NORTH CALDWELL- It may not have been the 1999 Morris County Tournament final when Morristown’s Rob Oglivie threw a perfect game to out-dual Hanover Park’s prize southpaw Sean Atchison, who tossed a superb 1-hitter as the Colonials edged the Hornets 1-0 in an hour and 13-minute pitchers’ masterpiece.
Nor was it the 2007 Greater Newark Tournament semifinal game when Seton Hall Prep’s then future major league Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello tossed his own perfect game to offset the brilliant dealing of Newark Academy’s Andrew DelColle in a 1-0 triumph for coach Mike Sheppard, Jr’s perennial GNT title contenders.
Instead, it was a crisp and comfortably cool May 1st, 2026, Friday afternoon in North Caldwell setting and a GNT first-round contest between an upset-minded 14th-seeded Cedar Grove squad and third-seeded West Essex (11-5), which has a bona fide ace to spearhead its mount staff in big senior right-hander Jackson Lodgek.
The Panthers (10-7) countered with a less-renowned but still very talented righty in junior Jack Velonas, who despite entering with a rather unassuming 2-3 record in the season’s first month, certainly demonstrates his own impressive pitching acumen.
What ensued was a classic GNT pitching duel in its own right - perhaps one that will soon be forgotten as the tourney moves into the latter rounds - however, for those baseball purists, who always enjoy great pitching - and in under 2 hours - it was a very entertaining high school tournament game to take in.
And, neither pitcher was perfect – not really even close to what Oglivie or Porcello produced many New Jersey baseball moons ago - but what each did do in Friday’s tidy mound duel was to show a steadfast determination while working out of almost every jam, while the home team would eventually capitalize with a clutch, 2-out rally to be able to survive and advanced with a rather tidy 2-0 win over the pesky Panthers.
Lodgek, the Knights’ hard throwing 6-foot-4 righty tossed a 1-hitter with 10 strikeouts, five walks and a hit batter while throwing 107 pitches in 6 1/3 innings, while Cedar Grove’s impressive Velonas allowed just four hits while walking one, while also hitting a batter and striking out seven in a superb 99-pitch effort over his six innings.
West Essex (11-5) advances into the GNT quarterfinals on Wednesday (May 6) where it will host another double-digit seed in 11-St. Benedict’s, which defeated sixth-seeded Montclair, 7-4, in its first-round encounter on Friday.
The other GNT quarterfinals will see 8-Verona at 1-SHP, 5-West Orange at 4-Columbia and 7-Nutley at 2-Caldwell.
The semifinals are slated for next Saturday (May 9), 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at SHP’s Porcello Field in West Orange, while the 93rd championship game is set for noon Saturday, May 16, at Verona’s Doc Goeltz Field.
For West Essex the quest continues to win its first GNT championship in 16 years, or since then coach Scott Illiano’s Knights edged Columbia, 5-4, for the 2010 title for the program's second GNT title.
The first GNT crown for the Knights had come when Illiano's then 15th-seeded squad upset Porcello and second-seeded SHP in dramatic fashion at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark to capture the program’s first countywide baseball championship.
Illiano, who was in attendance at Friday’s GNT first round game with Cedar Grove, was recently honored along with his 2006 team before the Knights’ 2026 season opener vs. Millburn.
Now, it’s first-year head coach Anthony Genchi along with his young and ambitious West Essex squad which has high hopes of a GNT crown this spring.
“That would be awesome, and I think we have a really good shot in this tournament with the team we have,” said senior 4-year starting outfielder Caden Lozito, who was 2-for-3 vs. Velonas, including a hard-hit RBI single to plate Colin Fogg for an insurance run in a pivotal 2-run fifth inning after Fogg had gotten the Knights on the board with a clutch 2-out RBI hit. “Yeah, we have a lot of young guys on this team, but they’re growing up fast, and we have Jackson, who is a dog out there!”
Lodgek may not have had his best stuff on Friday as he went into deep counts at times while throwing those 107 pitches in his 6 1/3 innings with the one hit he allowed being a 1-out single by Jake Scirica in the third inning, but the West Essex mound ace was able to work out of any potential trouble all game long.
Junior righty Daniel Gorab needed just five pitches to record a 2-out save as the Knights secured their hard-fought GNT victory.
“I could have been better for sure, and I didn’t have my best stuff today,” said Lodgek. “I didn’t use my changeup as much, and was throwing mostly sliders while still getting swings and misses for the most part.
“I trust what pitches (assistant) coach Corey (Feigenbaum) calls, and I always trust my defense behind me.
“I just love competing in the biggest spots, and I do whatever I can for my team!”
A somewhat enduring inning for Lodgek came in the top of the fourth when he needed 27 pitches to get out of a slight jam while walking two and striking out two.
He was able to get out of any trouble and he followed that frame up with a rather tidy 12-pitch fifth inning.
Genchi, who has worked with a number of top pitchers through the years, including during his long tenure as co-head coach at Montclair, was impressed with the typical perseverance and tenacity demonstrated by his prize senior righty.
“Jackson was able to pitch in and out of a few messy situations,” said the Knights’ rookie head mentor. “He has that bulldog mentality and he is able to work out of those difficult spots.”
Meanwhile Velonas, who has an impressive 2.84 ERA and has been a solid performer all season for coach Vin Cordasco’s Panthers, had picked up six of his seven strikeouts through the first four innings while allowing just two hits and hitting one batter.
And, he was appearing to be continuing that trend in the fifth inning as he retired the first two Knights on just five pitches before a 2-out rally would begin with the familiar ‘bugaboo’ for any pitcher, that being a base on balls.
West Essex’s No. 9 hitter, sophomore leftfielder Anthony Cirigliano, worked a walk and then stole second as leadoff man Fogg, who has been the Knights’ best hitter this season, was at the plate.
With an open base Cedar Grove could have considered walking Fogg; however, instead decided to try to induce an out and on a 2-2 count, the Knights’ senior catcher stroked an RBI single to left field plating Cirigliano with the game’s first run.
“I think they just wanted to attack me, and I proved that they shouldn’t have,” said Fogg. “I just try to remain focused on driving the ball to right center and whatever happens just happens.”
Lozito, Lodgek and Fogg are the only three Knights players with any significant varsity experience.
Lodgek has been a solid No. 1 for two straight seasons, but with such a young and inexperienced lineup it’s been vital for Lozito and Fogg to come through in key at bats.
“Both of those guys have been big for us all year, especially in late-game situations,” said Genchi. “Other than Jackson, Caden and Colin we’re a young team, and they are the only three with GNT experience coming into this game.”
And, now the tournament moves into the quarters where there is certainly not going to be any overlooking another double-digit seed in St. Benedict’s.
“Seeds don’t mean anything in the GNT and it’s important to recognize that right away and just focus on performing as well as you can in the game in front of you that day,” added Genchi. “Cedar Grove is a good team and their kid pitched well.
“We have to continue to come ready to compete at a high level each day and hopefully we can continue to advance in what is always a very competitive tournament.”
NOTES- Colin Fogg, who is batting .453, will join older brother Devin, a 2024 West Essex graduate, at Ursinus College next fall, while Lozito is headed to play his college baseball at Ramapo…West Essex has two freshmen starting infielders with No. 5 hitter and third baseman Thomas Drechsel, and No. 8 hitter and second baseman Ethan Fiss. Young Drechsel is a cousin of former Cranford stars and ex-Millburn assistant coaches Dave and Chris Drechsel…West Essex pitching coach Corey Feigenbaum, a former West Orange standout, is in his first season with the Knights after serving on Mickey Ennis’ staff at Livingston the past few seasons when the Lancers won a pair of state sectional titles…Lodgek’s dad is a former pitcher at Wake Forest, his cousin Jake Lodgek out of Mainland Regional, is a freshman pitcher at the University of Miami, and his uncle – and Jake’s dad - Scott Lodgek, pitched for the University of North Carolina before being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the major league draft and playing minor league baseball……Cedar Grove baseball coach Cordasco has also been an assistant football coach at West Essex….the Panthers are situated in the Colonial Division, which is the third division in the Super Essex Conference, while the Knights are in the SEC’s top division, the American.
93rd Greater Newark Tournament first round, Friday, May 1:
(14) CEDAR GROVE (10-7) 000 000 0 0 R 1 H 2 E
(3) WEST ESSEX (11-5) 000 020 X 2 R 4 H 0 E
W.P.- Jackson Lodgek (4-0) L.P.- Jack Velonas (2-4)
Save- Daniel Gorab
GNT first round:
(1) Seton Hall Prep 10 (16) Barringer 0 (in 5 inn.)
(8) Verona 6 (9) Livingston 1
(5) West Orange 13 (12) MKA 3 (in 6 inn.)
(4) Columbia 14 (13) Glen Ridge 4
(3) West Essex 2 (14) Cedar Grove 0
(11) St. Benedict’s 7 (6) Montclair 4
(7) Nutley 5 (10) Millburn 2
(2) Caldwell 10 (15) Newark Tech 0 (in 6 inn.)
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, May 6:
(8) Verona at (1) Seton Hall Prep
(5) West Orange at (4) Columbia
(11) St. Benedict’s at (3) West Essex
(7) Nutley at (2) Caldwell
Semifinals: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, May 9, at Seton Hall Prep’s Porcello Field; final: noon, Saturday, May 16, at Verona’s Doc Goeltz Field
Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister
GREATER NEWARK TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:
2025: Seton Hall Prep 6 Livingston 0
2024: Seton Hall Prep 6 Livingston 0
2023: Millburn 3 Seton Hall Prep 0
2022: Seton Hall Prep 15 Bloomfield 0 (in 5 inn.)
2021: Millburn 6 Seton Hall Prep 5 (in 11 inn.)
2020: No tournament due to covid-19
2019: Montclair 10 Seton Hall Prep 0
2018: Livingston 8 Nutley 3
2017: Seton Hall Prep 4 Millburn 2
2016: Seton Hall Prep 11, Nutley 1
2015: Seton Hall Prep 12, Millburn 6
2014: Seton Hall Prep 7, Cedar Grove 6
2013: Seton Hall Prep 4, Montclair 2
2012: Montclair 2, Nutley 1
2011: Seton Hall Prep 8, Millburn 2
2010: West Essex 5, Columbia 4
2009: Livingston 5, Nutley 4
2008: Seton Hall Prep 8, Millburn 7 (8 inn.)
2007: Seton Hall Prep 5, Newark East Side 1
2006: West Essex 5, Seton Hall Prep 2
2005: Seton Hall Prep 11, Nutley 0
2004: Nutley 3, Seton Hall Prep 2
2003: Seton Hall Prep 3, Nutley 0
2002: Nutley 6, Seton Hall Prep 2
2001: Nutley 5, Seton Hall Prep 3
2000: Seton Hall Prep 3, Livingston 1
1999: Seton Hall Prep 4, Columbia 3
1998: Seton Hall Prep 6, Essex Catholic 4
1997: Seton Hall Prep 5, Bloomfield 2
1996: Bloomfield 3, Livingston 0
1995: Columbia 1, Belleville 0
1994: East Side 4, Glen Ridge 3
1993: Nutley 10, West Essex 3
1992: East Side 5, Seton Hall Prep 2
1991: Livingston 7, Cedar Grove 6
1990: Seton Hall Prep 13, Columbia 0
1989: Glen Ridge 7, Livingston 0
1988: Cedar Grove 5, Livingston 3
1987: Glen Ridge 3, Irvington 0
1986: Columbia 9, Belleville 8 (8 inn.)
1985: Cedar Grove 2, Caldwell 1 (8 inn.)
1984: Millburn 4, Nutley 3
1983: Seton Hall Prep 3, Glen Ridge 1
1982: Caldwell 4, Glen Ridge 1
1981: Belleville 10, Glen Ridge 4
1980: Livingston 8, Belleville 6
1979: Columbia 5, Livingston 4
1978: Columbia 3, Our Lady of the Valley 2
1977: Livingston 9, Seton Hall Prep 1
1976: Livingston 6, Essex Catholic 4
1975: Essex Catholic 5, Irvington 1
1974: Livingston 5, Verona 1
1973: Our Lady of the Valley 3, Bloomfield 1
GNT has been Essex County teams only since 1973.
GNT also included teams from outside Essex County from 1933-1972.
1972: Ewing 7, Bloomfield 3
1971: Seton Hall Prep 7, Haddonfield 2
1970: Union 5, Ewing 1
1969: Morristown 12, Montclair 3
1968: Morristown 2, Piscataway 1
1967: Morristown 5, Roselle Catholic 4
1966: Union 2, Parsippany 1
1965: Parsippany 5, Westfield 3
1964: St. Benedict’s Prep 6, Montclair 5
1963: Montclair 6, St. Benedict’s 3
1962: Garfield 6, Nutley 0
1961: South River 5, Linden 3
1960: New Brinswick 3, East Side 0
1959: Bayonne 14, Verona 8
1958: St. Peter’s Prep 3, Hanover Park 1
1957: Rahway 3, Irvington 2
1956: New Brunswick 11, Barringer 0
1955: Jefferson 7, Montclair 6
1954: Montclair 8, Englewood 0
1953: Englewood 9, Irvington 4
1952: Bloomfield 3, Nutley 0
1951: Linden 8, Jefferson 3
1950: Rahway 9, East Side 7
1949: Bayonne 3, Montclair 2
1948: Montclair 1, Irvington 0
1947: Irvington 6, Columbia 0
1946: East Side 4, Roselle Park 2
1945: Bloomfield 5, Columbia 0
1944: Caldwell 9, Bloomfield 0
1943: Kearny 6, Hillside 3
1942: Montclair 3, Irvington 2
1941: Hillside 9, Kearny 5
1940: Irvington 2, Trenton 0
1939: Irvington 4, Woodbridge 3
1938: Irvington 6, South River 1
1937: Hillside 8, Bloomfield 4
1936: Hillside 11, Nutley 2
1935: Bloomfield 4, Hillside 3
1934: Hillside 5, Barringer 1
1933: Irvington 1, Kearny 0
*GNT historical information from Jeff Goldberg
