Offensive outburst, reliability hand B-R first Somerset County title since 1996 (2024)

The 2024 Panthers are Bridgewater-Raritan’s greatest team in program history.

Just one year after shattering the team’s win record with 23, this spring’s B-R squad has leap-frogged off their recent success and turned it into a championship.

On Friday at TD Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater-Raritan - ranked No. 4 in the NJ.com Top 20 - saw everything come together for them.

Eight of the Panthers’ nine batters scored at least once en route to their first county title since 1996.

Facing No. 20 Ridge, the Panthers registered a 10-7 victory, improving to 25-3 as the most powerful public team in New Jersey.

Senior right-hander Cory Rible recorded the final out, finding himself at the bottom of the dog-pile - just as he always dreamed.

“Ever since you’re little, you imagine yourself pitching late in a close game with everything on the line. This game was pretty close to that for me and I’m in awe of this team reaching this point,” Rible said.

Bridgewater-Raritan is now 14-0 this season when Rible pitches in a game, nabbing three strikeouts in 2.2 relief innings.

The one Panther to not score was Frankie Verano, who etched his production with a smashing a ground-rule double in the 5th inning and logged one RBI in 3rd.

Michael Taylor slapped four hits from the nine-spot in the lineup to set the table for a devastating row that included Devin Goldberg (two stolen bases, run), Matthew Lehberger (run, walk) and Matt Fattore (triple, RBI, two runs).

It was Taylor’s first-career four-hit game, too. He couldn’t have chosen a better game to erupt at the dish.

“I didn’t even sleep last night. I was so excited for this game just like the rest of us. We were so hyped,” Taylor said.

Bridgewater-Raritan’s biggest dent came in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Matt Cichocki doubled and scored while Fattore and JR Rosado both walked, then scored.

Verano brought in a run on a ground ball and Joe Spirra (2-for-4, two RBIs), Taylor both singled, then scored.

“These guys are dogs. From top to bottom, we contribute,” Taylor said.

Spirra’s first knock was a perfectly-place bunt towards first base with a polished slide.

Owen Crimmins started for Bridgewater-Raritan, improving to 8-0 on the mound.

He lasted 4.1 frames before handing it off to Joey Letko.

Rible then relieved Letko and didn’t walk a batter. Rible’s only walk this season in 30.1 innings came intentionally.

For Ridge, the Red Devils (20-8) threatened in the 5th inning. Nick Rossi, Ben Larner, Zach Kucercka and Kieran Callanan all walked and scored in the frame.

Callanan tabbed 1-for-2 day with two runs, one triple and one RBI.

Kucercka brought in two runs on a single in the 3rd and Andrew Reynolds helped with an RBI base hit, too.

Bridgewater-Raritan came into the day with the most power points among all public teams in the Garden State with 618. In their first Somerset County final appearance since 2012, the Panthers continued their Skyland Conference dominance with a 13-hit performance.

Bridgewater-Raritan has won nine games in a row and will take the momentum from Friday night into the NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 state tournament, where they are the top seed.

“I love this team. I love all of these guys and it has been an unbelievable run. We love each other,” Fattore said.

“I love every single person a part of this program. We are family and we’ve worked so hard together,” Taylor added.

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PJ Potter may be reached at PPotter@njadvancemedia.com.