WEST ORANGE – West Orange baseball looked every bit like a team built for a postseason run on Wednesday night.
The Mountaineers wasted little time taking control against Kearny, exploding offensively in an 11-1 victory during the opening round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournament. With the win, West Orange improved to 19-8 on the season and earned its first North 1, Group 4 state tournament victory since 2023.
Now, the challenge gets even bigger.
West Orange will host Fair Lawn on Friday night in the sectional quarterfinals, with both teams carrying momentum into one of the more intriguing matchups in North Jersey baseball this week.
Wednesday’s win over Kearny was the type of complete performance coaches hope to see this time of year. The Mountaineers dominated in nearly every area, combining timely hitting, clean defense, and efficient pitching to overwhelm the Kardinals early.
Kearny grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but West Orange answered immediately and never looked back.
The Mountaineers erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the inning, instantly shifting the energy inside the ballpark. From there, the offense kept rolling. West Orange added two runs in the second, one in the third, two more in the fourth, and another in the fifth to finish with 11 runs on 13 hits.
The lineup produced from top to bottom.
Jay Stevenson led the way with one of the biggest moments of the night, finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a home run, and a walk. His solo blast gave West Orange even more momentum and highlighted the aggressive approach the Mountaineers brought to the plate all game long.
Stevenson was not alone.
Aidan Ackerman delivered two hits and two RBIs, while Ethan Almengo went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Shep Stevenson added two RBIs and crossed the plate twice, continuing a strong postseason start for the Mountaineers. Liam Ramos chipped in with an RBI double, and Nicholas Riley added two RBIs as West Orange continued to apply pressure inning after inning.
What stood out most was how balanced the offense looked. There was no panic after falling behind early, and no single player had to carry the load. Every inning seemed to feature another quality at-bat or clutch hit, which has become one of West Orange’s biggest strengths late in the season.
The pitching staff also handled business.
Jack Pimm earned the win after striking out four batters across 2.2 innings. After allowing a run in the opening inning, he settled down quickly and attacked the strike zone with confidence. Shep Stevenson came in out of the bullpen and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings to help close out the victory.
Together, the two pitchers allowed just five hits and did not issue a single walk.
Defensively, West Orange played a clean game with no errors. That matters in tournament baseball. Teams that avoid mistakes and make routine plays usually give themselves a chance to survive deep into May, and the Mountaineers looked sharp from the first pitch to the final out.
Still, as impressive as Wednesday’s win was, the road ahead becomes much tougher against Fair Lawn.
West Orange to Face Fair Lawn in N1G4 Quarterfinals
At first glance, Fair Lawn’s 15-15 record may not jump off the page, but the Cutters have quietly become one of the hottest teams entering the sectional tournament.
After a difficult stretch during the middle of the season, Fair Lawn found its rhythm late in the year and won five of its final seven regular-season games before defeating Clifton 2-1 in the opening round on Wednesday.
That recent turnaround says a lot about the type of team Fair Lawn has become.
The Cutters opened the season inconsistently, alternating wins and losses through much of April while battling strong competition in the Big North Conference. Losses to programs like Don Bosco Prep, Ridgewood, Bergen Tech, Paramus Catholic, and Lakeland tested the team early and exposed areas that needed improvement.
But instead of folding, Fair Lawn responded.
By mid-May, the Cutters started putting together quality wins and building confidence. They defeated Passaic, Rutherford, Dwight-Englewood, and Ridgefield Park/Bogota in consecutive games during a strong late-season stretch that helped bring them back to .500 entering the state tournament.
One of the biggest things Fair Lawn has done well recently is win close games.
Their last several victories have all come in tight contests where pitching and defense became critical. Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Clifton was another example of that. Fair Lawn does not always overwhelm teams offensively, but they play disciplined baseball and force opponents to earn everything.
That style could create an interesting contrast against West Orange’s explosive lineup.
The Mountaineers have shown they are capable of putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard quickly, as seen against Kearny. Fair Lawn, meanwhile, has leaned heavily on pitching, timely hits, and low-scoring games during its recent run.
Friday’s matchup may come down to which team controls the pace early.
If West Orange can jump out to another fast start offensively, it could put Fair Lawn in uncomfortable territory. The Mountaineers have fed off early momentum throughout the season, and their confidence only seems to grow when the bats get rolling.
But if Fair Lawn keeps the game close into the later innings, the pressure could quickly shift.
Tournament baseball has a way of slowing down once every pitch starts carrying extra importance. One error, one walk, or one clutch hit can completely change a season. Fair Lawn has already proven it can survive those tense moments, while West Orange is hoping its offensive firepower continues carrying over into the quarterfinal round.
Another key factor will be pitching depth.
West Orange looked fresh on the mound against Kearny, but Friday’s matchup will likely require even more precision against a Fair Lawn team that has grown comfortable in low-scoring games. The Cutters have played multiple one-run contests over the last few weeks, and that experience could become valuable if Friday night turns into a tight battle.
Still, West Orange enters the matchup looking like one of the more dangerous teams left in the section.
The Mountaineers are playing with confidence, energy, and momentum at exactly the right time. The offense is producing from every part of the lineup, the pitching staff is throwing strikes, and the defense continues making routine plays.
That combination becomes dangerous in late May.
For West Orange, Wednesday’s victory over Kearny was more than just another tournament win. It was a statement that this team believes it can make a serious postseason run.
Now comes another test against a Fair Lawn team that has spent the past few weeks proving it is better than its record may suggest.
With a sectional semifinal spot on the line Friday night, both teams will enter knowing the margin for error has become razor-thin.
And if Wednesday showed anything, it is that West Orange looks ready for the moment.
