Tag: Watchung Hills

by Mike Pavlichko

Where will NJSIAA state semifinals be this year? Under new wrinkle, it depends on who’s playing

One of the tweaks the NJSIAA made to the high school baseball playoffs this year was a change as to who hosts the state semifinals.

This years state tournament regulations differ from years past, where the sections would alternate. One year it would be South Jersey and North Jersey, Section 2 champions hosting, the next it would be Central and North Jersey, Section 1.

This year, hosts will be the team with the higher power point values.

Keep in mind, that doesn’t necessarily mean the higher seed. The top three seeds in one section might have higher power point values than the top seed in another. And, of course, you could get two No. 1 seeds – so how would that be decided?

In this case, it’s strictly the team with the most power points, so even though everyone is two wins away from the state semis, let’s take a look at the four state semifinals that could see the seven public schools still alive from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area.

Central Jersey Group 4: Old Bridge is the top seed, and will play fourth-seed Hightstown Wednesday at 5 pm in the semifinals. The winner gets either third-seed Hunterdon Central or seven-seed Jackson Twp. in the final.

If Old Bridge wins the title, they would host anyone from the South Jersey Group 4 bracket except the top-seed Kingsway, which has more power points than the Knights. If Eastern, Rancocas Valley or Cherry Hill East win it, Old Bridge will host the state semifinals at Fred Cole Field.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4: Three of the four teams in Wednesday’s semifinal from the CJSR area, and all from the Skyland Conference Delaware Division. Top-seed Ridge plays five-seed Bridgewater-Raritan at 4 pm (listen live on CJSR), while third-seed Watchung Hills visits second-seed Bayonne, with a 4:30 first pitch.

And though three of our teams could win the North 2, Group 4 title, all would be on the road in the state semifinals. That’s because all four teams in the semis in North 1, Group 4 – top four seeds Passaic Tech, Mount Olive, Ridgewood, and West Orange – have higher power point values than the four remaining in North 2. That is a tough section, indeed. Passaic Tech went to the Passaic County Tournament title game, and lost 11-1 to DePaul. And Mount Olive shocked state No. 1 Delbarton, 8-7, to win the Morris County Tournament title, its first in 35 years.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3: Fourth-seed South Plainfield is on the road today, with a tough task at top-seed Chatham at 4 pm. The winner faces either second-seed North Hunterdon or third-seed Cranford.

But with defending champion South Plainfield having the lowest power point total of the eight teams remaining in North 1 and North 2, the Tigers – should they win the section again – will be on the road, no matter who they face.

Central Jersey Group 1: The two CJSR-area teams are on opposite ends of the bracket, so it’ll be top-seed Middlesex hosting five-seed Shore Regional at 4 pm, and second-seed Piscataway Magnet facing third-seed Point Pleasant Beach at the same time.

The defending champion Blue Jays and Piscataway Magnet are the No. 1 and No. 2 teams among the eight remaining between Central 1 and South 1, so if either of them win the sectional title, they will host a state semifinal next Monday.

UPCOMING PUBLIC SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

  • Wednesday, June 3: Sectional Semifinals (at higher seeds)
  • Friday, June 5: Sectional Finals (at higher seeds)
  • Monday, June 8: State Semifinals (at higher power point values)
  • Sunday, June 14: State Finals (at Rutgers – Group 3 at 10 am, Group 4 and 1 pm, Group 1 and 4 pm, Group 2 at 7 pm)
by Mike Pavlichko

State tourney, GMC final results yield yet another shuffling of Bellamy & Son Paving Baseball Top Ten

It was a second week in a row of a fairly good amount of upheaval in the Bellamy & Son Paving High School Baseball Top Ten.

Why?

Monroe’s upset of Old Bridge in the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament championship game – coupled with the first two rounds of the NJSIAA state tournament – resulted in some changes, including one team making its first appearance in the rankings this season.

Despite all the movement, Watchung Hills (17-8) remained No. 1 this week, one of just two teams in the same position they were last week. The Hustlin’ Warriors dropped their last regular season game on Tuesday, a 12-5 decision at Millburn, but won two games in the state tournament. In the North 2, Group 4 first round, they beat 14-seed Elizabeth 10-0 in a five-inning mercy-rule walkoff, then got by six-seed Westfield in the quarterfinals, 8-6. They’ll be in the sectional semis at second-seed Bayonne this Wednesday.

Continuing its meteoric rise is Monroe (15-14), now the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament champion after knocking off third-seed Old Bridge, 7-0 in the final, as the nine-seed. However, their season is over, as they got knocked out of the state tournament in Central Jersey Group 4 on Friday, 10-2 down at fourth-seed Hightstown. That came after beating 12-seed Montgomery, 1-0, on a walkoff single by Alex Marcus.

Holding at No. 3 is Immaculata (22-5). The Spartans beat Rutgers Prep at home, 7-0 on Tuesday, in preparation for the state tournament. After a first-round by in Non-Public South A, the top-seeded Spartans beat eighth-seed Paul VI, 7-0, in the quarterfinals on Thursday. They’ll get back to it on Tuesday, when they host 5th-seed CBA. Central Jersey Sports Radio will have Sean Newcomb covering that game, and you can follow him in Twitter by clicking here.

Dropping two spots to fourth is Old Bridge (20-9), after falling to Monroe in the GMC title game on Saturday, 7-0. But the Knights’ season is not done. After opening up the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs with a 1-0 win over 16-seed East Brunswick on Wednesday, and following it up with an 8-0 win over eight-seed Freehold Township in Friday’s quarterfinals, the Knights – who had an 11-game win streak snapped Saturday – will look to rebound and move on in the state tournament when they host four-seed Hightstown in the semifinals.

A number of teams edged down a spot or two, mainly due to Monroe’s rise. That includes Ridge (17-10), which dropped one spot to five. On Tuesday, they won a regular season game at Hillsborough, 8-1, then got into the state tournament. They beat 16-seed Barringer (Newark) 13-3 in a mercy-rule five-inning walk-off on Wednesday in the North 2, Group 4 opening round, then walked off eight-seed Phillipsburg in six, by a 10-0 score on Friday. Wednesday, they will face five-seed Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals, a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio starting at 4 pm, with Mike Pavlichko on the call. Click here to listen.

South Plainfield (16-11) climbs to six this week, one of only two teams (the other, Immaculata) to have a perfect week. The Tigers went 3-0, starting with a 7-1 regular season playoff tune-up victory over Middlesex on Tuesday. The next day, they opened the state playoffs with a 5-0 win over 13-seed JFK in the North 2, Group 3 first round. Friday, they were 7-0 winners over fifth-seed North Plainfield, and now move on to Wednesday’s semifinals, where they’ll go on the road for the first time this year in the states, facing top-seed Chatham.

Middlesex (22-5) drops a notch to seven this week. After the 7-1 loss to South Plainfield on Tuesday, they opened Central Jersey Group 1 play in the state tournament with a 21-1 win in five innings over 16-seed Highland Park, then an 11-1 win on a walk-off in six against eight-seed South Hunterdon. Next up, the Blue Jays play host to five-seed Shore in the CJ1 semifinals on Wednesday.

In the eighth spot is Rutgers Prep (17-7), same as last week. The Argonauts dropped a 70- regular season state tourney tune-up to Immaculata in Flemington on Tuesday, but came back nicely with a 16-0, five-inning win over ten-seed Pope John of Sparta in the Non-Public North B quarterfinals, after getting an opening round bye. Tuesday, they will host third-seed St. Thomas Aquinas at 4 pm in a Skyland-GMC crossover you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Alec Crouthamel calling the action. Click here to listen.

Down two spots to nine is Edison (19-8), which literally limped to the finish line with its top three starters – D1 commits Connor Murphy, Dom Innocenti and Rob Roma – all injured or nagged by arm issues in some way shape or form by the end of the year. None of the three were available for Wednesday’s opening round playoff loss to 15-seed Franklin, 5-4, in the Central Jersey Group 4 section.

And new to the rankings this week is Bridgewater-Raritan. The Panthers – despite a last place finish in the grueling Skyland Conference Delaware Division – proved their metttle not just by reaching the Somerset County Tournament semifinals as a five-seed a couple of weeks ago, but also by reaching the North 2, Group 4 semifinals as a five-seed this week. Bridgewater beat 12-seed Plainfield 11-0 in five innings in the opening round Wednesday, then went on the road in the quarters on Friday and knocked off four-seed JP Stevens, 10-0 in six. Next, they travel to top-seed Ridge for what should be a good rubber match in the sectional semifinals: each team beat the other 4-3 this year in their regular season matchups.

Dropping out was previous No. 10 Colonia. The ninth-seeded Patriots (14-10) lost their opening round North 2, Group 3 playoff game to nine-seed Middletown North, 5-1, on Wednesday, just two weeks after being eliminated from the GMC Tournament in their opening game.

Below is the complete Bellamy & Son Paving High School Baseball Top Ten for Week Nine. NOTE: This will be the final ranking until the season is complete for all CJSR-area clubs.

by Mike Pavlichko

Friday NJSIAA Public State Playoff Roundup: Top-seed Old Bridge advances, but fellow GMC finalist Monroe is knocked out; Watchung Hills, No. 1 seeds Ridge, Middlesex move on; South Plainfield ousts North; Piscataway Magnet walks off again

We started with 32, and after two rounds, we’re down to seven. (At least among the publics.)

Seven teams are all that remain from the Greater Middlesex and Skyland Conferences after the first round and quarterfinals of the NJSIAA state tournament, and all will have an opportunity to reach the section finals in their respective sections next Friday, if they can win semifinal games next week.

Only one team remains in Central Jersey Group 4, where top-seed old Bridge advanced, but fifth-seed Monroe lost, on the eve of their meeting in the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament championship game Saturday at Ray Cipperly Field in East Brunswick. First pitch of that game is at noon with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe calling the action. Pregame is set for 11:40, and you can either listen to the game on Central Jersey Sports Radio the usual way, or watch our live YouTube stream by clicking here.

In other sections, second-seed Piscataway Magnet earned its 25th win – for the second straight state tournament game in walk-off fashion – leading the Raiders into one semifinal, while top-seed Middlesex won again by the mercy rule and also will play for a title game berth.

Top-seed Ridge, third-seed Watchung Hills and fifth-seed Bridgewater-Raritan advanced in North 2, Group 4 action, making it three of four teams in the semifinals from the Skyland Conference Delaware Division, while defending North 2, Group 3 champion South Plainfield also moved on to the semis in its section, and will seek a third straight trip to the finals.

Scroll through for section-by-section game recaps, interviews, links and more, followed by the schedule for the next round – which resumes next week after a weekend break – for the non-public sections (Tuesday) and publics (Wednesday).

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4

(1) Old Bridge 8, (8) Freehold Twp. 0: The Knights (20-8) got a complete game, one-hit shutout from Mason Mule, who only needed 66 pitches to get through seven innings, facing the minimum 27 batters, despite only striking out three. In fact, the only hit he allowed was a third-inning single by Julian Polo, who was thrown out at second by right fielder Michael Chiarella when he tried to turn it into a double.

Old Bridge got two RBI’s apiece from Nicholas Agonstino and Matt Chin, while Jared Volpe scored twice. They went up 1-0 in the second on an Adrian Lutomski double, then got two more in the fourth when Chiarella, with the bases loaded, lined a ball to short, but an error allowed two runs to score. And while that was all they’d need, the Knights added four more for insurance in the fourth, and one more for good measure in the fifth.

Perhaps the biggest thing about Mule’s performance is that head coach Matt Donaghue elected not to go with his top pitcher, Brady Meyer, and it paid off. That leaves Meyer in line to start the GMC Final Saturday afternoon against Monroe. (See the Falcons’ game summary from today for their pitching situation.) And he could come back Wednesday in the semifinals if he throws under 90 pitches Saturday, or in a potential final Friday regardless of his Saturday pitch count.

Click here to listen to Old Bridge head coach Matt Donaghue talk about the win over Freehold Twp., and Saturday’s GMC Final against Monroe, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.

(4) Hightstown 10, (5) Monroe 2: The Falcons (14-14) were down 2-0 early in this one, as the Rams (18-7) scored twice in their first at bat, on a bases loaded single to center by Dylan Stables and a bases loaded ground out by Manny Gonzalez. And Monroe kept Highstown in check until the fourth, when they exploded for eight runs to take a 10-0 lead. That chased starter Aadi Shah from the game after 3 2/3, allowing seven hits and seven runs, only four of them earned.

With neither Ben Faigin nor Andre Love pitching in the game, both are available to Saturday in the GMC final against Old Bridge, with nearly their full complement of pitches: Faigin will be capped at 105 and Love at 96.

Click here to listen to Monroe head coach Sean Field talk about Friday’s state tournament loss, and coming back Saturday for the GMC final against Old Bridge, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.

(7) Jackson Twp. 12, (15) Franklin 0 (5 inn.): The Warriors (8-12) got nine hits through five innings, but failed to get anything across in a mercy-rule shortened game. The Jaguars (12-15) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but piled on eight runs in the second – aided by three Franklin errors – and added three more in the fourth. Dylan Shah, Mason Bonds, Shayne Rooney and Christian Jacas each had two hits in the losing effort.

  • (1) Old Bridge def. (8) Freehold Twp., 8-0
  • (4) Hightstown def. (5) Monroe, 10-2
  • (3) Hunterdon Central def. (6) Manalapan, 12-7
  • (7) Jackson Twp. def. (15) Franklin, 12-1

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1

(1) Middlesex 11, (8) South Hunterdon 1 (6 inn.): The Blue Jays (22 -5) look very much like the team that won the Group 1 state championship last year, and might even be better. Once again, it was Dominic Long on the mound, striking out six and allowing just five hits and one earned run in six innings of work.

Middlesex never trailed in the game, but they did find themselves tied 1-1 heading into the home second inning. But they took the lead back with one in the second, the first of ten unanswered runs over the final five innings. After taking a 2-1 edge into the third, they scored two in the third, then got three more in the fifth and walked it off with a five-spot in the bottom of the sixth.

Dylan Ianiero and Chris Kozak each drove in two runs, while Long scored three times, and Ianiero and Marcus Lavornia each scored twice.

The Blue Jays will host 5-seed Shore (19-8) next Wednesday in the semifinals, but the Blue Devils first have the Monmouth County Tournament Ted Jarmusz Division title game at 4 pm Monday at Colts Neck.

(2) Piscataway Magnet 5, (10) Delaware Valley 4 (9 inn.): For the second straight game in the state tournament, the Raiders won 5-4 in their final at bat, this time needing two extra innings to prevail. Freshman shortstop Trey Lyerly drove in Vincent Canavan with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, after Canavan walked to leadoff the inning and stole second to get into scoring position. You can read the full game story, complete with postgame audio from Lyerly and head coach Greg Sampson at the link.

The Raiders (25-3) will face third-seed Point Pleasant Beach (16-6) – a CJ1 finalist last year and the winners of three straight sectional titles before that – Wednesday in the semifinals, back at home.

(5) Shore 4, (4) Metuchen 0: The Bulldogs’ season ends at 19-8, as the Blue Devils managed five hits and four runs (three earned) off starter James Fenton in his six innings of work, getting two runs in the second and adding two more in the fifth for insurance. Metuchen managed just four hits off Blue Devils’ (19-8) starter Ryan Barham, who struck out seven and walked just one.

  • (1) Middlesex def. (8) South Hunterdon, 11-1 (6 inn.)
  • (5) Shore def. (4) Metuchen, 4-0
  • (3) Point Pleasant Beach def. (11) Florence, 11-1 (5 inn.)
  • (2) Piscataway Magnet def. (10) Delaware Valley, 5-4 (9 inn.)

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 4

(1) Ridge 10, (8) Phillipsburg 0 (6 inn.): The Red Devils (17-0) jumped on Phillipsburg (14-10) with four runs in the bottom of the first, then walked it off with three in the bottom of the sixth to end the game by mercy rule.

Lucas Grob and Jake Dolan stroked back-to-back one-out singles in the first, and another by Casey Kucerka got Ridge all the runs they turned out to need. After a walk to Casey Kucerka, Dimitri Romer singled score two, and Aiden Kerrigan hit a sac fly to right to make it 4-0.

Kucerka drove in three runs for Ridge, while Grob and Dolan each had two RBIs. Romer went all six innings for the win, striking out five, scattering just three hits to improve to 5-2 on the season.

The Red Devils will meet Skyland Delaware foe and five-seed Bridgewater-Raritan (13-16) in the semifinals – a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – next Wednesday at 4 pm. The teams split their two game set this year, both winning by 4-3 scores.

Click here to hear Ridge head coach Tom Blackwell talk about the Red Devils’ state playoff win over Phillipsburg with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.

(5) Bridgewater-Raritan 10, (4) JP Stevens 0 (5 inn.): The Panthers (13-6) have now won four of their last six after a mercy-rule win over the Hawks, their second by the run rule in two state tournament games. Nico Moore got the win, allowing just four hits in his five innings of work. Read Alec Crouthamel’s game story, and hear postgame reaction from Nico Moore, Michael Lobosco and head coach Max Newill at the link.

The Panthers will visit top-seed Ridge Wendesday at 4 pm in the semifinals, in a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Ridge and Bridgewater split their two game set this year, each winning by a 4-3 score.

(3) Watchung Hills 8, (6) Westfield 6: The Hustlin’ Warriors hung on for dear life in this one, nearly seeing an 8-1 lead after five innings slip away.

Westfield led 1-0, opening the scoring in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Andrew Lisnok, but Watchung Hills took the lead in the bottom of the inning. After a walk and hit batsman to lead off the inning, pinch-hitter David Begarney singled to tie the game. Brody Girffith stole home for the second run, and Jacob Jaconski makde it 4-0 with a line drive single to left.

Then, it was a five-spot in the fifth. Max Payne led off, reaching on an error on the shortstop, Landon Pudlak Walked, and Griffith reached on a bunt down the third-base line. After BRady Simo popped out – with the infield fly in effect – Bennett Dealaman reached on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-0 Warriors. A walk to pinch-hitter Lucas Ricci loaded the bases again, and a Jaconski walk scored the sixth run.After another fielder’s choice, this one by Stef DeGeronimo, Rob Centamore singled to drive in two, giving Watchung Hills what looked like a commanding lead.

But, Westfield would chip away. They got a two in the top of the sixth on and RBI single by Jack Doherty and a two-RBI double by Liam Sullivan to make it 8-4. And they came back for more in the seventh. After a leadoff error, a groundout, another error and a walk, Max Payne came in for Hills and walked Doherty to make ti 8-3, then gave up a single to Alex Lawrence to score two and make it 8-5. All that came with one out, but Payne then induced a pop up for the second out, and fanned Owen O’Connor on strike three swinging to end the game.

The Warriors will travel up to second-seed Bayonne (21-8) to play the Bees in the semifinals next Wednesday afternoon.

(2) Bayonne 3, (10) Woodbridge 1: The Barrons’ season ends at 16-11, dropping a pitchers’ duel in Hudson County Friday afternoon in which Woodbridge actually outhit their hosts, 5-3. The Bees opened the scoring in the first on a groundout by Cody Guthrie, and Woodbridge tied it in the fifth with a double by Hogan Boyd. But Bayone got two to go ahead for good in the bottom of the inning, one on an error on a grounder to Gavin Slicner off the bat of Brayden O’Connor, and another on a sac fly to center by Carmelo Isler.

  • (1) Ridge def. (8) Phillipsburg, 10-0
  • (5) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (4) JP Stevens, 10-0 (6 inn.)
  • (3) Watchung Hills def. (6) Westfield, 8-6
  • (2) Bayonne def. (10) Woodbridge, 3-1

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3

(4) South Plainfield 7, (5) North Plainfield 0: Andrew Bena – the second half of a formidable 1-2 starting pitcher punch for the Tigers (16-11) was outstanding, allowing just four hits while striking out ten in a six-inning effort. Jayden Jiminez closed it out.

South Plainfield got on the board with four runs in the bottom of the second. Andrew Cicenia and Ed Bundzinski opened with back-to-back singles, and after a strikeout, Andrew Burns walked, and Joe Stanzione cleared the bases with a double to make it 3-0. Stanzione scored after a second strikeout when Aiden McCarthy hit the ball to second and reached on an error.

The defending North 2, Group 3 champion Tigers – who added another run in the fourth and two more int he sixth for insurance – move on to play at top-seed Chatham (20-6) Wednesday in the sectional semifinals.

Click here to listen to South Plainfield head coach Scott Gleichenhaus talk about the Tigers’ quarterfinal win over North Plainfield with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.
  • (1) Chatham def. (9) Middletown North, 3-0
  • (4) South Plainfield def. (5) North Plainfield, 7-0
  • (3) Cranford def. (11) Summit, 17-7 (5)
  • (2) North Hunterdon def. (7) Millburn, 6-0

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

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, 4:30 pm (LIVE on CJSR)

Non-Public South A Semifinals

  • (5) Christian Brothers Academy at (1) Immaculata (at Diamond Nation, Flemington) (Follow Sean Newcomb on Twitter for updates)
  • (3) Red Bank Catholic at (2) St. Augustine

Wednesday, June 4 (game times TBA)

Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals

  • (4) Hightstown at (1) Old Bridge
  • (7) Jackson Twp. at (3) Hunterdon Central

Central Jersey Group 1 Semifinals

  • (5) Shore at (1) Middlesex
  • (3) Point Pleasant Beach at (2) Piscataway Magnet

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Semifinals

  • (5) Bridgewater-Raritan at (1) Ridge
  • (3) Watchung Hills at (2) Bayonne

North Jersey, Section 2 Semifinals

  • (4) South Plainfield at (1) Chatham
  • (3) Cranford at (2) North Hunterdon

Thursday, June 5: Non-Public Sectional Finals (at higher seeds)

Friday, June 6: Public Sectional Finals (at higher seeds)

by Mike Pavlichko

Watchung Hills’ win in SCT propels Hustlin’ Warriors to top spot in Bellamy & Son Paving Baseball Top Ten

With a new champions of Somerset County baseball comes a new team atop the Bellamy & Son Paving rankings for Week 8: Watchung Hills.

The Warriors displaced No. 1 Immaculata after a 1-0 win over the Spartans in eight innings in the Somerset County Tournament final Friday night, getting the game-winning hit from Stef DeGeronimo, and a three-hit, complete game shutout from starting pitcher Lucas Sheehan, the first sophomore to earn a win in the SCT title game since Casey Cahill of Immaculata did it in 1998.

With that win, and Monday’s semifinal victory over Bridgewater-Raritan, Watchung Hills (15-7) moves up two spots this week to No. 1. They will play a regular-season game at Millburn Tuesday afternoon before opening the state playoffs as a No. 3 seed in North 2, Group 4 first round action at home Wednesday against 14-seed Elizabeth.

Holding in second is Old Bridge (18-8), which only played one game last week, beating Sayreville 9-8 at Fred Cole Field Friday on senior night. The top-seed in Central Jersey Group 4, the Knights will open the playoffs against 16-seed East Brunswick on Wednesday. Should they win, they’ll play a sectional quarterfinal game at home Friday before Saturday’s rescheduled Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament Championship Game against Monroe. You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – or watch it live on our YouTube channel – with first pitch scheduled for noon.

Immaculata (20-5) falls to third, going 2-1 in the past week. Between their 7-6 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in the SCT semifinals Monday and their loss in Friday’s championship, they beat West Morris in a regular season game, 1-0, on Friday afternoon. The Spartans are the No. 1 seed in the state tournament’s Non-Public South A section, and will open play on Thursday in the quarterfinals against either nine-seed Donovan Catholic or eight-seed Paul VI.

Ridge (15-9) once again checks in at No. 4. After their 4-2 loss to eventual SCT champion Watchung Hills in the semifinals on Monday, the Red Devils rebounded with a 7-0 win over Madison on Saturday. They’ll open state tournament play on Wednesday as the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 4, hosting 16-seed Barringer.

Holding at five is Middlesex (20-4), which lost its only game this week, a Tuesday non-conference loss to North Hunterdon, 4-2. They have one more regular season game to play – Tuesday at South Plainfield – before opening state tournament action as the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 1 on Wednesday afternoon against 16-seed Highland Park.

Up one spot to No. 6 is Monroe (13-13), which split a pair of games last week, falling 16-4 to Robbinsville on Monday before coming back to beat South Brunswick, 6-4, on Wednesday. The Falcons will open the state playoffs as the five-seed in Central Jersey Group 4, hosting 12-seed Montgomery in the opening round Wednesday. Should they win, they will get a sectional quarterfinal game on Friday before playing Old Bridge for the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon. You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – or watch it live on our YouTube channel – with first pitch scheduled for 12 pm.

Down one spot to seven is Edison (19-7), which went 2-1 last week after falling the week prior in the GMC Tournament semifinals to Monroe. The Eagles were 9-1 winners over Somerville Tuesday, and 9-0 victors over Carteret on Wednesday – both at home – before losing, 4-0, to Hunterdon Central on Thursday. Wednesday, they open play as the two-seed in Central Jersey Group 4, hosting 15th-seed Franklin.

Up one spot to eight is South Plainfield (13-13), which was idle last week. The Tigers will open state tournament play as the four-seed in North 2, Group 3 in Wednesday, hosting 13-seed and conference mate JFK.

Rutgers Prep (3-1) is down a spot to nine. They beat Dayton 8-7 Monday, then lost 16-10 in a slugfest to Princeton Day on Tuesday in the Prep B Semifinals. They rebounded with a 5-3 win over Pingry on Thursday and an 11-0 win over Phillipsburg on Friday.

And Colonia (14-9) holds at ten after a 2-2 week. They opened with a 5-0 loss to Woodbridge on Monday, then lost Wednesday, 9-2, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood. But they came back with a 4-1 win at Ferris on Thursday, and beat Dayton 6-3 on Saturday. Wednesday, they open play in the North 2, Group 3 section of the state playoffs as the eight-seed, entertaining nine-seed Middletown North.

Below is the complete Bellamy & Son Paving H.S. Baseball Top Ten for Week Eight:

by Mike Pavlichko

By The Numbers: A look back at the 2026 Somerset County Tournament Final, and a historic win for Lucas Sheehan

The 52nd annual Somerset County Tournament is in the books, and the trophy goes to second-seed Watchung Hills, which beat top-seed and defending champion Immaculata 1-0 to win its sixth title overall, tying the Warriors with Hillsborough for third-place all-time.

Here’s a closer look at some notes and nuggets following the 2026 SCT final.

Historic win for Sheehan: Watchung Hills head coach Joseph Tremarco had already used his No. 1 and most veteran pitcher, Robbie Centamore, in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals on Monday, in a 4-2 win over Ridge. Even with the finals delayed two days by thunderstorms in the forecast Wednesday – which came to fruition quickly, but with much wind and rain – the 109 pitches he threw kept him from being available Friday.

And during the week, at least in his comments to Central Jersey Sports Radio, Tremarco had not decided whether he’d got with junior Nick Minnetti (3-2, 3.82 ERA) or the younger Lucas Sheehan, a sophomore who was 5-2 at the time, but with an ERA of 5.96. But it’s more than about stats with veteran coaches like Tremarco. There’s also the feel, and the intangibles.

So, he went with Sheehan, and the decision worked to near-perfection.

Sheehan scattered three hits and went the distance in a complete-game, eight-inning effort, outdueling Wake Forest-bound Immaculata senior Ryan Auten, who allowed just six hits and one earned run, striking out 15 in 7 2/3 innings, only coming out at 111 pitches, as mandated by NJSIAA rule.

And with the win, Sheehan did something that hadn’t been done in nearly 30 years – earn a win as a sophomore in the Somerset County Tournament final.

Ironically, the last one to do it was Immaculata star Casey Cahill, who got the win in the 1998 final, a 3-2 win over Bridgewater-Raritan. He’d pick up another as a junior in 1999, in an 8-0 win over Hillsborough, and do it again in 2000, his senior year, in a 2-0 victory over Ridge. To this day, he remains the only pitcher to pick up wins in three Somerset County Tournament finals.

Nearly a win in every decade: With Watchung Hills winning its sixth Somerset County Tournament title, the Warriors have nearly won in every decade in which the tournament has been played, and in more decades – four – than any other team, along with Imaculata.

The inaugural game came in 1973, with Bridgewater-Raritan East edging Hillsborough, 1-0. Two years later, Watchung Hills took the 1975 title, beating Hillsborough 6-4.

In 1982 and 1983, the Warriors went back-to-back. First, they beat Bridgewater-Raritan West 15-0 – the first mercy-rule win in the SCT finals – then they came back and beat Hillsborough the following year, 2-0.

They also picked up a title in 1993, knocking off top-seed Immaculata 5-4, then had a 16-year drought until Watchung Hills beat Montgomery, 4-0 for the 2009 title.

The only decade they didn’t win a title in was the 2010s, though they made the finals twice in that span, losing in 2015 to Hillsborough and 2016 to Montgomery.

Immaculata and Watchung Hills stand for the National Anthem before the 2026 Somerset County Tournament Final at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 22, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

No school – not even Immaculata, with its 15 titles, an SCT record – has won in all six decades. The Spartans failed to even reach the finals from 1973 to 1979, making their first title game in 1981, but never winning one until 1991. Immaculata dominated the decade from 2000 to 2009, winning all but three titles in that span, with the only other winners being Watchung Hills, Hillsborough (won in the 1970s, 2000s, and 2010s) and Montgomery (won in the 2000s and 2010s).

Immaculata has won it in the last four decades, in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and the current decade.

Top Seed vs. Two-Seed Upsets? Each of the last two seasons, the top-seed has lost to the second seed int he SCT final. Immaculata did it last year, edging top-seed Ridge 3-0, before Watchung Hills turned the tables this year as the second-seed, beating the No. 1-seeded Spartans.

It’s also the third time in the last five SCT finals (since COVID) that the lower-seeded team won the championship.

1-0 Wins and Shutouts: The Watchung Hills win was just the fifth 1-0 win in the SCT finals, and only the third in the last 52 years. The first two title games were 1-0 affairs, with Bridgewater-Raritan East beating Hillsborough, 1-0, in the inaugural tournament in 1973, and Somerville defeating North Plainfield, 1-0, in the 1974 final.

Other 1-0 wins in the SCT finals include:

  • 2004: (3) Immaculata over (1) Hillsborough
  • 2023: (12) Rutgers Prep over (2) Ridge

The victory also was the 17th shutout in SCT finals history. Four of the last five have been decided via shutout, with the only exception being a 10-7 win for top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan over third-seed Ridge in 2024, the year the Panthers swept the division, SCT, North 2 Group 4, and state Group 4 championships en route to a 30-3 season, one of the most dominant in Somerset County in recent memory.

SOMERSET COUNTY TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY:

  • 1973    Bridgewater-Raritan East def. Hillsborough, 1-0
  • 1974    Somerville def. North Plainfield, 1-0
  • 1975    Watchung Hills def. Hillsborough, 6-4
  • 1976    Ridge def. Watchung Hills, 4-3 (10 inn.)
  • 1977    Hillsborough def. North Plainfield, 5-0
  • 1978    Bridgewater-Raritan East def. Hillsborough, 9-2
  • 1979    Hillsborough def. Ridge, 2-0
  • 1980    Ridge, def. Franklin, 7-1
  • 1981    Manville def. Immaculata, 4-1
  • 1982    Watchung Hills def. Bridgewater-Raritan West, 15-0
  • 1983    Watchung Hills def. Hillsborough, 2-0
  • 1984    Ridge def. Immaculata, 2-0
  • 1985    (2) Ridge def. (1) Immaculata, 5-0
  • 1986    Bernards def. Somerville, 14-10
  • 1987    Somerville def. Ridge, 2-1
  • 1988    (6) Bridgewater-Raritan West def. (1) Ridge, 3-1
  • 1989    (1) Ridge def. Bridgewater-Raritan West, 5-4
  • 1990    (7) Bridgewater-Raritan East def. (4) Somerville, 9-1
  • 1991    (1) Immaculata def. North Plainfield, 11-3
  • 1992    (2) Somerville def. (1) Watchung Hills, 9-2
  • 1993    (3) Watchung Hills def. (1) Immaculata, 5-4
  • 1994    (3) Immaculata, def. (1) Watchung Hills, 5-2 
  • 1995    (1) Somerville def. (3) Ridge, 7-6
  • 1996    (6) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (1) Immaculata, 7-5
  • 1997    (2) Immaculata def. (1) Bridgewater-Raritan, 2-0
  • 1998    (3) Immaculata def. (1) Bridgewater-Raritan, 3-2
  • 1999    (1) Immaculata def. (6) Hillsborough, 8-0
  • 2000    (1) Immaculata def. (2) Ridge, 2-0
  • 2001    (2) Immaculata def. (5) Montgomery, 6-1
  • 2002    (1) Immaculata def. (2) Ridge, 10-0
  • 2003    (3) Montgomery def. (8) Pingry, 5-4
  • 2004    (3) Immaculata def. (1) Hillsborough, 1-0
  • 2005    (2) Hillsborough, def. (1) Immaculata 5-1
  • 2006    (1) Immaculata def. (7) Pingry, 8-0
  • 2007    (1) Immaculata def. (3) Hillsborough, 12-11 (10 inn.)
  • 2008    (1) Immaculata def. (2) Hillsborough, 9-1
  • 2009    (2) Watchung Hills def. (9) Montgomery 4-0
  • 2010    (2) Montgomery def. (1) Immaculata, 13-3 (5 inn.)
  • 2011    (8) Ridge def. (3) Hillsborough, 4-3 (8 inn.)
  • 2012    (4) Hillsborough def. (7) Bridgewater-Raritan, 4-3 (12 inn.)
  • 2013    (6) Bernards def, (5) Immaculata, 6-5 
  • 2014    (4) Hillsborough def. (2) Ridge, 4-3 (9 inn.) 
  • 2015    (6) Hillsborough def. (9) Watchung Hills, 3-1 
  • 2016    (1) Montgomery def. (6) Watchung Hills, 2-1
  • 2017    (10) Rutgers Prep def. (1) Montgomery, 7-2
  • 2018    (3) Immaculata def. (9) Montgomery, 6-5 
  • 2019    (2) Immaculata def. (5) Ridge, 6-5 (12 inn.) 
  • 2020 & 2021    NO TOURNAMENT
  • 2022    (1) Ridge def. (6) Rutgers Prep, 6-0
  • 2023    (12) Rutgers Prep def. (2) Ridge, 1-0 
  • 2024    (1) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (3) Ridge, 10-7
  • 2025    (2) Immaculata def. (1) Ridge, 3-0
  • 2026    (2) Watchung Hills def. (1) Immaculata, 1-0 (8 inn.)
by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Somerset County Tournament Final: (2) Watchung Hills 1, (1) Immaculata 0 (8 inn.)

Second-seed Watchung Hills got a run in the top of the eighth and a complete game, three-hit shutout – all the way into extras – by sophomore Lucas Sheehan to beat top-seed and defending champion Immaculata, 1-0, in the 52nd Somerset County Tournament championship game.

It was the sixth title overall for the Hustlin’ Warriors, and first for head coach Joe Tremarco, now in his 11th season and 12th year as head coach.

Top-seed and defending Somerset County Tournament champion Immaculata rallied with three runs in the sixth to beat fifth-seed Bridgewater-Raritan, 7-6, in the SCT semifinals, sending the Spartans to the title game where they will try to become the first team to repeat since they did it in 2018 and 2019.

READ THE FULL GAME STORY HERE!

Click below to watch the full game as Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play live from TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 22, 2026.

by Mike Pavlichko

Tremarco’s steady hand guides Watchung Hills to promised land in SCT final at TD Bank Park

“We’re built to play.”

Those four words from Watchung Hills head coach Joseph Tremarco sum up perfectly his Hustlin’ Warriors.

The certainly came to play Friday night, as the second seed in the Somerset County Tournament, with a tall task at hand: beating not only the top-seed and defending champion Immaculata, but doing it with Ryan Auten on the mound for the Spartans.

Because, heck, all he’s doing next year is going to play in the ACC at Wake Forest.

But a funny thing happened as he and Warriors’ starter Lucas Sheehan – just a sophomore by the way – locked up in a pitchers’ duel.

GAME STORY: Watchung Hills takes down defending champ Immaculata, 1-0 in extras, to win first Somerset County title in 17 years behind Lucas Sheehan three-hitter

They made Auten work, and worked out several deep counts, eventually chasing him as the game went to extra innings, with two out in the eighth, already up 1-0.

Turns out that was all Hills would need.

And behind it all was Tremarco. He is never too up, never too down, and his team feeds off that. Even if they were very, very up when the final out was recorded, a force play at second base to end the game with Immaculata threatening.

While the win gave the Hustlin’ Warriors their sixth SCT championship overall – and first since 2009 – it was the very first for Tremarco, and well-deserved.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel talk with Watchung Hills head coach Joseph Tremarco:

by Mike Pavlichko

Watchung Hills takes down defending champ Immaculata, 1-0 in extras, to win first Somerset County title in 17 years behind Lucas Sheehan three-hitter

Without looking at who was even on the mound for Watchung Hills, the initial thought would be the edge to Immaculata, with perhaps the top pitcher in the county, Wake Forest-bound Ryan Auten on the mound, coming into the game with an ERA of just 0.83 on the season.

In the end, he only allowed just six hits and one earned run, but sophomore Lucas Sheehan of the Warriors did the senior one better.

Sheehan went the distance in an eight-inning game, allowing just three hits, shutting out the Spartans (19-8) en route to a 1-0 victory, and the Hustlin’ Warriors’ first title in the Somerset County Tournament since 2009.

A pitchers’ duel all the way, Watchung Hills (15-7) finally broke through in the top of the eighth in a game where each time had just a handful of real opportunities.

Pinch hitter David Begarney came in for eight hitter Bennett Dealaman and led off the top of the eighth with a single, with Dealaman re-entering to run the bases. But when James Esposito tried to bunt him over, the Immaculata infielders were right on top of it, and charging second baseman Luca Catanzerite snared it before it hit the ground for the first out. Jacob Jaconski struck out, and it looked like another scoreless inning was in the offing.

READ MORE: Tremarco’s steady hand guides Watchung Hills to promised land in SCT final at TD Bank Park

But Dealaman had reached third base with Jaconski at the plate; he stole second and when the throw bounced to the shortstop position off his leg, he took off for another base. Stef DeGeronimo singled to drive him in and give Hills a 1-0 lead. Rob Centamore reached on an infield hit, the last batter Auten could face with the pitch count. And his brother Bryson came in and got a strikeout to end the inning.

A baseball pitcher in a striped uniform preparing to throw a pitch, with a catcher in the background and various advertisements on the outfield wall.
Watchung Hills sophomore Lucas Sheehan works in the third inning of the Somerset County Tournament title game at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 22, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

And with Sheehan back out for the eighth, Immaculata threatened to tie it. Jackson Lewis hit a one-out single, then Catanzerite grounded out, putting Lewis at second. Justin Labrador got plunked, but now the Warriors had a force at any base. And they took advantage when Owen Schilling grounded to short, and DeGeronimo tossed to second after bobbling the ball to get the force and end the game.

Sheehan got the win to improve to 6-2, the first sophomore to get a win in the SCT title game since Casey Cahill did it in 1998. Ryan Auten took his first loss of the year against six wins.

The championship is the first under head coach Joseph Tremarco, in his 12th year and 11th season as head coach. It’s the Warriors’ sixth overall, third most in SCT history, and first since they beat Montgomery – also as the two-seed – in 2009.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel with Watchung Hills’ Stef DeGeronimo, Brody Griffith and Lucas Sheehan, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

TD Bank Park in Bridgewater will host the 2026 Somerset County Tournament championship game tonight. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
by Mike Pavlichko

SCT Finals Preview: Immaculata seeks back-to-back titles, while Watchung Hills aims for first since 2009

Who will win the 2026 Somerset County Tournament baseball championship – two days later than originally scheduled, due to inclement weather – is anyone’s guess.

Sure, Immaculata, the top seed, is the favorite. They’ve won more titles than any other school in Somerset County history with 15, the bulk of them during an amazing run from the late 1990s through the 2000s.

But Watchung Hills, the second-seed, is quite the talented, resilient group, too. And they split with the Spartans in their two meetings this year, with the Warriors taking a 10-0 decision on the day of the seeding meeting, which likely helped propel them to the No. 2 seed, even though they were third in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division behind Ridge, which they lost to twice.

And the Hustlin’ Warriors proved the coaches in the seeding meeting right, knocking out third-seed Ridge in the semifinals Monday, with a 4-2 win, behind a two-hitter from ace Rob Centamore, who struck out a career-high 13 in the win.

Immaculata didn’t have an easy time in the semifinals either, needing three in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 7-6 victory over the fifth-seed Bridgewater-Raritan.

And now, it’s time for the championship.  Once again, it’ll be No. 1 vs. No. 2

SOMERSET COUNTY TOURNAMENT FINALS AT-A-GLANCE

Teams:
(1) Immaculata Spartans (19-4, 9-1, Skyland Conference Delaware Division Champions)
(2) Watchung Hills Warriors (14-7, 7-3, Skyland Conference Delaware Division, 2nd place)

Head Coaches:
Immaculata: Kevin Cust, 14th year, 13th season (187-142)
Watchung Hills: Joe Tremarco, 12th year, 11th season (168-146)

Probable Starters:
Immaculata: Ryan Auten (6-0, 0.83 ERA)
Watchung Hills: Nick Minetti (3-2, 3.82 ERA) or Lucas Sheehan (5-2, 5.96 ERA)

Date and Time: Friday, May 22, 4 pm (Pregame at 3:40 pm)
(Note: Game was postponed from Wednesday, due to thunderstorms in the forecast)
Location: TD Bank Park, Bridgewater
Listen: Central Jersey Sports Radio
Watch: CJSR’s YouTube channel
Announcers: Mike Pavlichko & Alec Crouthamel

PREVIEW INTERVIEWS:

Immaculata head coach Kevin Cust
Watchung Hills head coach Joseph Tremarco

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Immaculata:
Double-bye to quarterfinals
Quarterfinals: def. (8) Montgomery, 11-1
Semifinals: def. (5) Bridgewater-Raritan, 7-6

Ridge:
Double-bye to quarterfinals
Quarterfinals: def. (10) Franklin, 9-5
Semifinals: def. (3) Ridge, 4-2

TEAM LEADERS:

Immaculata:

  • Batting Average: Luca Catanzerite (.449); Owen Schilling (.394); Brian Cilento (.372)
  • RBI: Owen Schilling (19); Bryson Auten (15); Luca Catanzerite, Owen Rivenbark (14)
  • HR: Owen Schilling (3); Luca Catanzerite, Andrew Wheeler, Owen Rivenbark, Bryson Auten (1)
  • Walks: Justin Labrador (13); Owen Rivenbark (12)
  • Stolen Bases: Luca Catanzerite (16), Jackson Lewis (12)
  • Wins: Ryan Auten (6); Cole Raymond (5)
  • ERA (min 12 innings): Ryan Auten (0.83); Jackson Trego (2.33)
  • Strikeouts (Pitcher): Ryan Auten (85); Cole Raymond (40)

Watchung Hills:

  • Batting Average: Jacob Jaconski (.485); Rob Centamore (.353); Chris Dorsi (.341)
  • RBI: Max Payne (22); Rob Centamore (13); Jacob Jaconski (12)
  • HR: (Rob Centamore (3); Chris Dorsi, Max Payne (2)
  • Walks: Brody Griffith (11); Brady Simo, Jacob Jaconski Rob Centamore (8)
  • Stolen Bases: Landon Pudlak (14); Stefano DiGeronimo (11); Brody Griffith (10)
  • Wins: Rob Centamore (6); Lucas Sheehan (5)
  • ERA (min 12 innings): Jacob O’Sheal (1.11); Rob Centamore (1.26)
  • Strikeouts (Pitcher): Rob Centamore (54); Lucas Sheehan (24)

TEAM NUMBERS:

  • Runs Scored: Watchung Hills 139, Immaculata 134
  • Runs Allowed: Watchung Hills 110, Immaculata 61
  • Batting Average: Immaculata .324, Watchung Hills .317
  • Home Runs: Watchung Hills 8, Immaculata 7
  • Stolen bases: Watchung Hills 70, Immaculata 55
  • ERA: Immaculata 2.72, Watchung Hills 3.91

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Immaculata

Watchung Hills

NOTES AND NUGGETS:

Among the winningest SCT programs…

Last year’s final was between the two teams that had won the most Somerset County titles: Immaculata and Ridge, combining for 14 and seven, respectively. This year, it’s between the Spartans and Watchung Hills, and the Warriors third on the all-time list with five championships.

Immaculata has won 15 times in 23 appearances, with ten of those coming in a 12-year span from 1998 to 2008, the most successful run in school history. They won from 1997 through 2002, again in 2004, and three more from 2006 through 2008. Watchung Hills

A little history between them…

These two teams have met twice before in the Somerset County Tournament, in back-to-back years: 1993 and 1994. And in both meetings, the lower seed won.

The Warriors were the third seed in 1993, and upset the top-seeded Spartans, 5-4. Starting pitcher Ben Matsil went the distance striking out the side in the seventh to secure the win, and the offense benefitted from nine walks in the first five innings, with four of those resulting in runs. Brett Chuffo’s two-run double in the fifth gave the Warriors a three-run lead, and some insurance they would need after Immaculata got two in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles.

With the seeds reversed in 1994, Immaculata returned the favor, winning 5-2. Spartans’ ace Jason Ryan was the star that night, giving up three hits and striking out 14, tying the record for strikeouts in an SCT title game. And it was a sloppy game on a night that was dry, but the field was wet from earlier rain, and each team scored two unearned runs in the contest. Immaculata became the sixth team in tournament history at that point, to lose in the final one year, then win it the next.

Also notable, the 1994 final was the first time in Somerset County Tournament history that the same starting pitchers rematched the following year: Ryan for Immaculata and Matsil for Watchung Hills.

’94 SCT meeting was overshadowed by another big game…

Surely, both of those games were huge to anyone who played in it, or had an interest in it, but it wasn’t the biggest game of the sports night by far. Just 30 miles away at Madison Square Garden was a pretty big hockey game: Game Seven of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, the one Valeri Zelepukin of the Devils tied up at three with 7.7 seconds left in regulation, and which the Rangers won in overtime on Stephan Matteau’s goal.

Aces went in regular season meetings…

In the first regular season meeting between the teams, Watchung Hills took a 10-0 victory on the day of the SCT seeding meeting, propelling them to the second-seed over Ridge, the second-place team in the Delaware Division of the Skyland Conference. The Red Devils had been swept by the Spartans, and Hills had lost both meetings with Ridge, but that was Immaculatta’s only conference loss. Rob Centamore got the win for Hills, but a few days later, when ‘Lata’s ace Ryan Auten got the nod, they picked up a 6-0 win.

In eleven meetings since COVID, Watchung Hills has won eight meetings, all in regular season play, while the Spartans have won only three.

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Immaculata (15-8):

  • 1981: Manville def. Immaculata, 4-1
  • 1984: Ridge def. Immaculata, 2-0
  • 1985: (2) Ridge def. (1) Immaculata, 5-0
  • 1991: (1) Immaculata def. North Plainfield, 11-3
  • 1993:  (3) Watchung Hills def. (1) Immaculata, 5-4
  • 1994: (3) Immaculata, def. (1) Watchung Hills, 5-2 
  • 1996: (6) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (1) Immaculata, 7-5
  • 1997:  (2) Immaculata def. (1) Bridgewater-Raritan, 2-0
  • 1998:  (3) Immaculata def. (1) Bridgewater-Raritan, 3-2
  • 1999:  (1) Immaculata def. (6) Hillsborough, 8-0
  • 2000:  (1) Immaculata def. (2) Ridge, 2-0
  • 2001:  (2) Immaculata def. (5) Montgomery, 6-1
  • 2002:  (1) Immaculata def. (2) Ridge, 10-0
  • 2004:  (3) Immaculata def. (1) Hillsborough, 1-0
  • 2005:  (2) Hillsborough, def. (1) Immaculata 5-1
  • 2006:  (1) Immaculata def. (7) Pingry, 8-0
  • 2007:  (1) Immaculata def. (3) Hillsborough, 12-11 (10 inn.)
  • 2008:  (1) Immaculata def. (2) Hillsborough, 9-1
  • 2010:  (2) Montgomery def. (1) Immaculata, 13-3 (ten-run rule)
  • 2013:  (6) Bernards def. (5) Immaculata, 6-5
  • 2018:  (3) Immaculata def. (9) Montgomery, 6-5
  • 2019:  (2) Immaculata def. (5) Ridge, 6-5 (12 inn.)
  • 2025: (1) Immaculata def. (2) Ridge, 3-0
Immaculata poses for a team photo after claiming its record 15th county championship in a 3-0 win over Ridge at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 21, 2025. (Photo: Alec Crouthamel)

Watchung Hills (5-5):

  • 1975: Watchung Hills def. Hillsborough, 6-4
  • 1976: Ridge def. Watchung Hills, 4-3 (10 inn.)
  • 1982: Watchung Hills def. Bridgewater-Raritan West, 15-0 (ten-run rule)
  • 1983: Watchung Hills def. Hillsborough, 2-0
  • 1992: (2) Somerville def. (1) Watchung Hills, 9-2
  • 1993: (3) Watchung Hills def. (1) Immaculata, 5-4
  • 1994: (3) Immaculata, def. (1) Watchung Hills, 5-2 
  • 2009: (2) Watchung Hills def. (9) Montgomery 4-0
  • 2015: (6) Hillsborough def. (9) Watchung Hills, 3-1 
  • 2016: (1) Montgomery def. (6) Watchung Hills, 2-1

The Last Time…

  • The top-seed won the SCT was in 2024, when Bridgewater-Raritan beat third-seed Ridge, 10-7.
  • The second-seed won the SCT was last year, when Immaculata knocked off top-seed Ridge, 1-0, in a battle of Skyland Conference Delaware Division co-champs.

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Somerset County Tournament Semifinals: (2) Watchung Hills 4, (3) Ridge 2

Thanks in large part to a career-high 13-strikeout, two-hitter from Robbie Centamore, second-seed Watchung Hills beat third-seed Ridge, 4-2, in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals. It’ll be the Warriors’ first trip to the SCT title game since 2016.

READ THE FULL GAME STORY HERE!

Click below to watch the full game as Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play live from TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on May 18, 2026.