Zack Smolen
Bridgewater, NJ â At Big State Sports, we love a little chaos now and again (or at least fellow broadcasters David Hashagen, Reed Keller, and I do). This seasonâs Somerset County Baseball Finals will take place after the State Sectional Tournament has already begun. While this could present some management problems for lesser teams, thatâs simply not the case for the powerhouse #3 Ridge Red Devils (20-7) and #1 Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers (24-3). Both teams will walk into TD Bank Ballpark winners of one round of postseason play and with ace-level arms available. Playing for a championship is fun on its own, but doing so in the midst of a state title chase? Now thatâs something special.
First pitch is set for 6 PM and can be viewed for free on our YouTube channel using this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8pviCYRyGo
What to Expect
An incredibly well-played baseball game. In addition to this pair of 20+ win teams facing off for the third time this season, theyâll be doing so under the bright lights typically illuminating the New York Yankees AA-affiliate Somerset Patriots. The field conditions will be immaculate, and the atmosphere and feel of playing at a professional ballpark will more than likely bring the A-games of these young student-athletes.
Groundskeeping and intangibles aside, expect this game to be a heavyweight bout until the finish. While Bridgewater-Raritan won the first two 2024 meetings between these teams, it was Ridge, not BR who advanced to this round last season, falling by just a single run to the Cinderella 12-seeded Rutgers Prep. Itâs also an old sports adage that itâs hard to beat a team three times, and the challenge is increased when that team is as good as the Red Devils.
In my preview of the Morris County Finals, I wrote about how if the high school champions in baseball were crowed as the result of a series, the odds drastically favored one team over the other. The same canât be said here, as this is one of the most evenly-matched county finals the state has to offer.
All in all, this game will be a treat to watch.
What Ridge Needs to Win
Despite graduating seven seniors, most of them integral pieces, Head Coach Tom Blackwell has his team right back in the County Finals. This is largely due to this yearâs senior class taking a big step up from their collective junior season. Itâll be up to this group to learn from their experience last year and continue to rise to the occasion to take home this title.
The Red Devils are led in part by dual-threat Ben Larner. The two-year varsity letter winner has thrived with his increased playing time, posting a .290 batting average and 14 RBI in the batter box coupled with a 1.71 ERA and a team-leading 37 strikeouts in 49 innings on the mound. Heâs joined by slugger and plus-defender Ezra Sadowsky (Ithaca) whoâs team-leading 26 hits, .371 average, four home runs, and 31 RBI leap off the page.
Weâll talk a bit more about this roster later, but if these two guys do their jobs well, Ridge will have a good shot at washing away last seasonâs disappointment in this game.
What Bridgewater-Raritan Needs to Win
The Panthersâ key to success on Friday is to keep their foot on the gas. This has been a banner year for Head Coach Max Newillâs squad, as the 2024 edition of Bridgewater-Raritan baseball just broke the schoolâs win record set by last seasonâs team. This includes a 10-0 record in the highly competitive Skyland-Delaware Division, and two separate eight-game winning streaks, one of which is current.
This team does everything well, scoring 184 runs (2nd Skyland) while allowing just 72 (2nd-fewest Skyland). The latter figure is largely due to the tremendous work of Fridayâs probable starter, junior Owen Crimmins. NJ.comâs Skyland Conference Pitcher of the Week for May 13-19th has been a jewel in the studded crown that is BRâs pitching staff, posting a pristine 8-0 record supported by a 2.19 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched. And if he gets into trouble, senior Cory Rible (Elizabethtown), is more than capable of saving the day, producing a 1.27 ERA in 13 appearances, and surrendering an earned run in just three.
On the other side of the ball, this team applies pressure like few others. Newillâs boys know how to earn their way aboard, racking up 129 walks and a program-record 52 hit-by-pitches. Once on first, they donât stay there for long, swiping an absurd 129 bags. Even if the bats go quiet, this team finds a way, just as theyâre hoping to find a way to capture a county championship trophy, something thatâs eluded Newill in a spectacular 17 seasons at the helm.
Players to Watch
As you may have guessed from the accolades and win/loss records above, these two teams will each have a wealth of talent on display at TD Bank Ballpark.
Beginning with Ridge, senior Nick Sellitti (CCM) is another player who took a big step forward from last season. In 14 fewer at-bats relative to 2023, the outfielder has seen his average climb 54 points to .296, his RBI total double to 12, his doubles increase from two to seven, and his stolen bases reach double-digits (11) for the first time. Also bolstering the lineup is sophomore phenom Jake Dolan whose current five-game hitting streak has elevated his average to .312, going nicely with his trio of homers, five doubles, and 11 walks this season.
The Red Devils also boast a big-time bullpen of their own, headlined by breakout senior Andrew Reynolds. After not throwing a single varsity pitch last season, heâs twirled a 2.94 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 27/10 in 33.1 innings of work. Expect to see him in a potential late-game situation.
As for Bridgewater-Raritan, we mentioned their run-scoring prowess, and now itâs time to meet the young men responsible. Spearheading the offense is senior Matt Fattore (Belmont Abbey), who displays all-around excellence evidenced by a .438 average, .548 slugging, 28 runs scored, 27 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and 16 HBPs. Heâs not the only gamer either, with fellow senior Devin Goldberg (Tampa) adding in 30 stolen bases of his own, and junior JP Rosado contributing a .411 average and nine extra-base hits.
Other major contributors include juniors Matt Cichoki (20 walks, 21 stolen bases), and Matthew Lehberger (20 RBI, 26 stolen bases), as well as sophomore Kellen Komline (.321 average, 0.66 ERA).
We hope you enjoy our coverage of the Somerset County Tournament Baseball Finals at 6 pm on Friday, May 24th featuring myself and David Hashagen on the call.
-Stay Frosty
