A Walk‑Off Night in Ridgewood
The Group 4 state semifinal between Ridgewood and Ridge of Bernards Township turned into a marathon eight‑inning battle that swung back and forth until the final out. Ridgewood entered the game with a reputation for resilience, but the contest was marked by defensive lapses that kept the opposition alive.
Two early errors by Ridgewood allowed Ridge to knot the score at 7‑all in the top of the seventh, turning a comfortable lead into a precarious tie. The tension was palpable as both teams exchanged blows in a game that would ultimately be decided by a single swing.
Relief pitcher Brady Ross stepped in when the pressure mounted, delivering a gritty performance that included 72 pitches over four innings. He allowed just one unearned run on two hits and three walks while striking out six, buying the necessary breathing room for his teammates to mount a comeback.
With the game still deadlocked, the Red Devils’ lineup erupted in the bottom of the eighth. Hudson Feeney led off with a towering home run that cleared the left‑field fence, sealing an 8‑7 victory and sending the crowd into celebration.
The win propels Ridgewood into the NJSIAA Group 4 championship, where they will meet Kingsway on June 14 at Rutgers University. It marks the third state‑final appearance for the program since 2019, underscoring a sustained period of excellence under head coach Kurt Hommen.
Coach Hommen’s tenure has been defined by consistency, having guided the team to three consecutive state finals and multiple sectional titles in recent years. The upcoming final represents not only a chance at a third championship since 2019 but also a test of the squad’s depth against a formidable Kingsway squad.