Who's the top team? Baseball preseason rankings for area Skyland Conference and UCC

Here is the opening Top 10 for Courier News teams in the area Skyland Conference and Union County Conference. Several teams can make runs in county tournaments,  but the jostling in the rankings should make for a fun couple of months.

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Courier News Preseason Top 10

(last season’s records in parenthesis)

1. Bridgewater-Raritan (23-7): The defending Skyland Delaware champs won the division outright last season after sharing it in 2022. The Panthers also made the North 2 Group 4 final last year where they lost to Bayonne. Plenty of talented players return along with a young staff that earned a lot of experience. Junior catcher JR Rosado may have the best arm in the area. Rosado, Devin Goldberg (INF/OF) and Joey Letko (OF/1B/P), were All-Division first-teamers last season. Senior closer Cory Rible is a returning second-teamer and outfielder Frankie Verano made All-Conference Honorable Mention despite missing half the season with a foot injury. The depth continues with junior lefty Owen Crimmins (5-2 last season).

2. North Hunterdon (18-7): The Lions move up to the Skyland Delaware from the Raritan after winning the title with a 9-1 record. They reached the North 2 Group 3  final and lost to Millburn. The Lions could be very successful in low scoring games. Senior Ben Linzer and junior Chris Sand give the team a formidable 1-2 pitching punch. They were All-Division first teamers last season along with senior outfielder Wyatt Demeo. The Lions also have junior lefty transfer Zach Fronio (Rutgers Prep), who was First Team All-Raritan last season.

3. Ridge (25-4):  The Red Devils should once again be successful with a deep roster and experienced players. Catcher Nick Rossi made the All-Delaware Division First-Team last season and pitchers Ben Larner and Aiden Stieglitz were second-team along Ezra Sadowski.

4. Hunterdon Central (13-10): The defending Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament champs is always in the mix for a title and a postseason run and will once again be strong. Seton Hall-commit Mike Contiliano and pitchers Nick Augusta and Ryan Lundari are very good building blocks to get back into contention for sectional and division titles.

5. Governor Livingston (17-7): The Highlanders were young last season but still made the Union County Tournament final where they lost to Cranford. Senior Matthew Shaffer and juniors Matty Diskin and Anthony DeNora and sophomores Zach Geertsma and Michael Basile are a solid core. Second baseman Shaffer was first-team Union County Conference Watchung Division. Diskin, first-team division as a utility player, was slowed by an injury on the mound but looks like the ace of the staff now.

6. Rutgers Prep (11-15): Junior lefty Zach Fronio and junior catcher Andrew Parisi have transferred to North Hunterdon and Ranney, respectively. But life goes on in Argonaut-land with senior ace Max Treonze. He was the starter and winning pitcher in last year’s 1-0 win over Ridge in the Somerset County Tournament final.  Sophomore Li Perez is second in the rotation.  Cody Rullo and Ethan Nepomuceno are the offensive leaders.

7. Bernards (15-10): The Mountaineers improved from 9-14 two seasons ago to a 15-win season. They should take another step this spring.  Senior pitcher Evan Hoeckele pitched to an 2.85 earned run average last season. Junior catcher Matt Falzarano is a member of the team’s strong baseball class of 2025.

8. Westfield (14-10): The Blue Devils have pitching depth opposing coaches would love to possess. Seniors Tomas Cestero and Jack Chavez are the aces. Will it be enough to win Union County Tournament and Union County Conference Watchung Division titles? Seniors Kevin Dowling and Tommy Hyland are two other capable pitchers. Senior outfielder Kellen Edwards hit .311 with a team-leading 14 steals.

9. New Providence (12-14): New Providence has reached the state Group 1 championship game twice in the last three years. The Pioneers could make it three in four seasons. Senior outfielders Andrew Kowantz and Luca Vitale and senior infielder and pitcher Jake Monaco are the leaders.

10. Hillsborough (10-15):  The 2-21 season of 2021 seems very long ago as the Raiders have been showing progress each season. Max Romanok will be the team’s ace and play third. The Raiders have shown offensive improvement in scrimmages this preseason.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Baseball rankings: Skyland Conference, area UCC preseason Top 10