A dream season was dreamed by a pitcher who completed a dream performance.
Cory Rible, who was named First Team All-State as a senior pitcher and regarded as New Jersey’s best shutdown closer out of the bullpen last spring, returned to his Bridgewater-Raritan High School on the evening of Tuesday, December 17.
The freshman who attends Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania was joined by his 2024 Bridgewater-Raritan High School baseball teammates and their coaches, who were honored with a ceremony to recognize their spectacular achievements of 2024.
These skilled players formed a team that delivered the greatest baseball season in the history of Bridgewater-Raritan.
The team, under the guidance of veteran coach Max Newill, won the program’s first Group 4 state tournament championship. At the same time, the squad also captured the Somerset County Tournament and Skyland Conference Delaware Division titles and finished with a 30-3 record and the No. 2 ranking in New Jersey.
The dedicated and passionate Coach Newill was also honored as the State Baseball Coach of the Year for 2024.
The entire team and coaching staff, which included Coach Newill, Varsity Assistant Coach Evan Seavey, Junior Varsity Coach Mike Trapani, Freshman Coach Matt Perlman, Volunteer Coach Jake Olson, Student Coach Jake Lipke, and Manager Jayen Patel, gathered in the Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium where they received their Group 4 state championship rings and unveiled the Group 4 state champion banner.
The ceremony was performed during halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Bridgewater-Raritan and Immaculata High School. The date of the ceremony was planned for the holiday season when the Class of 2024 players were home from college during their winter break.
The purchase of the rings was delivered by the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education and the Panther Athletic Club through donations from baseball parents.
Superintendent Bob Beers, Principal Dan Hemberger, Athletic Director Bill Deniz, Board of Education members, President Barry Walker, Vice President Jennifer Loughran, Lucy Li, Emily Calistri, and Stev Singer handed out the rings and offered congratulations.
Then Coach Newill, Coach Seavey, and the captains—Frankie Verano, Matt Fattore, and Devin Goldberg-unveiled the Group 4 state champion banner.
“As a program, we are incredibly grateful to have had this special night to celebrate and honor our players for their remarkable achievements,” Coach Newill stated. “We greatly appreciate Coach (Gene) McAteer and the boys' basketball program for giving us the time at halftime for the ring ceremony.”
Coach Newill continued to show off his class.
“We also want to thank the Board of Education and the Panther Athletic Club for their financial support in purchasing the rings that will be a timeless symbol of an unforgettable season. For years to come, these rings will remind us not only of the victories we celebrated but also of the bond we shared as a team and the journey we took together.”
Rible spoke about seeing his former mates and reflected on the magical 2024 season before the ceremony began.
“Today, we are looking back at what we did with all of the guys here,” Rible said. “Everybody is together, and we can look back at our accomplishments.”
Rible shared his feelings.
“I always dreamed of winning a state championship,” he revealed.
“And we made it come true."
Bridgewater-Raritan High School 2024 Baseball Roster