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State playoffs are in full mode. These are the top stories you need to know for North Jersey.
BASEBALL Top Stories · June 2–8
1. Ridgewood walks it off in Group 4 — Hudson Feeney sends Maroons to state final
Tied 7–7 in the bottom of the eighth against Ridge, Ridgewood's Hudson Feeney led off with a walk-off home run to send the Maroons to the Group 4 state final. It was the biggest swing of the week in North Jersey baseball — a tournament-altering moment that drove one of the sharpest YSSR score jumps of the spring. Ridgewood now sits at 24–7 and is one win from a state championship.
2. Delbarton dominates DePaul Catholic 11–1 for Non-Public A North title
The Green Wave were never threatened, rolling DePaul Catholic by ten runs to claim the Non-Public A North sectional championship. Delbarton enters state final week at 26–4, the strongest overall record in North Jersey baseball, and remains the YSSR's top-rated program. Sal Garcia and Finnian O'Loughlin continue to anchor both sides of the ball.
3. Old Tappan advances deep in Group 3 — one of the market's most consistent teams
Old Tappan has been steady all spring and backed it up with continued Group 3 bracket survival this week. The Golden Knights are earning their YSSR position through program momentum and consistent results against credible opponents, not just early-season wins. Their tournament advancement moved them up the board.
4. Ramsey baseball pushes through Group 2 bracket
Ramsey baseball has been one of Bergen County's most reliable programs all spring and continued their postseason push in Group 2 this week. The Rams are a program that scores well on Local Plus-Minus — they keep beating North Jersey opponents — and their bracket advancement is real YSSR value. Roberto Cotes emerged as a key contributor with a winning RBI in the sectional final.
5. West Morris wins sectional championship
West Morris claimed a sectional title this week. It moves the Wolfpack up the YSSR board and adds to the credibility of the Morris County baseball landscape.
6. Seton Hall Prep beats St. Augustine 14–9 in Non-Public A semifinal — heading to championship
A double-digit win over St. Augustine in the Non-Public A state semifinal was a statement game for the Pirates. Seton Hall Prep is now one win away from the Non-Public A state title and continues to hold significant YSSR value through schedule strength and program pedigree. JJ Drennan and Jordan Burwell remain key pieces.
7. Passaic Tech advances from N1 Group 4 sectional final
Mickey Gilligan has been one of the best two-way players in North Jersey all spring, and Passaic Tech showed why they belong in the Group 4 conversation. The N1 bracket result keeps them in the state final picture. Gilligan — a Rutgers commit — had strong two-way play throughout the sectional run.
8. Pompton Lakes wins N1 Group 1 sectional final 3–0
A clean 3–0 shutout in the N1 Group 1 final is exactly the kind of result the YSSR rewards — run prevention, big-game execution, and a championship result. Pompton Lakes is a name to watch as the state tournament deepens. The Bergen County program advances to the Group 1 state bracket.
9. Glen Rock advances from N1 Group 2 sectional final
Glen Rock navigated a nine-inning Group 2 sectional final and is now in the state bracket. That kind of extra-inning survival in a high-leverage game drives YSSR recent-form value. The Panthers have been among Bergen County's best public programs all spring.
10. DePaul Catholic — the Non-Public A picture after the loss
The 11–1 loss to Delbarton stings the YSSR Local Plus-Minus score for DePaul Catholic, who entered the sectional with a strong case as one of the market's elite programs. Jason Amalbert — with 9 HR and 29 RBI — remains one of the best individual players in North Jersey, and the Paladins still hold a strong full-season profile. This is a program, not just a week.
SOFTBALL Top Stories · June 2–8
1. Ramsey shuts out Governor Livingston 5–0 in Group 2 semifinal — state final bound
The Rams are rolling. Ramsey's 5–0 win over Governor Livingston in the Group 2 state semifinal pushed them to 25–3 overall and into the state final. Bella Baldino has been a key contributor in the middle of the order all spring.
2. North Hunterdon shuts out Roxbury 3–0 in Group 3 semifinal
Layla Francisco and the Lions were locked in, holding Roxbury scoreless in a tournament game that demanded execution. A 3–0 shutout in a Group 3 semifinal against a team that entered with momentum
3. Watchung Hills advanced deep into North sections after Somerset County title
Riley Bobrowski threw a one-hit shutout and hit a home run in the Somerset County final earlier this spring, and Watchung Hills has stayed alive deep into the bracket. The Warriors remain one of the best-rounded programs in the market — the SCT title, strong pitching, and bracket depth all register in the YSSR formula.
4. Governor Livingston — strong program, tough week
The Highlanders had one of the better early-season profiles in the market, sitting at 17–8 overall. A shutout exit in a high-leverage spot drives the recent-form score down sharply.
5. Indian Hills exits in Group 1 semifinal — 1–0, one swing away
Indian Hills lost 1–0. That is not a collapse — that is a tournament exit in the closest possible game. Audrey Amoruso has been one of the best two-way players in North Jersey softball all spring.
6. Roxbury — semifinal exit by shutout, but a strong spring on the board
North Hunterdon held Roxbury without a run, and a 3–0 shutout loss stalls the momentum Roxbury had built over the second half of their season. The YSSR offensive stall factor — going scoreless in a
