Baseball: Highlights from Opening Day across North Jersey
Ridgewood has changed its personality, transforming from hitting-rich to pitching-strong.
The Maroons, who last season bashed their way to the NJSIAA Group 4 baseball title, opened this season with Monday’s 3-2 victory over Bergen Catholic.
Senior standout Vincent Luther struck out nine in five innings, then untested junior Luke Norman struck out four in two innings to help Ridgewood, No. 4 in the North Jersey preseason Top 25, fight off No. 3 Bergen Catholic.
“There are some younger kids who have been waiting for their time a little bit,” Ridgewood coach Kurt Hommen said. “And obviously offensively we’ve got to try and find ourselves a little bit. That’s the thing that’s going to be the question right now – where is the offense going to come from?”
Here's a look at North Jersey's other opening-day highlights:
Midland Park: 'Strength in numbers'
Midland Park opened the season with 15 players in the entire program, including one who was away for the first week. Coach Frank Clark's team is banding together using the motto "strength in numbers", and it worked to the tune of a 4-2 victory over Lyndhurst on Monday.
Panthers junior right-hander Anthony Carrea (1-0) struck out 7 over 6 innings, hit an RBI triple during a 4-run third and scored on an overthrow. Connor Detrick (RBI, run) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the save.
Lyndhurst ace Michael Rizzo allowed just 3 earned runs in a complete game and drove in a run.
Pascack Hills: Opens title defense
Pascack Hills joined Ridgewood and Don Bosco as defending state champions that opened the season with a win. The No. 5 Broncos, reigning Group 2 champions, defeated Indian Hills, 7-2, with sophomore Kyle Wenckus providing three hits, including two doubles, and scoring twice.
Ramsey: Double barrel
Senior William Kirk, arguably North Jersey’s best all-around player, had a double, triple and two RBIs in a 9-2 victory over River Dell. Senior Joe Boffa was 3-for-3, including a double, with three runs and an RBI for the No. 6 Rams, who won the Group 2 title two years ago and are again contenders.
DePaul: Scoring in bunches
DePaul exploded for three multi-run innings, including a six-run fifth, en route to a 13-3 victory over Paramus Catholic. Sophomore J.C. Pacheco had three hits, featuring a homer, with four RBIs and two runs for the No. 7 Spartans.
Westwood: By a touchdown
Westwood bats were busy and produced 14 hits in a 14-7 victory over Mahwah. The No. 8 Cardinals got three hits, three RBIs and two runs from senior Miguel David Cabral, while senior Sam Arcieri had three hits, three runs and an RBI.
Ramapo: Everybody hits
Eight players had at least one hit for Ramapo in its 13-0 victory over Dumont in six innings. Senior Payne Teel had two doubles, three runs and an RBI, and junior Charlie Wingfield had two hits, including a double, with three runs and an RBI for the No. 9 Green Raiders.
Passaic Tech: Off with a bang
Junior Freddy Stansfield, among North Jersey’s top returning hitters, opened with a bang in Passaic Tech’s 9-4 win over Passaic. Stansfield homered for the two-time defending Passaic County champion and No. 10 Bulldogs.
Pompton Lakes: Pitching duel
Junior Vinnie Stigliano won a pitchers’ duel to carry No. 11 Pompton Lakes to a 2-1 victory over No. 17 Emerson. In the marquee matchup in the small-school NJIC, Stigliano tossed a four-hitter with nine strikeouts. Senior Jayden Villalta had a triple and two RBIs.
Dwight-Englewood, Glen Rock: Darkness draw
In another marquee matchup in the NJIC, darkness descended after 10 innings and forced No. 13 Dwight-Englewood and No. 19 Glen Rock to part ways with a tie, 3-3. Senior Rhys Bowie had two hits, two runs and an RBI for Dwight-Englewood.
Northern Highlands: Powerful combination
Senior Gavin Soares had arguably North Jersey’s best hitting-and-pitching performance in Northern Highlands’ 8-0 win over No. 21 Hackensack. He was 3-for-3, featuring a homer, walked, had four RBIs and two runs. He tossed the first five innings, allowing two hits, no walks, and struck out seven.
Waldwick: Another hitting, pitching standout
Waldwick senior Justin Dressler also had a productive performance at the plate and on the mound in a 5-4 win over Hasbrouck Heights. He was 3-for-4, including a double, stole two bases, scored a run and had two RBIs. He also threw four innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out six for the win.
Becton: Manufacturing runs
Becton had more runs than hits to squeeze out a 5-4 win over Ridgefield. Senior Domenic Maucione, walked, twice was hit by a pitch, stole four bases and scored twice for the No. 25 Wildcats, who only were credited for two hits.
Fair Lawn: On the rise
Fair Lawn will be among North Jersey’s most improved teams and bats were on display in an 11-6 win over Wayne Valley. Senior Zach Taylor was among four Cutters to produce multiple hits, going 4-for-4, including two doubles, with two RBIs.
Wallington: A dozen strikeouts
Junior Tyler Perry struck out 12 in five innings of Wallington’s 4-2 victory over Manchester. Perry allowed five hits, four walks and no earned runs. Freshman Victor had a triple and two RBIs.
Saddle Brook: 9-inning win
Saddle Brook needed a sixth-inning rally and nine innings to outlast Park Ridge, 8-7. Freshman Noah Ampudia pitched 4-plus scoreless innings in relief. Senior James Pecoraro had two hits and two RBIs, and junior John Gleason had the game-winning hit.
Bergen Tech: 5-inning shutout
Junior Harssh Ramayanam Venkket threw a five-inning shutout in Bergen Tech’s 10-0 victory over Kennedy. He tossed a two-hitter, with no walks, two hit batters, and eight strikeouts.
Ridgefield Park: So-close shutout
Senior Josh Freidman came close to throwing a seven-inning shutout in Ridgefield Park’s 3-1 win over Fort Lee. He tossed a two-hitter with two walks and eight strikeouts and allowed an unearned run in the seventh.
Dwight Morrow: Winning debut
Dwight Morrow made AJ Torre a winner in his coaching debut. Junior Adrian Gonzalez had two hits, one run and an RBI, and junior William Lopez had a hit, walk, and scored twice in a 5-4 victory over Cliffside Park.
Hawthorne Christian/Eastern Christian: Busy baserunner
Junior Eli Higby of Hawthorne Christian/Eastern Christian touched as many bases Monday as anyone in North Jersey. He was 4-for-4, walked, stole four bases, scored four runs and had three RBIs in a 15-3 win over College Achieve of Paterson.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ baseball: Highlights from Opening Day across North Jersey
