Union-Hudson edged Essex-Middlesex, 7-5, in the NJ Quad County Underclassmen All-Star Game.
It is a unique showcase that brings together the best underclassmen from four counties onto two very talented teams each June at A.L. Johnson High School in Clark.
On Tuesday night, the Union-Hudson team outlasted its Essex-Middlesex opponent, 7-5, in a NJ Quad County Underclassmen All-Star Game that will be remembered for pitching, pitching and more pitching, sprinkled in with a heavy dose of the type of defensive plays that turn the heads of college scouts.
Essex-Middlesex’s three-run bottom of the 10th inning — the 10-inning game was part of the plan all along — prettied up a score that had been more reflective of what was a dominant pitching performance by Union-Hudson. But Union-Hudson was able to hold on to what had been a 7-2 lead when Jhonaiber Acevedo induced a fly ball to right field to end the game.
Union-Hudson had essentially pitched a high school length no-hitter within the game when it shut out and no-hit Essex-Middlesex for 7⅔ innings, beginning with the third inning and ending with two outs and no one on in the 10th. That staff struck out nine and walked two over the dominant stretch.
Kean University coach Neal Ioviero was honored in the pre-game with the organization’s Distinguished Achievement Award, presented annually since 2015 to recipients who’ve made a significant contribution to baseball in New Jersey.
Ioviero has had a remarkable 29-year career at Kean that remains at full throttle. His team’s 2026 season was again terrific. The Cougars went 31-13-1 and reached the Region final. His teams have qualified for 16 NCAA tournaments, won seven regional championships and secured the 2007 Division III championship when he was also named National Coach of the Year.
Ioviero was joined by his family, wife Letizia, and children Marcelo and Letizia and had a few words for the players lined up before him.
Most Outstanding Players Luiyi Martinez of Johnson and Dante Placenti of Caldwell.
“If I can give you guys any advice it would be, be where your feet are,” said Ioviero. “Enjoy what you are doing right now. These opportunities don’t come along very often and they go by really fast. When you go on your visits and pick your schools, pick really good people. Honor the sacrifices your parents have made and the commitment they’ve made to you.”
Caldwell’s Dante Placenti of Essex-Middlesex and Johnson’s Luiyi Martinez of Union-Hudson were named the game’s Most Outstanding Players. Most players get just two or three at bats and four or five innings in the field or, if you are a pitcher, a single inning on the mound to show your stuff.
Martinez doubled and scored in the fourth inning, singled in the sixth and made two outstanding plays at shortstop, along with making a few other difficult plays look easy, to earn the honor for Union-Hudson. All that while his competition on his own team was strong and deep.
“I keep my focus on working on groundballs,” said Martinez. “I want to get the job done on grounders.” That focus is clearly producing results. His approach at the plate is as focused but not necessarily picky with pitch selection. “I like to have a clear mind up there, not looking for something special to hit. I just want to be ready to hit and be prepared for whatever is coming.” Another mission accomplished for Martinez.
Placenti came to bat in the bottom of the 10th with two outs and runners on first and second. Old Bridge’s Brady Meyer had drawn a walk with two outs and Nick Lukacyk of Woodbridge followed with a single. That flipped the lineup back to the top and Placenti. The center fielder had led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and stole second base before striking out in the third. But Lukacyk’s single ensured Placenti would be reinserted into the lineup for an unanticipated third at bat.
Kean University coach Neil Ioviero received the Distinguished Achievement Award at the NJ Quad County All-Star Game. Joining him is, from left, son Marcello, daughter Letizia and wife Letizia.
“I didn’t think I’d get up again,’ said Placenti. “I knew I had to go first pitch there and be aggressive. I was looking for a fastball. I was being so aggressive there, honestly, I probably would have swung at a curveball, too.” Placenti got the preferred fastball and crushed it to right field for a grounds rule double that scored the first run for Essex-Middlesex since the second inning.
After Matt Chin of Old Bridge drew a walk to load the bases, Monroe’s Ben Faigin brought home two more runs with a two-run single, shaving the deficit to 7-5. Acevedo stranded the tying runs on base when he induced the fly out to end the game.
Gov. Livingston’s Addison Adornato capped Union-Hudson’s five-run second inning with a two-run double to left field. Roman Molina of Memorial (W.N.Y) brought home the first run of the rally with a bases-loaded bouncer to third base. Hudson Catholic’s Evan Perez (2-2, run, 2 RBI) followed with a two-run single to center field.
Essex-Middlesex answered the five-run rally with two runs in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Mercado of St. Benedict’s doubled to the base of the left field wall with two outs. He then took off for third base in a steal attempt and scored when the catcher’s throw to third was wild. Lefty-hitting Joe Massimino of Colonia then launched a solo home run to right field to cut the lead to 5-2.
Luke Eckert of Bayonne delivered a two-out single through the right side to score Wilmer Mas Sarda from second and extend the lead to 6-2 in the fourth. Mas Sarda had triggered the rally with a two-out double to right field. Meyer had struck out the first two batters of the inning before running into trouble. He would eventually strike out the side.
Patrick Bendert of Cranford takes a rip at a pitch in the top of the fifth inning.
Essex-Middlesex kept itself in the game with three very nice defensive plays in the top of the eighth inning. Aiden Luccarella led off the inning with a single to center off Lukachyk and promptly stole second and third base. Patrick Bendert of Cranford then lofted a fly ball to shallow center field. Drew Aromando of Verona charged in, made the catch and fired home to keep Luccarella at third. Owen Keough of Gov. Livingston then sent a slow roller to the left side. Shortstop Rocco Pontrella of West Essex charged in and made a terrific throw to first for the second out as Lukachyk held third. Cody Guthrie of Bayonne followed with a long shot to straightaway center field that sent Ray Tavares of Edison on his horse toward the wall. Tavares, somehow, reached over his shoulder to make a scintillating inning-ending and rally-killing catch.
Dan Gorab of West Essex had a strong ninth inning for Essex-Middlesex despite surrendering a leadoff single to Mas Sarda (1-for-2, walk, run). Gorab struck out the next two batters and got out of the inning as catcher Joey Maiella of Seton Hall Prep fired that third strike down to second base to nail Mas Sarda trying to steal.
Two pitchers went two full innings in the game, while 16 others pitched a single inning. Dan Vybihal of Caldwell pitched two shutout innings — the sixth and seventh — on one hit, struck out one and walked one for Essex-Middlesex. Chris Lopez of Bayonne worked two innings for Union-Hudson, also the sixth and seventh, permitting no runs on no hits, striking out two and walking two.
Union-Hudson pitching struck out 10 and walked just two in their 10 innings of work. Essex-Middlesex struck out 11 and walked six.
The Quad County Underclassmen All-Star Game was the brainchild of Bob Smorol and helped along by many in the background, plus the guiding hands of coaches Joe Sorce of Belleville, Chris Roof of Gov. Livingston and many more. The game began in 2010 as a Union vs. Essex game at Kean University in Union. Middlesex County was added in 2017 and Hudson joined the fray in 2018.
Rocco Pontrella of West Essex and Ray Tavares of Edison get some swings in prior to the third inning.
Two games were played among the four counties at the event from 2018 to 2024 at Community Park in North Brunswick. The Quad County event then moved to A.L Johnson in Clark in 2025 when the four counties were merged into two teams. After two years at the beautiful new turf facility in Clark, the game seems to have settled into a new, comfortable home.
The other Distinguished Achievement Award recipients since 2015 include; late Rutgers coach Fred Hill, late Seton Hall University coach Mike Sheppard, Sr., legendary Union High coach Gordon LeMatty, All-Century pitcher from Union, Al Santorini, Edison High School coach Jim Muldowney, Colorado Rockies scout Mike Garlatti, legendary Bayonne High coach Phil Baccarella, Linden High coaching legend Tony Picaro, Montclair State coach Norm Schoenig and Bob Behre, Diamond Nation/Star-Ledger sports reporter.