Seton Hall Prep has captured the last two Greater Newark Tournament titles and went 22-2 including a perfect 10-0 in the Super Essex Conference-American Division last spring; and, even with some new faces dotting the batting order and others warming up in the bullpen this season, the Pirates appear to be the definitive favorite once again on an Essex diamond scene where multiple new faces will be guiding their teams in the SEC’s top division.
Two of the more familiar faces for SEC strongholds in recent years – Brian Chapman at Millburn and Mickey Ennis at Livingston – have both moved on with ‘Chappy’ becoming the athletic director at St. John Vianney and Ennis retiring from coaching after a long career at both the high school and college levels.
Former assistant coaches Lou Nucci at Millburn and Sean Cruz at Livingston are new head coaches on the SEC-American Division scene along with Anthony Genchi at West Essex, who takes over the post vacated by Joe Cardinale, who resigned after last spring’s campaign.
Genchi, who had served as a longtime, co-head coach with Ron Gavazzi at Montclair, has a highly-regarded pitching coach on his West Essex staff with former Livingston assistant Corey Feigenbaum making the move to North Caldwell to join the Knights’ new-look staff.
While change abounds in the SEC’s top division, one constant remains SHP and its 39th-year head coach Mike Sheppard, Jr., who enters the new season just seven victories shy of 900, and he is second all-time on the statewide wins list behind the retired Toms River South Coach Ken Frank. (934 career victories).
The Pirates bid adieu to all-state pitcher Marcelo Harsch (Wake Forest) and slugging outfielder Will Mahala (Virginia), but return an ace on the mound in Boston College-bound senior JJ Drennan, who is back to lead the pitching staff after posting a 1.39 ERA last spring.
The potentially-potent lineup will be led by West Virginia commit Jordan Burwell, a slugging, 4-year starting first baseman, and other solid position players including senior shortstop Xavier McKnight and senior DH-outfielder Patrick Cassells, who is a Rutgers commit.
There is some pitching strength around the SEC-American including senior right-handers Jackson Lodgek at West Essex (1.74 ERA, 40 K’s in 40 1/3 IP) and George Mason University commit Adam Goldberg at Livingston.
The Knights return key position players in catcher Colin Fogg and outfielder Caden Lozito, but there is not too much experience after that pair.
Livingston graduated virtually all of its position players from last spring, several of whom were 2- or 3-year starters so Cruz, a former assistant coach at both Livingston and his high school alma mater Somerville, will work with longtime assistant coach Dave McLaughlin to help the Lancers reload with some less experienced varsity players this spring.
Millburn has a young left-hander to watch in junior Leo Dalton (1.77 ERA in 2025) but it seems like a long time now since the 2023 Millers, with then future pro prospect Steven Echavarria on the mound, finished a superb 27-4 and won the GNT title.
