North 1, Group 1
No. 2 Waldwick (22-7) at No. 1 Wood-Ridge (21-9), Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex, time TBA
To reach this stage, the Warriors and Blue Devils each avenged losses to the teams that ended their 2021 seasons. Waldwick took care of Kinnelon, 10-5, in the semifinals – the same round where both schools met last spring – but used ace Phil Centineo for 87 pitches and will have to turn elsewhere for the final.
Wood-Ridge defeated Hasbrouck Heights in Saturday’s quarterfinals – reversing the result of last year’s semis – behind Nick Rizos’ three-hitter with 10 strikeouts. The senior will be available for Friday to face a Warrior lineup that has averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Both teams are playing in their first North 1, Group 1 title game since since 2016, when Waldwick prevailed in their head-to-head clash, 5-2.
Semifinal top performers:
► Centineo got it done for the Warriors with his arm (5⅔ IP, 2 ER, 7 K) and his bat (two HR, four RBI), while Ryan Woolbert and Anthony Marco also went deep.
► Trey Packen pitched the Blue Devils’ 4-3 win, going the distance with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. Rizos drove in two runs during a four-run fourth.
By: Greg Tartaglia / Northjersey.com
