South Brunswick baseball’s undefeated start came to an end after a strong opening stretch to the 2026 season. The Vikings rattled off three straight wins before falling 5-1 to Saverville, making their first loss of the year. They now sit at 4-2 after splitting a two-game set with Middlesex last week.
Under new head coach Lou Rubano, along with assistants Harry Rutkowski and Ryan Hannawhacker, South Brunswick showed early signs of being a competitive team this season.
Senior Collin Perna spoke about the team’s adjustment to the new coaching staff, saying, “We’ve adjusted well. At first, we definitely needed to get used to the coach and get on the same page, but as we’ve been together more and put together some good chemistry, the coaches and the players have been like one. We would do anything for them, and they’d do anything for us.”
The Vikings opened on Tuesday, March 31, with a 13-8 win over Perth Amboy, highlighted by an explosive eight-run inning. Jack Whitlock emphasized the team’s strength on the mound, saying, “I think the biggest strength of the team this year has been the pitching. The pitching has really stepped up this year, and it gives us a chance to win every game. Going forward, we need to keep grinding out at-bats and give our pitching a lead early in the game.”
Collin Perna led the charge both at the plate and on the mound, while Jack Whitliock had a standout performance, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs.
South Brunswick matched up with Perth Amboy again on April 2 and secured another win, this time 8-6. The Vikings broke it open late, pushing across seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Tyler Szackas delivered a strong outing on the mound, striking out ten, while Jack Whitlock continued to swing a hot bat.
On April 4, the Vikings edged Savreville 1-0 behind a dominant pitching performance from Collin Perna and James Angermier, who combined for a three-hitter. South Brunswick scored its home run in the bottom of the first and relied on a lockdown defense the rest of the way. Perna earned pitcher of the game, tossing our no-hit innings with six strikeouts and three walks.
The undefeated run ended on April 7 with a 5-1 loss to Savreville, followed by a 6-2 loss against Middlesex.
South Brunswick bounced back in a big way against Colonia on April 14. James Angermier delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh to break a tie, lifting the Vikings to an 8-6 win over a previously undefeated Colonia team. South Brunswick jumped out early, scoring five two-out runs in the first inning against one of the country’s top pitchers. Colonia battles back to even the score after six innings, but the Vikings came through late to secure the win.
