They play Saturday morning against Manalapan
By Bob Nuse, Packet Media Sports
Even when his team was struggling early in the season, the message remained the same from Norm Hewitt.
The veteran Hillsborough High baseball coach had a good feeling about his team and felt all along the tough schedule the Raiders had played would have them prepared for tournament baseball.
His players backed him up when they captured the Somerset County Tournament title in late May, and have since taken it a step further by winning the North Jersey, Section 2 Group IV championship. And now, with a 1-0 win over Ridgewood on Tuesday, the Raiders are in a position to play for their second Group IV state title.
”The kids have risen to the occasion,” said Hewitt, whose team will face Manalapan on Saturday in Toms River for the Group IV state title. “We have worked so hard and it was frustrating not seeing the rewards of that early in the season. We could have bagged it halfway through the year. But the kids just kept working and it has paid off.”
Hillsborough was just 8-10 at the cutoff for the state tournament, seeded 11th in the sectional. But the Raiders posted wins over Watchung Hills, Union, Bridgewater and Hunterdon Central to capture their first sectional title since 2005. Now, after a win over Ridgewood, they can win their first state title since that magical 2005 season.
”A couple years ago we would not have been able to get into the state tournament because you had to be .500 or above,” said Hewitt, whose team has won nine of its last 12 games and is 17-13 on the season. “We had an opportunity and we seized it. I think the turning point was when we won the county. We always had the talent and ability, but we were pressing a little bit. I have seen a big difference in practice. We’re more relaxed but still full of energy.”
In the sectional final, the Raiders got past Hunterdon Central, 6-1, as Evan Edelman allowed just four hits and one run over seven innings. The Raiders led, 2-1, when they added four runs in the top of the seventh to break the game open. Pat Roberts had the big blow of the game with a three-run home run in the seventh. Edelman, R.J. Fanelli and Tyler Ferretti also drove in runs.
In Tuesday’s win, Paul Mammino allowed just one hit over seven innings to earn the win. The Raiders picked up the only run of the game in the sixth inning when Roberts drove in Fanelli with a base hit.
”We have beaten some pretty good teams,” Hewitt said. “The Skyland Conference really prepared us. It’s just a brutal league. We all beat each other up. In the states we almost had four teams go the semifinals.
”The game against Hunterdon Central may have been in my total career one of the finest defensive games our kids have played. I witnessed a plethora of plays spread out by everyone. Edelman pitched a great game. Our third baseman, shortstop, second baseman and first baseman all made great plays and our rightfielder throws a guy out. We also had timely hitting. These are the things we did not get throughout the season.”
But the Raiders have gotten those things throughout the last month. It’s turned them from a potentially dangerous team to a team within one win of a state championship.
”One of my assistants said the baseball gods were against us earlier this season and it was time for things to go our way,” said Hewitt, whose team has lost six games by one run this season. “We had some outstanding plays and a couple breaks a little luck never hurts. Our confidence level is up right now. No matter what happens I am satisfied with the way we finished. Our seniors will leave with something they will never forget.
”The second half of the year has been a real team effort. I told them in the beginning when things were going bad this is what you play for. It’s not where you start it is where you finish.”
The Raiders will have one more game to play. And win or lose, they have once again given their fans a season to remember.
”Our community is very important to the baseball program,” Hewitt said. “This is why you try to excel and have the youth be a part of it and continue the tradition. At our school we have a great tradition in all sports. We want the community to be involved. It is like having a 10th man on the field with the support we get.”

