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Livingston coach Mickey Ennis is hoping to see his Lancers make another deep run in the North 1, Group 4 field later this month, while another veteran diamond mentor in Bruce Shatel at Delbarton has one of the top teams to watch in a loaded Non-Public, North A section. Ridgewood, which has gotten together for state championship team photos in both 2019 and 2023, is once again a major player in Group 4, while among those hoping to impact from North Jersey are Caldwell with pitcher Dan Paris in N2G2 and West Essex, guided by Joe Cardinale, in N1G3. (SC photos and by Jeff Stiefbold)

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Knolls is stacked with veteran players led by Virginia commit Luke Dickerson who anchors infield at shortstop and is dynamic hitter, and solid pitching with Michael Simone and Joe O’Toole.

Ramapo, which is always a solid program, and Old Tappan, with veteran coach Tim Byron, could be others in N1G3 to watch along with West Essex which is having a superb season to date under coach Joe Cardinale with a young nucleus that includes No. 1 pitcher Chris Murano and a deep lineup that includes leading hit-man Devin Fogg, who one of the few seniors on a fun team to watch.

Group 2: Favorite: Governor Livingston
Among others to watch: Ramsey, Cedar Creek, Caldwell, Hanover Park
Veteran coach Chris Roof has a young team that has matured nicely and could be the team to watch in Group 2 with standouts such as junior Stetson commit Matty Diskin, who anchors the pitching staff with support from youngsters such as sophomore Keith Mann, while another key sophomore shortstop, Zach Geertsma, is one of the state’s true rising stars.

Ramsey, with its veteran 2-way star Will Kirk, who is one of the better pitchers in Bergen County, is always in the mix in N1G2, while Caldwell, with the resiliency it has shown vs. a strong SEC-American Division slate of foes, and Hanover Park, which seems to always rise to the occasion under veteran coach Doug Wear, are among the others to watch.

Group 1: Favorite:  Pompton Lakes  
Among others to watch: Point Pleasant Beach, Audubon, Whippany Park, Verona
Pompton Lakes, under the direction of coach Mike Riordan (not the former New York Knickerbocker), is having a superb season led by hard-hitting junior shortstop Vinnie Stigliano who also boosts the pitching staff that is led by senior Tyler Benway, while the strong lineup also features senior infielder Harrison Curran.

Pequannock, which won the section and the group title last year, could also factor in, while a wide-open N2G1 appears to have a number of possible contenders including Whippany Park, Brearley, Cedar Grove and a hard-hitting Verona team which has a solid lineup under veteran coach Joe Phelan.

Time-honored South Jersey programs such as Audubon and Pennsville must be reckoned with along with Central Jersey’s hot team Point Pleasant Beach.

Non-Public A: Favorite: Delbarton
Among others to watch: Don Bosco Prep, DePaul, Seton Hall Prep, Donovan Catholic
Delbarton, with strong direction from veteran coach Bruce Shatel, has one of the best pitching staffs in the state with Seton Hall University commit Aiden Dill, fellow senior Christian Zebrowski and impressive sophomore left-hander AJ Saccento, while the strong lineup features senior third baseman Jack Harly and sophomore shortstop Sal Garcia.

Bosco was the No. 1 team in the state in 2023 after winning a second straight Non-Public A state crown and still has plenty of talent on hand for a possible 3-peat with solid hitters such as junior Nick Becker and sophomore Michael Hanna and a strong pitcher in junior Jason Kuhn.

Seton Hall Prep, under legendary coach Mike Sheppard, Jr., is still a very young team but has strong pitching with a staff anchored by junior Wake Forest commit Marcelo Harsch and an improving lineup that includes hard-hitting sophomore first baseman and West Virginia commit Jordan Burwell.

DePaul is a definite young team on the rise this season with strong hitters including sophomore infielders J.C. Pachecco and Jason Amalbert, and a promising mound staff led by sophomore Christopher Morano.

Among the solid South Jersey programs to watch are Donovan Catholic, Red Bank Catholic and St. Augustine.  

Non-Public B: Favorite: Gloucester Catholic
Among others to watch: St. Mary’s (Ruth.), Bishop Eustace, St. Rose, Gill St. Bernard’s
Veteran coach Dennis Barth’s perennial South Jersey powerhouse, with 20 state titles, has a veteran lineup and mound staff which could make it the No. 1 team in the state come June. Talented junior pitcher Joe Vaccarella is a Tulane commit, while senior Tate DeRias is another strong arm on a deep staff.

The South is usually strong in Group 1 with others such as Bishop Eustace and St. Rose; however, there is usually always Gloucester Catholic in the way.

Up north, St. Mary’s of Rutherford is usually in the mix and the Gaels reached the state final a season ago, but never count out a team such as Gill St. Bernard’s which is directed by the outstanding coach Dave Pasquale.

NJSIAA Baseball State Tournament timeline:
Cutoff: May 18; state tourney seeding: May 20
Public tourney: first round: May 23; Round 2: May 29, Round 3: May 31; sectional finals: June 3; state semis: June 5 (North 2 and South to host); state finals: June 8 at Veterans Park, Hamilton
Non-Public tourney: first round: May 22; Round 2: May 28; Round 3: May 30; sectional finals: June 1; state finals: June 6 at Veteran’s Park, Hamilton       

Follow Steve Tober on 'X' (formerly Twitter) @Chattermeister

Gill St. Bernard's, under the direction of its veteran coach Dave Pasquale, could be in the conversation in a wide-open Non-Public, North B, while Montclair, behind junior standout Benjamin St. Pierre, will hope to recapture its state tourney magic of the 2021 season as looks to make waves in N1G4. Meanwhile, Governor Livingston, with terrific contingent of young talent, including pitcher Matty Diskin (above) is certainly emerging as a favorite to keep a close eye on in Group 2 tournament. (Photos by Gene Nann and JR Parachini)

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