Livingston and Caldwell are defending state sectional champions in North 1, Group 4 and North 2, Group 2, respectively. West Essex had a terrific run to a North 1, Group 3 final before falling to a talent-rich Morris Knolls in the sectional title tilt.
Cedar Grove lost to a solid Brearley, 4-3, in the North 2, Group 1 semifinals last spring after reaching a N2G1 final vs. Wood-Ridge the season before.
Mighty Seton Hall Prep (21-1), which is playing some of the best baseball in the entire state at the moment with 13 straight wins while allowing just two runs in its last seven games, is looking for its first state sectional title since 2016 when it won the overall Non-Public A state crown.
And, veteran coach Mike Sheppard, Jr.’s solid SHP squad has reached just one sectional final (2022) since that state title in 2016.
There are other teams that will be looking at potential very ‘do-able’ routes to a sectional final including Verona (16-5) in N2G1 and Montclair Kimberley Academy (16-5) in Non-Public, North B.
However, the Hillbillies need to turn things around in terms of their recent state tourney quests after being outscored by a whopping margin of 45-6 the past three seasons in their season-ending losses, with one coming in a sectional semifinal in 2023 vs. rival Cedar Grove (12-2) and the other two in quarterfinals, including last year’s 23-1 shelling at the hands of New Providence.
Most teams have high hopes going in, which is the way it should be as the 2025 NJSIAA state tournament gets underway Tuesday (May 27) for the public schools and Wednesday (May 28) for non-publics as the overriding question remains: Who will make a run to a sectional final this time around?
Livingston (17-7), which edged Super Essex Conference-American Division rival Montclair, 4-3, in last June’s N1G4 final before falling to eventual overall Group 4 state champion Bridgewater-Raritan, 8-1, in the Group 4 state semis, has not quite recaptured the consistency of the 2024 squad (22-8-1, including 11-0-1 in winning the SEC-American Division title), but veteran coach Mickey Ennis’ squad has proven to be a handful for anyone come state tourney time and the Lancers did reach a second straight GNT final this season.
What Livingston does have despite some troubles establishing a consistent hitting attack, is a deep pitching with seniors Tyler Chen and Max Peri and junior Adam Goldberg leading the way.
There is potential of another Livngston-Montclair rematch in the 1-8 N1G4 quarterfinal should both advance past first round contests. Coach Ron Gavazzi’s Mounties (9-15) have struggled mightily this season with several new faces in the lineup; however they do have a couple of talented, young southpaws capable of delivering a strong mound start in junior David Aishton and sophomore Asher Seawell.
Caldwell (13-9) won its recent state sectional titles in 2024 and 2022 and will need a very strong run in order to repeat that type of success in a section that now includes neighboring rival West Essex along with Morris County stronghold West Morris.
The Chiefs, who have had to work in a number of promising youngsters into key positions this spring with the usual growing pains along the way, can still be a handful in the states with their own very capable pitching led by senior right-hander Marco Sozio.
The aforementioned West Essex Knights (14-7) have had their struggles at times in the rigorous SEC-American Division (5-4 mark in that loop), but coach Joe Cardinale’s team is fully capable of living up to its No. 1 seed in N2G2 with a host of strong everyday players including experienced infielders Max Garcia and Joe Panzarino and outfielder Ayden Sorrentino. Plus, veteran right-hander Chris Murano has not had quite the season he’s used to having, but is coming off five strong innings vs. Caldwell, in a 6-2 win vs. Caldwell in this past Monday’s neighborhood clash played at Yogi Berra Stadium.
Cedar Grove (17-6) is the No. 1 seed in N2G1 just ahead of its neighboring rival Verona, and coach Vin Cordasco’s Panthers have a strong squad this spring ready to make yet another deep state tourney run while led by junior ace southpaw Xavier Andujar and a lineup anchored by standout senior catcher Nick Russo.
