SCOTCH PLAINS - At the time a game that was already approaching two hours was far from over.
Host Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the last team to beat Gov. Livingston nearly two years ago, was giving the visiting Highlanders all they could handle.
The Raiders trailed GL by just two runs and were one out away from getting out of the top of the fourth. Then, with the bases loaded, GL's No. 9 batter Owen Keough came through with his second RBI-single and leadoff batter Zach Geertsma followed with an RBI-walk go give GL a four-run lead.
Still seeking the knockout punch on an afternoon where the temperature was dropping back down to winter levels, GL's No. 2 batter in the lineup, senior Reid Bazydlo, was seeking his first hit in already his fourth time up.
Bazydlo, who will continue playing in college at Felician and who was playing second base in this game, struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch in the first, walked on a 3-2 pitch in the second and was hit by a pitch in the third. Again, with two strikes on him, Bazydlo was ready for what the third Scotch Plains pitcher was about to offer.
It was a fastball and Bazydlo was not only ready, but he got all of it sending the ball high over the center field fence more than 365 feet from home plate. Suddenly a nip and tuck game transitioned into GL now leading by eight runs as the Highlanders reached double-digit scoring for already the fourth time this spring.
"It felt good right off the bat," Bazydlo said.
It was also good enough to be the punctuation mark in GL's state-record 39th straight victory. In a contest that took three hours and 10 minutes to complete in temperatures that were 40 degrees colder than a week ago, GL defeated Scotch Plains 12-3 in Union County Conference-Watchung Division action at Scotch Plains.
GL improved to 5-0 overall and the defending champions lead the Watchung Division at 3-0. Scotch Plains slipped to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Watchung Division.
They will play again at GL on Thursday, April 9 at 4 p.m.
Scotch Plains is the last team to beat GL, coming back to down the Highlanders 6-5 in eight innings at Scotch Plains on May 21, 2024.
GL, the two-time defending Group 2 state champion, broke the state record of 38 wins in a row set by Don Bosco Prep in the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
"It's our aggressiveness and confidence that carries us through," Keough said.
For Bazydlo it was his first grand slam and second home run. His first round-tripper was an important solo blast in last year's come-from-behind 7-6 home win over 16th-seeded Point Pleasant Boro in the first round of the 2025 Central Jersey, Group 2 playoffs.
The lefty-swinging Keough realizes his role as GL's No. 9 batter in front of Geertsma.
"Guys like me, singles hitters, our job is to get on so guys like Zach can drive us in," Keough said.
GL, which has won its share of division, county, section and state titles, will next attempt to win a 40th straight game.
"It's a big accomplishment and has a lot to do with team chemistry," Keough said.
Getting the job done on the mound for GL were starter Keith Mann, who pitched the first four innings, Zaiden Fernandez and Mateo Liloia. Mann gave up one earned run on five hits, striking out six and walking three. Fernandez pitched the next two innings, giving up one earned run, and Mateo closed the game by producing a scoreless seventh.
Standout senior catcher Michael Basile was GL's other batter with two hits, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Geertstma was walked three times and led all batters with three runs scored.
GOV. LIVINGSTON BASEBALL
SETS THE STATE RECORD
FOR LONGEST WINNING STREAK AT 39
2026 (WON FIRST 5):
April 7: GL 12, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 3 - at SP-F
April 4: GL 16, Lyndhurst 1 - at GL
March 31: GL 12, Oratory Prep 1 - at OP
March 30: GL 10, Oratory Prep 0 - at GL
March 28: GL 6, New Providence 2 - at GL
2025 (28-0):
June 16: GL 6, West Morris 1 - at Wood-Ridge
June 9: GL 8, Haddonfield 6 - at GL
June 5: GL 12, Robbinsville 2 - at GL
June 3: GL 3, Raritan 2 - at GL
May 29: GL 12, South River 6 - at GL
May 27: GL 7, Point Pleasant Boro 6 - at GL
May 20: GL 5, Union Catholic 0 - at Kean
May 17: GL 1, Elizabeth 0 - at Johnson
May 16: GL 10, Johnson 0 - at GL
May 12: GL 5, Union Catholic 0 - at UC
May 10: GL 33, Linden 0 - at GL
May 8: GL 10, Union 1 - at GL
May 7: GL 16, Cranford 3 - at Cranford
May 6: GL 12, New Providence 1 - at GL
May 1: GL 7, Summit 0 - at Summit
April 30: GL 15, New Providence 3 - at NP
April 29: GL 12, Westfield 0 - at Westfield
April 26: GL 16, Columbia 5 - at GL
April 24: GL 19, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 0 - at SP-F
April 21: GL 8, Westfield 7 - at GL
April 19: GL 3, Lyndhurst 0 - at Lyndhurst
April 16: GL 1, Brearley 0 - at Brearley
April 15: GL 10, Union Catholic 0 - at GL
April 13: GL 11, Delbarton 4 - at South Brunswick
April 10: GL 11, Cranford 0 - at GL
April 8: GL 6, Summit 3 - at GL
April 3: GL 13, Johnson 0 - at GL
April 1: GL 8, Elizabeth 4 - at Elizabeth
2024 (WON LAST 6):
June 8: GL 3, Pascack Valley 0 - at Hamilton
June 5: GL 10, Seneca 2 - at Seneca
June 3: GL 9, Delran 3 - at GL
May 31: GL 2, Bordentown 0 - at GL
May 29: GL 5, Nottingham 4 - at GL
May 23: GL 7, Holmdel 6 - at GL
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