Longtime North Jersey Coach
Understands Season's Rhythm

CALDWELL- Hanover Park coach Sergio Rodriguez can never get enough of watching the sport he loves, which made it no surprise that he was seen recently stopping by Mount St. Dominic’s softball diamond to watch his JV team directed by veteran North Jersey coach Ann Marie Davies take on the Lions’ own junior varsity squad.

The former, successful Newark Academy coach, who once led the Minutemen to four NJSIAA Non-Public, North B state sectional finals against the late, great Jeff Horohonich’s strong Lodi Immaculate teams, has put together another great run while being immersed in his fifth season as the head coach at Hanover Park.

As someone who understands the Essex and Morris County softball scenes as well as anybody, the NJ Heist travel team president also realizes the importance of not rushing things along or getting too far ahead of oneself in looking at the full expanse of an entire springtime high school season.

He burst on the scene at Hanover Park in 2022 guiding the Hornets to the overall Group 2 state final, albeit a 4-0 loss to a strong Haddon Heights squad, but what a season it was for a Hornets team that finished strong in a sparkling 21-8 campaign after a 10-13 campaign the year before.

For his instant success Rodriguez was named nj.com’s 2022 statewide Softball Coach of the Year.

Now, in year No. 5 at the Morris County school, after being edged by Gloucester, 3-2, in the 2025 Group 2 state final, patience and resolve in the process remain paramount for the longtime North Jersey coach whose standout pitcher, junior Jules Piano, has missed the first three weeks of the season as she continues to make a full comeback from an injury.

“We’re not looking to rush Jules back and hope to ease her back into action,” said Rodriguez, whose team entered recent action with a 6-2 record, including 3-0 in the NJAC’s Liberty Division. “There is still plenty of time left in this season and the most important games are certainly yet to come.”

“We just look to compete at a high level each and every game and our entire team is contributing to our success so far, even if there are a couple of losses to strong teams along the way.

“We have a few girls who play on our JV team who have also helped fill roles on the varsity this season and that type of depth is very important especially when the inevitable injuries have to be absorbed, at least for a while.”

Rodriguez, who likes the balance of how the better softball schools are situated in the different divisions in the Morris-Sussex Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, should have another Hornets team, with a healthy Piano, and top hitters like Grace Waldrum  and Camryn Seward, which should once again compete at a high level in the upcoming NJSIAA Group 2 state tournament, and perhaps also in the Morris County Tournament where solid teams such as Morris Knolls and Morris Catholic are among the top schools to watch.

In addition to the strong competition in the NJAC, Rodriguez also seeks good independent games, such as when his Hornets played Red Bank Catholic in the early-season Pride Essex Challenge at Ivy Hill Park in Newark.

Hanover Park lost 10-1 to the Shore Conference power; however, even the lessons from a setback like that  -, also without Piano available at the time – simply make your team better while also picking up valuable power points in the NJSIAA state tournament picture.

The Hornets are scheduled to meet St. Mary’s of Rutherford 9 a.m. next Saturday (April 25) in Cedar Grove’s annual Black & Gold Showcase. There are also scheduled games vs. Cranford April 29, at Cedar Grove against the Panthers on May 19 and also on the road at perennial Non-Public A state title contender Immaculate Heart on May 20.

“I really don’t understand why some teams don’t play some strong independent opponents,” said Rodriguez. “To me it’s becomes only a plus to how your season develops.”

It was 14 years ago when he guided Newark Academy, a program with little softball history, to a rare appearance in the Essex County Tournament semifinals.

Sure, the journey to the ECT Final 4 ended with a 8-2 loss to the Mount; however, just being at that juncture of the tournament, in the big-game setting of Ivy Hill Park, was a huge plus for the Minutemen.

“I want my teams to play in big games whenever it’s possible, and that continues to be my philosophy at Hanover Park,” said Rodriguez. “We’re excited about preparing for the tournaments in May, and hopefully we will be fully healthy for this season’s stretch run!”