Bound Brook hasn't had much luck against Bernards recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Crusaders will head out to square off against the Mountaineers at 4:15 p.m. Bound Brook has given up an average of 10.5 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Bound Brook's last matchup with South Hunterdon could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's contest on Thursday. The Crusaders came up short against the Eagles, falling 12-5.
Ryan Cunha
| 05/07/26 @ South Hunterdon | 8 |
| 05/01/26 @ Highland Park | 13 |
| 04/23/26 @ Belvidere | 6 |
Ryan Cunha put in work while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out eight batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, Aiden Boehm was cooking despite his team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That home run was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Manny Vasquez, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
Meanwhile, Bernards came tearing into Thursday's matchup with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 4.6 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They skirted past the Blue Streaks 5-3. Five seems to be a good number for the Mountaineers as the team scooped up a win with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Like Bound Brook, Bernards also got a great game from a two-way player: James Ferrante. On the mound, Ferrante struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, Tyce Hanratty pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Those six strikeouts gave Ferrante a new career-high. At bat, Ferrante went 1-for-6 with one home run, while Hanratty went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and two runs.
In other batting news, Sean Arcelay was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Bernards kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Bound Brook's loss dropped their record down to 2-11. As for Bernards, their record now sits at 12-6.
Bound Brook might still be hurting after the 14-4 defeat they got from Bernards when the teams last played back in May of 2021. Can the Crusaders avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
