Ramsey Claims Group 2 State Baseball Championship by Defeating Two-Time Defending Champs

PISCATAWAY — Hudson Ferrando, who joined Ramsey High School as a promising pitcher, concluded his freshman year as a key contributor to the Rams' second state championship in four years during the NJSIAA Group 2 baseball final on June 14. Ferrando delivered the pivotal go-ahead run with a well-executed squeeze bunt in the sixth inning, leading Ramsey to a 4-2 victory over two-time defending champions, Governor Livingston, at Rutgers' Bainton Field.

Having witnessed his older brother Jake's team secure the 2022 Group 2 title, Hudson's journey took an unexpected turn this season when an arm injury sidelined him from pitching. Instead, he adapted to a designated hitter role, where he excelled, tallying 26 RBIs, the second-highest on the team. "My mentality just had to switch over to [that of] a hitter, because that's what the team needed me for," Ferrando reflected, noting his rise from batting seventh to fifth in the lineup.

The .386 hitter not only broke a 2-2 deadlock with his crucial one-out bunt down the first-base line, allowing Sean Sailer to score, but he also added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by classmate Alex DeSimone shortly after. "I would never have imagined that my last at-bat in my high school career would end in a bunt," he said, surprised by the outcome.

Ramsey's victory capped a successful day for Bergen County, which went 3-0 in public state finals. Alongside Ramsey's triumph, Old Tappan claimed the Group 3 title, and Ridgewood celebrated a win in Group 4. The only North Jersey team to face defeat that day was Pompton Lakes from Passaic County in the Group 1 final. Overall, Bergen County finished with a commendable 3-1 record in championship games this year, following St. Mary’s loss to Gloucester Catholic in the Non-Public B final.

"That's a heck of a club, and obviously we knew they were equipped everywhere," commented Rams coach Paul Urbanovich, acknowledging the challenge presented by Governor Livingston, who had previously completed a perfect season in 2025.

Both teams showcased strong defensive plays, with Ramsey's starter Joe Scarnecchia achieving a notable three-hitter, complemented by solid defense that produced numerous outs. After returning from injury this season, Scarnecchia made significant contributions, helping the team achieve a 13-3 record since his comeback. "Our goal the whole season was to work one game closer to reaching the state [final]," he stated, highlighting the team's resilience amid ups and downs.