The 2023 New Jersey High School baseball season has concluded, and yet again it did not disappoint. We will take a look at the 6 state champions and the key performances that led these teams to taking home some hardware. 

 

Group 1: Pequannock Rallies to defeat Buena

- Pequannock (26-5) overcame an early deficit to down Buena (27-4) and claim its first title since 2009. The Golden Panthers fell into an early hole, down 4-0 after the first inning. On the mound was '23 RHP URI recruit Joe Sabbath, who was able to bear down and toss 4 1/3 scoreless innings after a rough start. Pequannock rallied in the second, scoring 4 of their own to knot the game at 4 a piece. '23 C John Vanaria then recorded his second RBI FC of the game in the 4th to give Pequannock a 5-4 lead, one they would not relinquish. Sabbath finished a dominating senior campaign at 11-0 with 119 strikeouts. 

-Albeit the loss, Buena enjoyed a record year, securing a school-record 27 victories. 

 

Group 2: Pascack Hills comes out on top in pitchers duel

- Pascack Hills (22-7) claimed its 3rd title in 5 years with a 1-0 win over Rumson-Fair Haven (22-6). The game was a hitter's worst nightmare, with a pair of Richmond recruits duking it out on the bump. Pascack Hills sent out '24 LHP Joey Giordano, while RFH rode with '23 RHP Jackson Hinchliffe. Giordano was terrific, tossing a CG shutout while striking out 8. Hinchliffe nearly matched him pitch-for-pitch, with the game winning run scored with 2 outs in the 6th. That game-deciding run was driven in by '23 Sean Busanic, coincidentally scoring Giordano, who would seal the game with another shutout frame in the 7th. 

 

Group 3: Morris Knolls dominates Mainland

- Morris Knolls (21-10-1) bests Mainland (14-14), by a score of 9-3 for its first group title. The score does not tell the whole story, as Morris Knolls committed 3 consecutive errors to start the game, helping Mainland claim an early 3-0 lead. Knolls answered right back with 3 of their own in the first, highlighted by a pair of doubles from '23 UVA recruit Luke Dickerson and '24 Michael Simone. Knolls starter '24 Joe O'Toole battled after the first, throwing up 5 shutout innings. The Golden Eagles continued to tack on runs, aided by a towering 2-run blast off the bat of Simone in the 4th. Simone finished the day 2-2 with 5 RBI. Dickerson went 2-2 as well, and check out the tweet below to see how he wrapped up his season while leading Morris Knolls to the title. 

IBB, IBB, walk off HR, double, IBB, single, single, double, IBB, single, HBP. That's not Barry Bonds in 2001. That's @Luke_dickerson1 in his last 11 plate appearances of the season!

— Morris Knolls Baseball (@MoKnoBaseball) June 13, 2023

 

Group 4: Ridgewood Blanks Old Bridge

- Ridgewood (24-7) used a dominating performance from '24 LHP Vincent Luther to beat                    Old Bridge (21-9) by a score of 4-0. Luther was nails from the start, tossing 6 2/3 of shutout ball before handing the ball over to '23 Brown commit Brendan Chanley for the final out. Luther struck out 7 while scattering 5 hits with 2 walks. Offensively, '23 Lucas Barker was Ridgewood's standout performer, blasting a 2-run shot in the 3rd. This was the second title in the last 4 years for the Ridgewood Maroons. 

 

Non-Public A: Don Bosco Prep goes Back-to-Back

-The Ironmen of Don Bosco Prep (27-5) defended their Non-Public A title with a 4-1 victory over Red Bank Catholic (24-6). Bosco got another outstanding start from '23 LHP Manhattan recruit Michael Staiano, who gave up only one run over 6 innings. RBC scored in the first via a '23 Shane Andrus sac fly, but could not scratch across anything else for the rest of the game. '23 Allen Hernandez tied the game up for Bosco shortly thereafter with an RBI double. The Ironmen were able to add 3 runs in the 4th, with the help of base hits from '23 UVA recruit Eric Becker, '23 Fairfield recruit Andy Granatell, and Staiano. '25 RHP Iowa commit Dylan Henshaw came in to close the game in the 7th and recorded two punchouts.

 

Non-Public B: GLoucester Catholic rolls in title game

- The Gloucester Catholic Rams (24-7) dominated St. Mary's (20-10) by a score of 10-0 on their way to a staggering 20th state title. Gloucester starter, '23 LHP Tanner Nolan, set the tone early and did not let off the gas. Nolan finished with 6 shutout innings, striking out 7 and allowing only 2 base hits.  '23 Sal Serici got the offense going early, with an RBI double in the first. '24 Jake Terranova broke the game open with a 3-run triple in the 3rd. The Rams capped off their scoring in the 6th, with a 2-RBI single off the bat of '23 Tyler Bunting and an emphatic 2-run blast from top uncommitted '26 Guy Lynam.