The 2023 high school baseball season is all wrapped up. Top teams got red-hot at the right time, garnering county and state championships to rise up above the rest and walk away from the spring campaign with some hardware.
Squads all across New Jersey battled for a spot on the list, but only 20 can etch its place. Have a look below at the final NJ.com Top 20 ranking of the 2023 season.
Last week: No. 2
Here’s why: The Ironmen finish atop the ranking for a second straight year. Don Bosco won the Bergen County Tournament, North Jersey, Non-Public A sectional title and the Non-Public A state championship. This team zipped through a ton of fantastic teams, defeating 17 opponents that were at one point ranked in the Top 20 this spring. Don Bosco ended its season with a dozen consecutive victories, batting .348 overall with 81 extra-base hits and 144 walks. On the mound, the Ironmen bolstered a 2.02 team earned run average with 215 punch-outs in 207.2 innings. This was a team that hovered within the Top 10 all year long, but never snagged the top spot. Don Bosco Prep can retain its throne for at least another year.
Last week: No. 1
Here’s why: Red Bank Catholic, powered by its highly successful senior class, reached the Non-Public A final but came up short, losing to Don Bosco Prep. The Caseys put up a run in the first, however, were blanked the rest of the way. The 24 victories were the most under head coach Buddy Hausmann. RBC won the Shore Conference Class A Central title, Shore Conference Tournament championship and the South Jersey, Non-Public A title. During the course of the season, RBC had a pair of six-game winning streaks and a seven-game winning streak. RBC graduates five senior starters who were part of teams that went 87-21. The Caseys allowed the fewest runs in the Shore Conference – 64.
Last week: No. 3
Here’s why: Playing a highly competitive non-league schedule in preparation for the postseason, Gloucester Catholic capitalized on that experience and claimed the Non-Public B state title. The Rams blanked St. Mary (Ruth.) 10-0 in six innings as senior left-hander Tanner Nolan tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts. Tyler Bunting, Guy Lynam and Jake Terranova combined for eight RBIs, while Sal Serici collected a pair of doubles. Gloucester Catholic won its final nine games and outscored its four playoff opponents 42-4 with two shutouts. The Rams averaged better than eight runs a game on the season and finished with a .370 team batting average. The pitching staff struck out better than a batter per inning and posted a 2.36 ERA. Nolan was the leader, winning all 10 of his starts and striking out 91 in 58 1/3 innings.
Last week: No. 4
Here’s why: Ranney entered the season as the defending Non-Public B champ. Its bid for a repeat ended in the South Jersey, Non-Public B final where it lost to Gloucester Catholic, 4-1. Ranney’s losses came against teams ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 in New Jersey. It opened the season 6-0. After a 7-6 loss to Delbarton on April 15, Ranney strung together 19-consecutive wins. It defeated Red Bank Catholic to win the Monmouth County Tournament championship, 6-5, then lost to RBC in Shore Conference Tournament final. The Panthers went 14-0 on its way to the Class B North title and went 18-2 at home. Ranney scored 222 runs and had a 2.14 ERA.
Last week: No. 6
Here’s why: Delbarton had a stellar season, winning 24 games and its fourth consecutive Morris County Tournament championship. The Green Wave’s season came to an end to Don Bosco Prep in the North Jersey, Non-Public A semifinals, but there’s plenty to look forward to next season. Coach Bruce Shatel brings back his top three pitchers in Aiden Dill, Christian Zebrowski and AJ Saccento. The lineup brings back players like Jack Harley and Sal Garcia, but will have to replace the production of seniors Kevin Hager, Griffin Mills, Matt Dahl and Marco Maselli, among others. Delbarton will be one of the top teams next spring.
Last week: No. 7
Here’s why: The Crusaders were a squad that struck fear in each of its opponents. A roster riddled with college commits, Bergen Catholic won 10 straight games at the end of the season against a tough schedule. This unit reached the Bergen County Tournament championship and the North Jersey, Non-Public A final. For the season, the Crusaders tossed six shutouts and never tallied consecutive losses. This team had goals of winning a championship in 2023, falling just short in an impressive effort.
Last week: No. 10
Here’s why: Morris Knolls ends the season as the top public school team after catching fire at the end of the season and winning the Group 3 championship with a win over Mainland, the program’s first group title. The Golden Eagles won the North 1, Group 3 championship in dramatic fashion, courtesy of a walk-off home run in the 10th inning by junior Luke Dickerson. Morris Knolls parlayed that to a win over Millburn in the state semifinals and then beat Mainland in the final. Coach Eric Mindrebo brings back eight of his nine starters with players like Dickerson, Michael Simone, Brodie Freker, Joe O’Toole and others, returning, arguably making Morris Knolls the Group 3 favorite heading into next season.
Last week: No. 11
Here’s why: Millburn was one of the top teams in the state all season and won its second sectional championship in three years when it defeated North Hunterdon in the North 2, Group 3 final. The Millers’ season came to an end with a loss to Morris Knolls in the Group 3 semifinal, but coach Brian Chapman’s team still had a banner year. Millburn won its second Greater Newark Tournament title in three years, and senior Steven Echavarria was named the Gatorade New Jersey Baseball Player of the Year after posting an 8-1 record with 80 strikeouts in 50 innings and a 0.28 ERA. Fellow seniors Robert Schneider (.419, 44 hits), Alex Wilson (.367, 33 hits) and Jack Meyerowitz (.378, 28 hits) each had an impact this season.
Last week: No. 8
Here’s why: Cranford ends the season ranked in the Top 10 after opening the season outside the rankings. Coach Dennis McCaffery’s team lost just one game this season, falling to North Hunterdon in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals, and won its second consecutive Union County Tournament championship with a walk-off over Gov. Livingston in the final. Seniors Shea Grady (.531, 43 hits, 45 stolen bases), Ryan Jaros (.435, 30 hits, 40 runs) and Sean Woodruff (0.74 ERA, 47 1/3 innings) provided leadership for the Cougars.
Last week: No. 13
Here’s why: The Maroons erupted in the postseason. Scoring 62 runs in six playoff matchups, Ridgewood rallied to multiple walk-off wins, stunning a couple of top-ranked opponents along the way. Finishing undefeated in its division, Ridgewood batted .359 as a lineup with 68 doubles, 19 home runs and 151 walks to earn the right of calling itself the best offense in Group 4. Eight every day players hit .340 or better with three mashing above .400. Ridgewood won the Group 4 state championship over Old Bridge, defeating Bloomfield for the sectional crown in North Jersey 1, Group 4. On the hill, Ridgewood amassed 190 strikeouts in 150.1 innings, combining for a 1.82 ERA.
Last week: No. 9
Here’s why: The Red Devils were a tough team to score on. Twirling seven shutouts, Ridge had a team ERA of 1.58 with 250 strikeouts in 199 frames. This team also held its opponent to two or less runs 18 times, helping to different winning streaks of 14 and eight games, respectively. Ridge reached the Somerset County Tournament championship for a second straight spring, winning six games against a squad that was ranked at one point this year. Senior right-hander Connor Byrne cranked 90 strikeouts to lead the way on the mound.
Last week: No. 12
Here’s why: The Green Knights are part of arguably the most difficult division in the state, sharing a slot alongside Don Bosco, Bergen Catholic, DePaul and Paramus Catholic. This team still managed to tally 21 wins, reaching the Bergen County semifinals and the North Jersey, Non-Public A semifinals. St. Joe’s had nine wins over a once-ranked team this year, batting .309 with 76 collective extra-base hits and 78 stolen bases.
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: Emerging its way to a Group 2 state championship, the Broncos ended the year with nine straight wins. Pascack Hills won the North Jersey 1, Group 2 sectional final over Ramsey with ensuing victories over Hanover Park and Rumson-Fair Haven to finish as the best squad in the group. A team led by a true trio of aces, Pascack Hills donned a 1.64 team earned run average with 238 punch-outs and seven shutouts. This team allowed seven runs in six postseason bouts. At the dish, the lineup batted .331 with 118 walks.
Last week: No. 5
Here’s why: The Bulldogs won 22 games for the third-straight season. Since going 7-12 in 2019, RFH is a combined 66-17-1 over the last three seasons. The Bulldogs won the Central Jersey Group 2 title with a 8-3 win over Spotswood. In the Group 2 semifinals, it blanked Seneca, 8-0. In the Group 2 final, it had only three hits in a 1-0 loss to Pascack Hills. RFH won with one of the deepest pitching staffs anywhere in New Jersey. Its pitchers had a combined 2.22 ERA and recorded 234 strikeouts and 87 walks. Rumson-Fair Haven had two losses to Ranney and another to Red Bank Catholic.
Last week: No. 14
Here’s why: Coach Mike Murray Jr. guided St. Joseph (Met.) to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title, defeating North Brunswick in the championship game and avenging a loss to the Raiders in the 2022 final. St. Joe’s used that momentum to reach the South Jersey, Non-Public A final against Red Bank Catholic, where it lost to the Caseys. Senior catcher Mark Gialluisi was among the state’s best players again, hitting .486 with 54 hits, while senior pitcher Jimmy Mulvaney emerged as an ace toward the end of the season, amassing a 1.52 ERA in 64 1/3 innings pitched.
Last week: No. 15
Here’s why: Old Bridge’s quest to win the program’s first group championship fell just short when the Knights lost to Ridgewood in the Group 4 final. But coach Matt Donaghue guided the team to arguably its best season in history. Old Bridge won the Central, Group 4 sectional title with a win over division rival North Brunswick before defeating Eastern in the Group 4 semifinals. Seniors Kyle McSorley, Mike Villani and Thomas Papeo made an impact with their play and leadership this spring. Old Bridge will be one of the Group 4 favorites next season as it returns its top three pitchers in Frank Papeo, Justin Hascup and Justin Meyer.
Last week: No. 16
Here’s why: The Bees won their first sectional title since 2002 with a victory over Bridgewater-Raritan on the road for the North 2, Group 4 crown. Bayonne also reached the Hudson County finals and proved to have one of the best lineups in New Jersey. Batting .334 as a collective with 62 doubles, 22 home runs and 13 triples, Bayonne was capable of winning any contest. Five players recored 30 or more hits and three more had 20-plus hits. Aidan Paradine led the way with 50 hits, 26 going for extra bases. On the mound, Nolan Geisler’s 0.99 ERA amped up a solid staff that held opponents to two or less runs 18 total times.
Last week: No. 17
Here’s why: This Donovan Catholic squad won more games than any other team in school history. It also won its first Ocean County Tournament championship. It was led by a talented and deep pitching staff that finished with a 2.82 ERA. It opened 2023 5-0. After a 7-2 loss to Red Bank Catholic, it won 14-straight games and allowed three of fewer runs in 12 of them. Donovan was led by one of the state’s finest all-around players in Gavin Degnan, who batted .507 with 38 hits, 38 runs scored, 26 RBI and 31 stolen bases.
Last week: No. 18
Here’s why: The Bulldogs won the Passaic County Tournament behind a strong veteran group. Passaic Tech had two separate nine-game winning streaks, highlighting a consistent and disciplined team. This unit batted .368 as a collective with 84 extra-base hits and 127 walks. Seven players tallied 20 or more hits and five totaled 20 or more strikeouts on the mound. Jonny Gilligan finished out his career on top, throwing a no-hitter in the playoffs against Montclair. He struck out 173 hitters in his career and notched 90 hits. His twin brother, Jace closed out his career with 84 hits.
Last week: Unranked
Here’s why: Pequannock surges into the rankings for the first time this season on the heels of defeating then-No. 20 Buena in the Group 1 final. The title was Pequannock’s first since 2009 when it was a Group 2 school. Senior Joe Sabbath battled through a rough first inning to earn the win, improving to 11-0 on the season and leading the state with 119 strikeouts. Sophomore Donovan Cassel had a good season, hitting .341 with a team-leading 38 runs, while sophomore Nick Werner got the save in the win over Buena after not pitching during the state tournament run up to that point. Coach Jon McBurney has players coming back like Cassel, Werner, Braeden Kelly and Aaron Goldberg to try and make another deep postseason run next spring.
Under consideration: Bishop Eustace (21-8), Buena (27-4), DePaul (18-8), Delsea (20-7), Eastern (17-11-1), Mainland (14-14), Montville (19-10), North Brunswick (21-7), North Hunterdon (18-7), St. Augustine (17-8)
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Kevin Minnick covers South Jersey baseball. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @kminnicksports
PJ Potter covers North Jersey baseball. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PJ_Potter
Luis Torres covers North and Central Jersey baseball. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ByLuisTorres
Joe Zedalis covers Central Jersey baseball. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Josephzedalis