CRANFORD AND BERKELEY HEIGHTS- Over at Cranford's Memorial Field lefty-batting senior catcher David Rosa connected on a single to right field that brought home junior Patrick Bendert, giving Cranford the lead for good against South Plainfield as early as the first inning.
The Cougars would go on to capture their first sectional state championship in four years.
Then on The Hill in Berkeley Heights some nine miles away it was senior Reid Bazydlo producing an RBI-single to center with one out in the bottom of the seventh that lifted GL past Allentown.
The Highlanders, once again with a dramatic state tournament come-from-behind win in their final at-bat, garnered their third straight sectional state title.
Those were the scenes on the afternoon of Friday, June 5. The gold standard in Union County baseball, Cranford and GL, came through in the clutch once more.
Cranford, the third seed, defeated fourth-seeded and defending champion South Plainfield 10-5 in Friday's North 2, Group 3 final. Cranford won North 2, Group 3 for the first time since 2022.
GL, the second seed, ousted eighth-seeded Allentown 5-4 in Friday's Central Jersey, Group 2 final. GL three-peated as the Central Jersey, Group 2 champion..
Cranford has now captured 14 sectional state championships since 1997. James Shriner was the head coach in 1997, Dennis McCaffery for the 12 won from 1999-2022 and now Ryan Matlosz, promoted from within like McCaffery was, just captured his first one in his third season as Cranford's head coach.
GL has now won Central Jersey, Group 2 seven times since 2006 after capturing North 2, Group 2 in 1999.
Offensively for Cranford, senior leadoff batter Brayden Fry, the Cougar shortstop, was 4-for-4 at the plate, with four RBI and three runs scored. Fry, who wears No. 2, scored Cranford's first run after being hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the first.
Fry connected on two singles, one double and slugged his 10th home run of the year and 20th for his career. As a freshman varsity starter in 2023 Fry produced the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh to lift Cranford to its last Union County Tournament title, a 1-0 win at Kean University over GL.
Senior Michael Tripodi and junior Evan Ketschke produced two hits each for the Cougars.
Senior right-hander Patrick Berry earned the mound victory, allowing three runs on six hits in four innings of work. Berry struck out one and walked three, all in the second inning, but South Plainfield did not score.
Fellow senior hurler Christian Pereira pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Pereira did not strike out a batter and walked one.
Cranford also won at South Plainfield 9-2 on April 6.
In 2017 it was standout senior catcher Dan Baroff with a three-run, bottom-of-the-seventh, two-out double that propelled GL past South Plainfield to win CJG2.
In 2025 it was Ryan Pappas hitting an RBI-single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the seventh that lifted GL past Raritan in a CJG2 semifinal.
In 2026 it was Reid Bazydlo connecting on an RBI-single to center with one out in the bottom of the seventh, which enabled GL to three-peat as CJG2 champions.
GL also walked-off its first state tournament win last year.
The Highlanders have made a habit of winning in the most dramatic fashion on The Hill in Berkeley Heights.
Movie rights anyone?
In the triumphs over Raritan last year and Allentown Friday it was GL's present standout senior catcher Michael Basile who tied both games with RBI-hits when the Highlanders were still down in the bottom of the seventh.
What more could GL head coach Chris Roof say?
"This team is a bunch of champions," Roof said. "They have a never-say-die attitude."
On a two-run home run Allentown took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh. GL, of course, rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to not only keep its 2026 season alive, but guarantee the Highlanders would play one more time on The Hill in Berkeley Heights.
"They're mentally tough," Roof said. "What a special group of individuals they are."
Senior Aidan Feldman pitched the first five innings for GL and sophomore Michael Donohue the final two.
Zach Geertsma, Bazydlo and senior Michael Novotny in his return to the lineup all banged out two hits each for the Highlanders.
Cranford is 21-9 and has won four straight and six of its last seven.
GL is now 27-4 and has won 19 of its last 20 games. GL's last five losses going back to the 2024 season have all come by just one run and all were in extra innings, including all four this year. The Highlanders have won six straight.
GL repeated as the Union County Conference's Watchung Division champion, fashioning an 11-1 league mark. The Highlanders split with Cranford, which finished 8-4. GL beat Cranford 7-4 at home on April 14 and then Cranford beat GL 6-5 in nine innings at home on April 16.
GL is also two wins away from setting the program record for wins in a season, which is presently 28. GL went 28-6 in 2011, 28-5 in 2024 and 28-0 in 2025. The Highlanders won state championships all three of those seasons.
On Monday, June 8 in group semifinal action it will be Cranford at Old Tappan in Group 3 play at 3 p.m. and Haddonfield at GL in Group 2 play at 4 p.m.
The winners move on to the group finals scheduled for Sunday, June 14 at Rutgers.
CRANFORD SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WON SINCE 1997:
1997: North 2, Group 3
1999: North 2, Group 3
2000: North 2, Group 3
2003: North 2, Group 3
2005: Central Jersey, Group 2
2007: North 2, Group 3
2010: North 2, Group 3
2012: North 2, Group 3
2013: North 2, Group 3
2014: North 2, Group 3
2016: North 2, Group 3
2017: North 2, Group 3
2022: North 2, Group 3
2026: North 2, Group 3
GOV. LIVINGSTON SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
WON SINCE 1999:
1999: North 2, Group 2
2006: Central Jersey, Group 2
2011: Central Jersey, Group 2
2015: Central Jersey, Group 2
2017: Central Jersey, Group 2
2024: Central Jersey, Group 2
2025: Central Jersey, Group 2
2026: Central Jersey, Group 2
GROUP 3 SCHEDULE:
Semifinals
Monday, June 8
SJ-Delsea (20-6) at CJ-Brick Memorial (24-7), 2 p.m.
N2-Cranford (21-9) at N1-Old Tappan (24-4), 3 p.m.
Final
Sunday, June 14
At Rutgers, 10 a.m.
GROUP 2 SCHEDULE:
Semifinals
Monday, June 8
SJ-Haddonfield (22-7) at CJ-Gov. Livingston (27-4), 4 p.m.
N1-Ramsey (20-8) at N2-West Morris (22-8), TBA
Final
Sunday, June 14
At Rutgers, 7 p.m.
STATE FINALS SCHEDULE:
All games at Rutgers
Non-Public
Wednesday, June 10
Non-Public A: 4 p.m.
Non-Public B: 7 p.m.
Public
Sunday, June 14
Group 3: 10 a.m.
Group 4: 1 p.m.
Group 1: 4 p.m.
Group 2: 7 p.m.
All Central and South teams will be declared the home team and use the third base dugout and bat last.
Follow JR Parachini on 'X' @parachini_jr
