Zack Smolen
After grueling four-round brackets with final projects, AP Exams, and proms all mixed in, we finally have our 20 baseball sectional champions in the Garden State. Only seven number-one seeds lived up to their rankings, and only Morris Knolls and Gloucester Catholic have a shot at becoming repeat state champions.
The public schools will still each play one more round to determine the Group Finals Matchups, while all of the non-public teams have clinched a spot in their respective Group Finals. Below you’ll see which team won each section, their record, seed in their tournament, and more good stuff!
North, Section 1 Group 1: Pompton Lakes
Record: 24-4
Seed: 1
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Finals 9-5 against Mountain Lakes
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Jonathan Dayton TBA
North, Section 1 Group 2: Pascack Valley
Record: 22-8
Seed: 8
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Semifinals 7-4 against Pascack Hills
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Caldwell TBA
North, Section 1 Group 3: Morris Knolls
Record: 26-5
Seed: 1
Last Season: Won Group 3 State Championship 9-3 over Mainland
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Randolph TBA
North, Section 1 Group 4: Livingston
Record: 22-7-1
Seed: 3
Last Season: Lost Sectional Semifinals 8-3 against Bloomfield
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Bridgewater-Raritan TBA
North, Section 2 Group 1: Jonathan Dayton
Record: 17-11
Seed: 6
Last Season: Lost Sectional Quarterfinal 11-6 against New Providence
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Pompton Lakes TBA
North, Section 2 Group 2: Caldwell
Record: 16-15
Seed: 3
Last Season: Lost Sectional Semifinal 6-4 against Rutherford
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Pascack Valley TBA
North, Section 2 Group 3: Randolph
Record: 21-9
Seed: 2
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Quarterfinal 6-1 against North Hunterdon
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Morris Knolls TBA
North, Section 2 Group 4: Bridgewater-Raritan
Record: 28-3
Seed: 1
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Finals 9-2 against Bayonne
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Livingston TBA
North, Non-Public A: Delbarton
Record: 30-2
Seed: 4
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Semifinals 2-1 against
Next Matchup: 6/6 @ St. Augustine TBA (at Veterans Park)
North, Non-Public B: St. Thomas Aquinas
Record: 19-8
Seed: 2
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Quarterfinal 8-3 against Gill St. Bernard’s
Next Matchup: 6/6 vs Gloucester Catholic TBA (at Veterans Park)
Central, Group 1: Point Pleasant Beach
Record: 24-4
Seed: 1
Last Season: Lost in Group Seminfinals 9-3 against Buena
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Gloucester TBA
Central, Group 2: Governor Livingston
Record: 26-5
Seed: 1
Last Season: Lost in First Round of Sectional Tournament 5-2 against Manasquan
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Seneca TBA
Central, Group 3: Allentown
Record: 20-8
Seed: 4
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Quarterfinals 4-3 against Middletown North
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Delsea TBA
Central, Group 4: Jackson Memorial
Record: 18-10
Seed: 3
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Quarterfinals 9-8 against Monroe
Next Matchup: 6/5 @ Eastern Regional TBA
South, Group 1: Gloucester
Record: 22-7
Seed: 2
Last Season: Lost in Sectional First Round 5-3 against Haddon Township
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Point Pleasant Beach TBA
South, Group 2: Seneca
Record: 18-10
Seed: 1
Last Season: Lost in Group Semifinals 9-0 against Rumson-Fair Haven
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Governor Livingston TBA
South, Group 3: Delsea
Record: 26-3
Seed: 4
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Finals 6-4 against Mainland
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Allentown TBA
South, Group 4: Eastern Regional
Record: 24-6
Seed: 5
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Semifinals 8-6 against Old Bridge
Next Matchup: 6/5 vs Jackson Memorial TBA
South, Non-Public A: St. Augustine
Record: 19-9
Seed: 2
Last Season: Lost in Sectional Semifinals 8-1 against Red Bank Catholic
Next Matchup: 6/6 @ Delbarton TBA (at Veterans Park)
South, Non-Public B: Gloucester Catholic
Record: 26-2
Seed: 1
Last Season: Won Group State Championship 10-0 over St. Mary (Rutherford)
Next Matchup: 6/6 @ St. Thomas Aquinas TBA (at Veterans Park)
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