswood, which swept them in the final week to claim the division title.

Thursday night, they will be huge underdogs, as the Trojans (19-8) take on Gloucester Catholic (26-2) for the Non-Public Group B Championship down at Bob DeMeo Field at Veterans’ Park in Hamilton. Game time is set for 7 pm, with pregame at 6:40 on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Mike Pavlichko has the call; click here to listen.

Scroll through the article for stats, news, notes, interviews and more on both teams.

NON-PUBLIC GROUP B FINAL:

St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans

19-8 overall
8-4, GMC Blue Division (2nd place)
Non-Public North B Champions

Gloucester Catholic Rams

26-2 overall
10-0, Tri-County Conference Royal Division Champions
Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic semifinalist
Non-Public South B Champions

Date and Time: Thursday, June 6, 2024 – 7 pm
Location: Bob DeMeo Field at Veterans’ Park, Hamilton, NJ
Coverage: Live broadcast on Central Jersey Sports Radio (Click here to listen!)

Head Coaches:
St. Thomas Aquinas: Tom D’Agostino, 7th season (82-93)
Gloucester Catholic: Dennis Barth, 23rd season (578-117-1)

Pitching Probables:
St. Thomas Aquinas: Gavin Sansone (6-0, 1.17 ERA)
Gloucester Catholic: Tate DeRias (5-2, 0.72 ERA)

Interviews:

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Tom D’Agostino

Gloucester Catholic head coach Dennis Barth

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

St. Thomas Aquinas (#2 seed, Non-Public North B):
First Round: bye
Quarterfinals: def. (10) Timothy Christian, 10-0
Semifinals: def. (3) Gill St. Bernard’s, 7-5
Finals: def. (5) Rutgers Prep, 5-3 (RECAP)

Gloucester Catholic (#1 seed, Non-Public South B):
First Round: bye
Quarterfinals: def. (8) Princeton Day, 8-2
Semifinals: def. (4) St. Rose, 7-2
Finals: def. (2) Bishop Eustace, 2-1

PLAYOFF STAT LEADERS:

St. Thomas Aquinas:
Batting Average – Will Bethea (.833, 5-for-6), Jack Valenzuela (.600), Nikash Patel (.500)
RBIs: Gavin Sansone (5), Will Bethea (4)
HR: Will Bethea, Gavin Sansone (1)
Stolen Bases: Gavin Sansone (3), Jack Valenzuela, Declan DiCarlo (2)
Strikeouts (Pitching): Louis Rizzolo (13)
ERA: Louis Rizzolo (0.96)

Gloucester Catholic:
Batting Average: Jake Terranova (.571), Tate DeRias (.444), Noah Danza (.364)
RBIs: Jake Terranova, Tate DeRias (4) (three others with 3)
HR: None
Stolen Bases: Jake Terranova, Tate DeRias, Noah Danza (3)
Strikeouts (Pitching): Joe Vaccarella (12)
ERA: Jack Mustaro, Sal Marziana, Evan Brasberger, Tate DeRias (0.00)

THE LOWDOWN:

It wouldn’t be going out on a limb to say this will be a huge challenge for Aquinas, going up against the No. 3 team in the state. The only teams ahead of Gloucester Catholic in the statewide rankings are Delbarton at No. 1, followed by Cherry Hill West, one of the Rams’ two losses this year, coming in the 50th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic, their league’s postseason tournament.

The Trojans are having their best season in the eight years (seven seasons) led by alum Tom D’Agostino. His first three years saw a total of 20 wins, the three years before the missed COVID season. But since then, it has been a steady progression for the program, from 13-15 the year after COVID to 15-8, 15-11 and now 19-8 this season.

Will Bethea has been a big part of it. He’s 5-for-6 in three state tourney games so far with a home run and three walks, plus four runs batted in. He was having a fine season overall, hitting .293 in 27 games, with a team-best 33 RBIs, but he has upped his game in the postseason.

With a 2.64 team ERA, their pitchers give them a chance. Gavin Sansone gets the nod for this one, with a 6-0 record and a 1.17 ERA. He’s appeared in eight games this year, and the Trojans have won seven of them. The only loss in a game he started was a 3-2 defeat in the first round of the GMC Tournament to South Brunswick. But he threw nine innings, allowing no-earned runs, and the Trojans lost in 14 innings.

Gloucester Catholic has a lot of history, none of which really matters with current players other than they fact that they’re the defending Non-Public Group B champions. The title they won last year was their 20th overall, more than any other school in New Jersey.

They hit very well, batting .342 on the season, though that’s down a bit in the state tournament to .312, while Aquinas is hitting .295 overall, but .333 in the states. The Rams are a little more balanced throughout the lineup, led by Jake Terranova, who’s 4-for-7 in NJSIAA state play. On the season, he’s hitting .419, while Noah Danza leads the team at .430 with 27 runs batted in, second only to Guy Lynam, with 30 RBIs.

On the mound, it’ll be Miami-bound senior Tate DeRias, who’s 5-2 with an 0.72 ERA, his two losses coming to Cherry Hill West and Delbarton, ranked Nos. 2 and 1, respectively, in the state. He’s struck out 78 and walked 20, allowing just five earned runs all year in 48 1/3 innings pitched.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Championship History…

St. Thomas Aquinas is in the state final for just the second time ever. They lost in 2006, when they were in the Non-Public A title game, to Seton Hall Prep.

Meanwhile, defending Non-Public B champion Gloucester Catholic is 16-5 in the Non-Public B final, and before that, 4-0 in the A final. They won Group A titles in 1999, 2000, 2012 and 2013.

Group B titles came in 1973 and ’74, 1980 – a team head coach Dennis Barth was a part of as a student at Gloucester Catholic – 1984 through 1986, 1993, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011, 2017 and 2018, and again last season. Barth has won 11 titles as a coach at GC, and one as a player.

First repeat…

Tate DeRias will be the first Gloucester Catholic pitcher to make a second appearance in the state tournament. The first three wins went to Evan Brasberger, Joe Vaccarella, and DeRias, with Jack Mustaro and Sal Marziani also seeing action. But all five pitchers have appeared in only one game, at least until today.

No Common Opponents or Recent Meetings…

There are no common opponents between the two, nor have they played anyone from their opponents’ league. And they haven’t played each other in a while. Their last meeting was in 2014, in the state tournament, with Gloucester Catholic winning 15-5. They also won their matchup the year prior, 10-0, also in the state tournament.

Non-Public Group B Championship History…