Tag: Watchung Hills

by Mike Pavlichko

Somerset County Tournament tips off tonight with boys’ and girls’ first round games

There are five games total on tap on the boys’ and girls’ sides in the 2025 Somerset County Tournament, which tips off tonight with games at higher seeds.

Winners move on to the second round this Saturday, and quarterfinals the following Saturday, February 8th, also at higher seeds. Semifinals will be at Franklin High School on Saturday, the 15th, with the finals on Saturday, February 22.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s schedule and matchups:

BOYS

  • (13) Bound Brook (9-9) at (12) Somerville (12-5), 5:30 pm: This will be the second meeting this season between the Crusaders and Pioneers, with Somerville having just beaten them a second time Tuesday night, 72-38, at home. It’ll be back on the Pioneers’ court for this one. Somerville won in Bound Brook on January 11th, 40-30, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Bound Brook had won six in a row against The ‘Ville, with the Pioneers’ last win ion the series – before this year – coming back in 2020.
  • (14) Manville (11-3) at (11) Bernards (8-8), 7 pm: The Mountaineers won the their only meeting this year, 58-38 in Manville back on January 3rd. It was the Mustangs’ first loss of the season after a 4-0 start. They’ve won their last four, while Bernards has lost three straight and four of five heading into this matchup.

GIRLS

  • (13) Montgomery (6-11) at (12) Bound Brook (11-4), 5:30 pm: Being a large school versus a small school, these two don’t meet often. They’ve only met three times since 2020, but the Crusaders have won all of them. Monty’s last win came in 2013, 47-9, but since then, The Brook came out victorious in 2020, 2021 and last season, 59-32. The other two wins were both by 20 points.
  • (14) Bridgewater-Raritan (7-9) at (11) Ridge (4-12), 7:30 pm: These two are in different divisions, but have a crossover scheduled for February 15th. Obviously, this one has a bit more meaning. The Red Devils won in a blowout last year, 51-18, but that was their second meeting. The first was a 47-42 win for Ridge, much closer. The Panthers have lost six straight to Ridge, the last win coming by a 40-25 score in the North 2, Group 4 sectional quarterfinals in 2018.
  • (15) Manville (8-5) at (10) Watchung Hills (7-9), 5:30 pm: This will be the first meeting between the schools in at least a decade-and-a-half. And they come in on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Mustangs have won four straight, while Watchung Hills – which had started the season 7-3 – has lost six-in-a-row since.

by Mike Pavlichko

Saturday Boys’ Holiday Tourney Roundup: No. 5 Ridge wins third straight Dukiet Classic, No. 7 Hillsborough prevails at Oratory; South River, Watchung Hills, Somerville, Manville also claim hardware

With a big schedule of games Saturday, a number of Central Jersey Sports Radio-area teams played for championships, while others are have finished two of the three legs of their holiday tournament experience.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s results:

Ridge tourney win keeps Red Devils undefeated…

What’s more impressive? The fact that Ridge has won the Whitey Dukiet Classic at Livingston three years running? Or the fact they’re now 6-0 on the season, in mostly dominating fashion?

Maybe it’s both, but that’s where fifth-ranked Ridge stands now after a 66-37 win over the host Lancers Saturday afternoon, to take the tournament title.

Senior Luke Kreitz was leading scorer for the fourth straight game, scoring 15 points, including three treys. But that was matched by Dan Rafanello, whose 15 were a career high for the junior. He had a career best for treys on the night.

Ridge will be back in action Thursday at home against Chatham.

In the consolation game, Pingry topped Morris Knolls, 69-63, to improve to 2-3. They’ll visit Ridge on Tuesday, January 7.

Raiders take Oratory Holiday Tourney crown…

Seventh-ranked Hillsborough won its third straight and improved to 5-1 with a 57-46 win over host Oratory Prep.

Senior Manny Rodriguez was the game’s high scorer with 19 points, while Jack Toth added 13 and Aaron Feath scored 11.

Hillsborough led much of the way, jumping to an 18-8 lead after the first eight minutes; they went into the break up 35-17. The Raiders hit six threes in the game.

Click below to hear Hillsborough coach Tim Palek talk about the game – and the Raiders’ season so far – with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

The Raiders are back in action next Saturday, January 4, with a home game against Sparta.

Manville tops Dunellen at the buzzer to win Mike Shello Holiday Tournament…

It was some great small school basketball at Dunellen’s Faber School, as Manville won the Mike Shello Holiday Tournament, taking both their opening round and championship game by a combined two points.

The Mustangs followed up a 42-41 win over North Plainfield Thursday with a 62-61 win over the host Destroyers, behind a team-high 22 points from Edryn Morales. But it was freshman Owen Kenyon who hit the big shot, a three at the buzzer to win it. He finished with 11 points.

Manville is now 4-0 on the season, and will be back in action Friday after the New Year against Bernards.

Click below to hear Manville coach Bill Rooney talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Dunellen fell to 2-2 and will host Perth Amboy Magnet the Thursday after New Year’s. Ryan Hutchins had 29 points for the Destroyers, leading all scorers in the losing effort.

The consolation game went to the Canucks, who beat Highland Park, 75-63.

South River wins Middlesex/Shore Tournament…

Alex Grospe had a monster game, dropping a career-high 46 points – with only three treys, but 15 made free throws – in a 79-66 victory over Henry Hudson, to claim the Middlesex/Shore Tournament down in Highlands.

It was the sixth 40-plus point game in Grospe’s high school career; he had five last year. On the season, he’s averaging 33.5, almost three full points higher than last year.

The led 43-26 at halftime, but Henry Hudson climbed back into it, slashing the lead to five at the end of the third, but the Rams pulled away over the final eight minutes.

South River improves to 3-1 and is back in action Monday against Highland Park at 11:30 am.

Keansburg beat South Amboy in the consolation game, 63-34.

Watchung Hills takes Pete Tierney Memorial…

Zack Patetta scored 15 points to lead the Warriors – with KJ West adding 12 and Timmy Robertson chipping in 11 – to a 59-42 win over host Summit in the Pete Tierney Memorial Holiday Tournament title game.

Watchung Hills (3-2) trailed Summit by nine at the half, but rallied in the second, taking a 38-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Hilltoppers 21-6.

Watchung Hills is back at it next Saturday in the Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase at Montgomery against Delaware Valley at 6:30 pm.

Millburn was an 86-55 winner over Governor Livingston in the consolation game.

OTHER TOURNAMENT RESULTS:

ALJ Crusader Classic at A.L. Johnson
Metuchen 45, JP Stevens 41
Johnson 53, Bernards 47

Crusader Classic at Bound Brook
Championship: Voorhees 59, Bound Brook 52
Consolation: STEM Civics 68, Whippany Park 62

West Windsor-Plainsboro Holiday Tournament
Championship: Somerville 55, Spotswood, 53
Consolation: Palmyra 64, South Hunterdon 58

LeGrand Holiday Jubilee at Colonia
No. 1 Colonia 49, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 41
Westfield 58, Franklin 44

Joe Silver Holiday Tournament at Hillside
Piscataway 72, College Achieve-Regional 45
Hillside 74, Marion P. Thomas 60

by Mike Pavlichko

Woodbridge stays at the top, Somerville and St. Joseph rise in Week 5 CJSR H.S. Football Top Ten

There was no change at No. 1 this week, but Somerville and St. Joseph climbed in the Week 5 Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football Top Ten, while two new teams – Watchung Hills and Johnson – joined the rankings this week, with just a few more games left before Cutoff Weekend.

Woodbridge improved to 6-0 with a 35-0 shutout at Perth Amboy Friday night. The Barrons got three touchdowns from senior Shamar Wells after Jahmir Beal got dinged up early in the game. Woodbridge hosts Montgomery (0-6) Friday night.

Edging up a spot to No. 2 is Somerville (6-0). The Pioneers handed Summit its first loss of the season, rolling up 41 points and kickstarting the running clock before halftime in a 41-0 win at Brooks Field Friday night. The ‘Ville is home Thursday night against North Hunterdon (2-4), which has won two of its last three after starting 0-3 on the season.

St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2) took Paramus Catholic to the brink on the road Friday night, falling 35-34 in overtime when a chance to win the game on a two-point conversion was broken up by the Paladins. The Trojans host in-town foe Edison (3-3) Friday night, riding a league best 28-game win streak against Big Central competition.

Bernards (6-0) is now at 20 straight Big Central wins after a 28-0 home win over South Plainfield Friday night. Thursday, the Mountaineers entertain Summit (4-1), in the first of two “Big Central Game of the Week” broadcasts this week, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Click here to listen, with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm.

Rising this week to No. 5 is St. Joseph-Metuchen, which is now 5-0 – and has won nine straight Big Central games going back to last season – thanks to a 40-14 home victory Friday night over North Brunswick. This week, it’s a big clash with No. 7 Phillipsburg (4-1) out at Maloney Stadium on Friday night.

In sixth is Ridge (4-1), a 49-7 winner over winless Union Friday night. The Red Devils travel to Hunterdon Central (4-2, also considered this week) for a Thursday night Week 6 contest.

Phillipsburg (4-1) is at No. 7. The Stateliners got past West Orange on the road in a non-conference matchup Friday night. It’s back to Big Central competition this Friday when St. Joe’s comes in.

At No. 8 this week is Piscataway (4-2), up two spots after a 42-13 win at rival Sayreville. They play the second of back-to-back road games Thursday when they visit East Brunswick (1-5).

New to the rankings this week are Watchung Hills (5-1) and A.L. Johnson (5-0).

The Warriors were 33-0 winners at South Brunswick on Saturday afternoon, and will host Rahway (4-2) next Saturday. The Crusaders knocked off Governor Livingston in Berkeley Heights Saturday, and will be back home in Clark Friday to take on Delaware Valley (4-1).

Dropping out this week were No. 7 Old Bridge (3-3) – which lost 14-7 at Morristown Saturday – and No. 9 Colonia, which fell to 4-2 with a 27-21 loss at Edison Friday.

Hunterdon Central (4-2) and Summit (4-1) also were considered.

Below is the complete Week 5 Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football Top Ten:

Watchung Hills QB Mason Kelly gives the touchdown signal with Zach Esposito under the pile in the second half against South Brunswick on October 5, 2024. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
by Mike Pavlichko

It’s all Watchung Hills:  Warriors blank South Brunswick 33-0 in Saturday matinee

Mason Kelly threw three touchdown passes Saturday afternoon as Watchung Hills blew past visiting South Brunswick 33-0 to improve to 5-1 on the season.

The Warriors built a 13-0 halftime lead on a Jake Arakelian fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter and a 13-yars touchdown pass from Mason Kelly to Christian Warnicke 1:38 before the break.

Zach Esposito added a one-yard touchdown in the third and Kelly followed with a five-yard run of his own the period to give the Warriors a 26-0 lead.

In the fourth, Kelly hit Jonah Weisholtz from a yard out with 10:35 to go to make it 33-0, activating the running clock rule for the remainder of the game.

Senior Brayden Kelly – Mason’s cousin – had an interception in the game, his fifth of the season in a half-dozen games.

Watchung Hills hosts Rahway (4-2) next Saturday night at 7 pm due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, while South Brunswick falls to 3-3 – suffering its third straight loss after a 3-0 start – and will try to snap the skid against winless Union (0-6) at home Thursday night at 6:30.

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

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg, Aquinas remain No. 1 and 2; Watchung Hills joins CJSR Top Ten

There were no changes in the top two spots in the Central Jersey Sports Radio Week 0 rankings, but several teams in the middle shuffled.

Phillipsburg holds steady at No. 1, and will open its season Friday night, taking on Westfield at Maloney Stadium. St. Thomas Aquinas dropped its opener down at the Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic in Wilmington, DE, falling 36-26 to Mount St. Joseph (MD). The Trojans take on their second of three out-of-state opponents Saturday at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson when they face Lincoln High School out of Brooklyn.

Moving up a spot to second is Woodbridge. The Barrons opened with a thrilling 36-34 win at Old Bridge last Thursday night, and host 1-0 Watchung Hills this Friday evening.

Also up a spot is Somerville, which moves up to fourth after holding on for a 21-20 victory over then-No. 3 Hillsborough back on Thursday, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Hillsborough drops from third to No. 5.

Holding steady at No. 6 is Piscataway. The Chiefs opened their season with a 21-11 home win over Manalapan, and host Bridgewater-Raritan Friday night at 6 in the first of a doubleheader of the “Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.”

Defending North 2 Group 2 champion Bernards is up one spot to No. 7, picking up a convincing season-opening 35-6 road win at Monmouth last Thursday. Friday night, the Mountaineers host Hillside, putting their 15-game Big Central Conference winning streak on the line. The Comets were the last league team to beat them, on September 2, 2022.

Falling one spot to eighth was North Brunswick, which lost on the road Friday night, giving up ten fourth-quarter points in a 17-7 defeat at Jackson Memorial. Thursday night they face South Brunswick, having won five straight in the series between the archrivals.

Idle Ridge holds in ninth; the Red Devils open their season on Saturday afternoon at St. Joseph-Metuchen in the opener for both schools. Falcons’ head coach Bill Tracy was at Ridge before moving to Metuchen, and Andy West – his former assistant – how is the Red Devils’ head coach.

New to the rankings this week is Watchung Hills. The Warriors won at Moorestown Friday night, 31-7, and visit Woodbridge Friday evening.

Sayreville dropped out after a 21-20 overtime loss to Colonia in their season opener Thursday night.

Colonia was “also considered” for the Top Ten this week, along with Rahway, which thumped Voorhees 41-14 at home Thursday night, snapping the Vikings’ five game Big Central winning streak. Scotch Plains-Fanwood visits Rahway River Park this Friday night.

Below is the full Central Jersey Sports Radio Week 0 Top Ten:

by Mike Pavlichko

2024 Big Central Preview: Liberty Silver Division

Plainfield is out, Somerville is in. And even though both teams hovered around .500 last year, the Liberty Silver Division of the Big Central Conference gets no easier in 2024 for the remaining teams.

Somerville at Plainfield at least are in divisions that make a little more sense geographically speaking. The Pioneers should challenge for the division, with a host of talent back and Matt Bloom entering his second full season as head coach.

Montgomery will have to replace the talented QB-reciever duo of Michael Schmelzer and Matt D’Avino, but head coach Zoran Milich has a program there, not just a team, so expect the Cougars to reload. North Hunterdon – winless after a state sectional championship season in 2022 that saw big losses to graduation – should bounce back.

Watchung Hills took a stinging playoff loss last year in the semifinals, but should also be in fine form, and Rahway is hoping some of the youth they had last year – which got a little worn down after a good start to the season – will pay off in the form of experience and stamina this year.

Click below to hear our preview of the Liberty Silver Division from Big Central Conference Media Day:

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Somerset County Tournament Semifinals: Ridge and B’water-Raritan advance

The third-seeded Ridge Red Devils beat the second-seeded Immaculata Spartans 15-3 to advance to the Somerset County Tournament championship game for the fifth time in the last five seasons, while top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan edged fourth-seed Watching Hills 4-2 to reach the title game for the first time since 2012.

Click below to listen to both games of the semifinals, as heard live from Diamond Nation in Flemington presented by Zoned Sports Academy of Bridgewater on Central Jersey Sports Radio on May 202, 2024.

Semifinal #1: Ridge 15, Immaculata 3 (Mike Pavlichko and Vin Ebenau)
Semifinal #2: Bridgewater-Raritan 4, Watchung Hills 2 (Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino)
by Mike Pavlichko

State-ranked Bridgewater-Raritan to face Watchung Hills in second SCT semifinal Monday

Call it the Old Bridge model.

Well it’s not a model, per se, but at least a somewhat similar track on which Bridgewater-Raritan hopes they’re taking.

Last year, Old Bridge won the Central Jersey Group 4 title, but didn’t make the semifinals of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. This year – again considered a favorite in the section – they went all the way to become county champions.

A year ago, Bridgewater-Raritan earned the top seed in the Somerset County Tournament, and didn’t make it to the final, but they went all the way to the sectional title game, losing in the North 2, Group 4 final at home to Bayonne. With another year of experience, Max Newill’s squad is hoping not only to reach the SCT final, but bring home some hardware.

On the other side is Watchung Hills, a young squad hovering around .500 ball all season long. But they were awarded the fourth seed, and here they are, in the semis at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater Monday, with the final four of the county tournament all going to chalk.

You can hear Monday’s semifinal Between the Panthers and Warriors live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – presented by Zoned Sports Academy of Bridgewater – starting at 4 pm, immediately following the 1 pm semifinal featuring second-seed Immaculata and third-seed Ridge. Mike Pavlichko, Dom Savino and Vin Ebenau will be on the call; click here to listen.

Bridgewater-Raritan (21-3) is the only Skyland Conference team to reach 20 wins so far this season – though several others are within striking distance – and the Panthers have won five-in-a-row coming in. Their latest was an 11-0 victory over 8th-seed Montgomery in the SCT quarterfinals Thursday, a five-inning ten-run rule game in which starter Owen Crimmins pitched a no-hitter – striking out six and walking just one – while six different players drove in runs.

Kellen Komline will get the start for the Panthers, 3-0 with a microscopic 0.49 ERA. And there are plenty of options in the bullpen, including Cory Rible, who has made the transition in his senior year to closer. In 12 appearances, Bridgewater hos not lost a single one of the games where he’s been on the mound. His two wins have come in his longer outings, five innings in a 7-1, ten-inning win over Immaculata, and 4 2/3 against Cherokee in another ten-inning win at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.

On the season, Bridgewater is hitting .297, and has some key guys over .400, including senior Matthew Fattore, who leads the team at .409, with 24 runs batted in, and 15 HBPs on the season. Junior catcher JR Rosado is just a shade below at .403, with a team-leading six doubles and two home runs. He’s also a superb defensive catcher.

Click below to hear Dom Savino talk with Bridgewater-Raritan head coach Max Newill:

For Watchung Hills (13-12), it’s a young team, but qualifying for the finals might put the Warriors ahead of schedule.

They got a tremendous starting effort in the quarterfinals from Robert Centamore, who threw nine of the 11 innings in a walk-off 1-0 win over Franklin Thursday afternoon (and evening). He struck out nine, scattering three hits, and didn’t allow a single walk. Ethan Byrd closed it out, pitching two innings of one-hit ball, with four Ks and one walk, and got the win, his fourth of the season, tied for the team-lead with junior Max Eder. But the junior Byrd is expected to go Monday for the Warriors.

Hills is a lighter hitting team than Bridgewater, batting .246 on the year. Senior Michael DiSarno heads the team at .333, while junior Jake Kierstead is hitting .319 with 17 runs batted in and a team-high 10 doubles, along with a triple and home run. Senior Will Hunsinger leads the squad with 20 RBIs, three home runs, and 13 stolen bases.

Overall, its literally been an up-and-down season for Watchung Hills. They’ve been at or above .500 more of the season than they haven’t, and after a touch stretch where the lost four in a row in late April/Early May, they’ve now won four of their last five and two straight coming in, including a 4-1 regular season non-league victory over Middlesex Saturday.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Watchung Hills head coach Joseph Tremarco:

by Mike Pavlichko

Bridgewater-Raritan’s Crimmins tosses a no-no, Immaculata wins on a walk-off, and Watchung Hills outlasts Rutgers Prep with 11th inning walkoff on a wild day in the SCT quarterfinals

It was an exciting day in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinal round Thursday, which had a little something for everybody.

Top-seed Bridgewater-Raritan advanced to Monday’s semifinals with an 11-0 win over 8-seed Montgomery, with Owen Crimmins pitching a no-hitter in a five-inning ten-run rule victory.

The Panthers will be seeking their first trip to the finals since they lost 4-3 in 12 innings to Hillsborough in the 2012 title game.

Click below to hear from Bridgewater-Raritan head coach Max Newill:

Bridgewater-Raritan’s opponent in the semis will be fourth-seed Watchung Hills. The Warriors got by 13th-seed Rutgers Prep – which had logged six straight upsets dating back to last year, when they won the SCT as a 12-seed – in eleven innings, with a 1-0 win on a walk-off, two-out, bases loaded single by Jacob Jaconsky.

It was a pitcher’s duel of epic proportions as starters Max Treonze for Prep and sophomore Rob Centamore battled it out, Centamore throwing nine innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out nine.

Click below for postgame comments from Watchung Hills head coach Joe Tremarco:

Bridgewater-Raritan and Watchung Hills will meet in the first semifinal Monday at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater, at 4 pm. The second game will feature third-seed Ridge and second-seed Immaculata at 1 pm. Both can be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater.

Ridge topped six-seed Hillsborough 12-7 Thursday at Diamond Nation in Flemington behind a five RBI day from Ezra Sadowski, who finished a triple shy of a cycle.

Click here to read a full recap of the game, and hear postgame audio from Sadowski and head coach Tom Blackwell.

Also in Flemington, Immaculata came from behind to beat seventh-seed Somerville 3-2, winning in walkoff fashion. The Pioneers scored first, going ahead 1-0 in the fourth, and Immaculata scored two in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead into the seventh.

Somerville tied it up, but Immaculata walked it off in the seventh, winning it 3-2. It was a pitcher’s duel, as the teams combined for just seven hits.

by Mike Pavlichko

Winning, losing streaks throw chaos into Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten

Other than Bridgewater-Raritan holding on to the top spot for a third straight week, chaos reigned in the Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving High School Baseball Rankings, with several top teams going on losing streaks, while win streaks buoyed others.

At No. 1 after a 3-0 week is Bridgewater-Raritan (12-1), which won three straight on the road, beating Somerville 7-0 on Tuesday, Hillsborough 8-1 on Thursday, and Ramapo 11-3 on Saturday. With a week to go before the Somerset County Tournament seeding meeting, the top-seed is the Panthers’ to lose at this point.

Climbing five spots this week is South Plainfield (11-3), which went a stunning 5-0 in the week gone by. The Tigers beat Woodbridge 6-1 on Monday, beat Monroe 9-7 Wednesday, then swept a pair from Old Bridge – winning 6-3 on the road Thursday and 5-1 at home Friday, before topping Dayton 8-4 on Saturday. The run now has South in first place and in the drivers’ seat in the GMC Red Division, with a shot at the tournament’s top seed on the line this week when they play a pair against St. Joseph-Metuchen.

Spotswood (12-1-1) climbs two places to third after a 3-1 week, suffering its first loss of the season. After opening with a home-and-home series sweep of South River – 13-0 on the road Tuesday and 3-2 at home Thursday – the Chargers split two games on Saturday, falling 4-1 to JFK in the morning, then winning 3-1 over Highlands in the Coaches vs. Cancer showcase down in Margate.

Woodbridge (12-2) is up one spot to sixth, also putting together a 3-1 week. The Barrons opened with a 6-1 home loss to South Plainfiled on Monday, but then came back with three straight victories: Wednesday 11-1 at Rahway, Thursday 7-0 at Edison, and Saturday at home 4-1 over Edison. Woodbridge clinched the GMC White Division.

Monroe dropped from third to sixth after a 1-3 week that left them 8-6 on the season. The Falcons lost 9-7 at South Plainfield on Tuesday, then dropped a non-area game at Robbinsville 3-2 Wednesday before snapping the skid with a 6-4 home win over St. Joseph-Metuchen on Friday. They then fell Saturday at home by an 11-5 score to Sayreville.

After two weeks out, Ridge (9-5) is back in the rankings after a strong 4-1 week. That included a win over North Hunterdon 2-0 on Tuesday, a 6-0 win at Randolph Wednesday, an 11-1 rout at Somerville on Thursday, and a loss at New Providence 3-2 on Saturday before the Red Devils bounced back with a 2-1 win over Union Catholic Sunday in the Thank You Classic.

At No. 8 is St. Thomas Aquinas (10-2), up two spots from the Trojans’ previous rank of No. 10. STA picked up wins Monday at home (8-3) and Wednesday (19-3) on the road against North Plainfield, sandwiched around a Tuesday noon-conference loss at Elizabeth, 13-12. They came back and beat Piscataway Friday, 5-4.

In ninth is Watchung Hills, which went 2-1 last week, including a win over then-No. 2 Immaculata, 11-5, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Though they would lose the next day, 8-0 to North Hunterdon, they rebounded with an 11-7 win at Rutgers Prep on Thursday.

And Immaculata falls to tenth after an 0-3 week. After the Tuesday loss to Watchung Hills, they dropped a 5-1 home game to Montgomery on Thursday, and were whitewashed 10-0 Saturday at Phillipsburg.

Below are the full Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving High School Baseball Rankings: