Revenge Served Sweet: Ridgewood Baseball Outlasts Passaic Tech in High-Scoring Sectional Final Thriller
photo courtesy of Ridgewood Public Schools
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WAYNE, NJ — A year ago, Ridgewood first baseman Hudson Feeney stood on the field at Bulldog Stadium, watching the opposition celebrate a North 1, Group 4 title while dealing with the sting of a game-ending strikeout.
On Friday, June 5, 2026, Feeney found himself back on that exact same dirt—but this time, he caught the final out to write a completely different ending.
In a high-octane, high-scoring rematch of the 2025 sectional final, the No. 3 seed Ridgewood Maroons held off a ferocious late-game rally by Passaic Tech to secure a thrilling 10-8 victory, claiming their second sectional trophy in four seasons.
“Last year, I came up in the seventh inning, 4-2 game, I struck out, and I told myself I’d never let that happen again,” Feeney shared after the celebration erupted. “We certainly got our revenge.”
Inside the Box Score: Heavy Hitting and Gritty Relief
What looked like a comfortable lead for Ridgewood rapidly turned into a classic New Jersey high school baseball postseason nail-biter. Feeney’s solo blast in the top of the sixth inning extended the Maroons’ lead to 10-5, but Passaic Tech (28-3) refused to go down without a fight on their home turf.
Ridgewood starter Ryan Nitch (9-2) put together a masterful performance, grinding through 5.1 innings and throwing 102 of his allowed 104 pitches just two days after appearing in the semifinals.
When Passaic Tech loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Ridgewood Head Coach Kurt Hommen called on senior reliever Brady Ross to face Rutgers-bound slugger Mickey Gilligan. Gilligan, who had already homered earlier in the contest, managed an RBI single to narrow the gap to 10-8.
Unfazed, Ross buckled down and forced a sharp groundout to third baseman Gavin McCrone, whose relay throw found Feeney’s glove at first base to seal the championship.
“Our players were very gritty, they never quit, they kept battling, and this has been their M.O. all year, to tell you the truth,” said Coach Hommen, who has now captured six sectional titles and amassed a 327-116-1 record since taking over the program in 2010.
Maroons Standout Performances & Game Balls
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Kotaro Kim (RF): The senior right fielder was absolutely unstoppable, going 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and a massive three-run home run in the fourth inning.
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Ryan Nitch (P/DH): Along with his gritty performance on the mound, where he struck out five batters, Nitch helped his own cause with an RBI double in the second inning.
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Justin Loffredo (JR): Added crucial offensive depth, finishing the day with a double, a single, two RBIs, and a run scored.
What’s Next for Ridgewood Baseball?
With the North 1, Group 4 trophy officially back in Bergen County, the Maroons (23-7) turn their sights toward the state championship track.
Ridgewood is scheduled to host North Section 2 champion Ridge High School (19-10) in the Group 4 state semifinals on Monday, June 8. Ridge advanced after edging out Watchung Hills in a tight 3-2 battle.
History is on the Maroons’ side: the program’s last two sectional titles in 2019 and 2023 both culminated in state championship victories.
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Love every one of these players ! They have been playing together for nearly a decade!