Hackensack hasn't had much luck against Bergen Catholic recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Comets will challenge the Crusaders at 4:15 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Hackensack's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Saturday. They had just enough and edged out Lodi 2-0. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Comets as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Luis Hernandez
| 04/04/26 @ Emerson | 3 |
| 04/11/26 vs Ridgefield Park | 2 |
| 04/01/26 vs Eastside | 2 |
| 04/18/26 @ Lodi | 1 |
Not much got past Luis Hernandez, who gave up just a hit and racked up 14 Ks to keep Lodi off the board. Hackensack is 3-1 when Hernandez allows three or fewer hits, but 4-5 otherwise.
On the hitting side, Darius Pemberton was excellent, going 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and one run. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2025.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last contest, Bergen Catholic made sure to put some runs up on the board against Hudson Catholic on Saturday. The Crusaders put the hurt on the Hawks with a sharp 12-0 victory. Considering the Crusaders have won six games by more than seven runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Joa Rivera tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out eight over five innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Thomas Harmke and Danny Graziano did most of the damage at the plate: Harmke went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBI, while Graziano went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, one triple, and one double. Anthony Martino also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Bergen Catholic always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .633. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Bergen Catholic's record is now 10-6. As for Hackensack, they now have a winning record of 7-6.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hackensack has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Bergen Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Hackensack might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from Bergen Catholic in their previous meeting back in April of 2025. Can the Comets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
