The latest edition of the MyCentralJersey Readers Choice Player of the Week poll has turned the spotlight on a group of standout high school baseball players who have made a marked impact over the past seven days.
Pitching Excellence
Ben Faigin posted a 2‑0 record in the Greater Middlesex Conference Jim Muldowney Tournament, surrendering just one earned run over 14 innings while striking out 26 batters. Jacob Henderson followed with an 18‑strikeout outing in seven innings during a 5‑1 victory over Highland Park in the opening round of the GMC Ray Cipperly Invitational. Brady Meyer also turned in a shutout stretch, limiting opponents to no earned runs in 13⅔ innings and fanning 14 hitters. Louis Rizzolo continued his steady climb, posting a 1.60 career ERA and delivering a complete‑game effort with 13 strikeouts against South Brunswick in the GMCT quarterfinals. Dylan Vernick capped the week with a two‑hit shutout, extending his season ERA to 1.64 after 42⅓ innings.
Zabdiel Lopez was a offensive catalyst, going 6‑for‑8 at the plate with four RBIs and five stolen bases as Perth Amboy surged to the semifinals of the Ray Cipperly Invitational. Chris Tortorella added a timely bat, driving in two runs while pitching 6⅔ strong innings to guide Union Catholic past Westfield 5‑2 in a Union County Tournament semifinal.
Collectively, these performances underscore the depth of talent across the region and set an exciting tone for the remainder of the season, as teams look to build on early tournament successes and individual momentum.