The Lenape Valley baseball team is enjoying its most successful season in more than a decade, finishing the regular schedule with a 16‑win record and securing the NJAC Colonial title.
A Season Defined by Momentum
First‑year head coach Kyle Murphy, who returned to the program after seven years as an assistant at Stanhope School, has instilled a culture of fundamentals and teamwork that has translated into wins on the field. The Patriots opened the year by winning their first ten games, the program’s best start since 1978, and have not looked back since.
Key contributors such as senior Liam McClung, senior Ben Sumski, junior Jameson Kenny and sophomore Dominic Errichetti have combined for over 100 hits and dozens of RBIs, while a deep pitching rotation anchored by McClung and sophomore Dylan Kelly has limited opponents to just 10 runs over their last three games.
Rising Stars and Pitching Dominance
Sumski leads the lineup with 30 hits, 21 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Kenny’s 25 hits, 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases have added speed and versatility. Errichetti, batting .412 with 21 hits and 20 stolen bases, has emerged as a dynamic sparkplug. On the mound, McClung’s 1.20 ERA and Kelly’s 1.71 ERA have produced 141 strikeouts in just under 100 innings, giving the Patriots a reliable backbone heading into the postseason.
The team’s recent 4‑3 victory over rival North Warren showcased the depth of talent, with Tom Crispino delivering a two‑hit, three‑RBI performance and McClung striking out 11 batters across six and two‑thirds innings. Seven players have reached the 15‑hit mark, and three have eclipsed 21 hits, underscoring the breadth of offensive firepower.
Looking ahead, the Patriots are the No. 14 seed in the North 1, Group 1 sectional bracket and will meet No. 3 seed Park Ridge on May 27 in Bergen County. With one regular‑season game remaining against Morristown Beard on May 20, the squad aims to carry its current momentum into the playoffs and potentially extend a season that has already rewritten recent school history.