North Star Academy routs University 20-2 in baseball

Brandon Rivera drives in five runs in lopsided victory

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:22pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in bright colors representing a high school baseball game, conveying the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the sport.North Star Academy's dominant baseball performance shatters the competition, showcasing the program's talent and depth.Newark Today

Brandon Rivera went 3-for-3 with a double and five RBIs to lead North Star Academy to a 20-2 victory over University in a high school baseball game played in Newark, New Jersey. Marcial Encarnacion added a home run and a triple while driving in three runs, and Jancell Veras-Batista tossed a four-inning complete game for the winners, striking out nine batters.

Why it matters

This game showcases the talent and dominance of North Star Academy's baseball program, which has now won five of its first six games this season. The lopsided victory over winless University highlights the competitive gap between the two Newark-area high school teams.

The details

North Star Academy scored 20 runs on 11 hits, including a home run, a triple, and two doubles. Pitcher Jancell Veras-Batista was dominant on the mound, striking out nine batters in the four-inning complete game. University was limited to just one hit in the game.

  • The game was played on April 15, 2026.

The players

Brandon Rivera

A player for North Star Academy who went 3-for-3 with a double and five RBIs in the game.

Marcial Encarnacion

A player for North Star Academy who hit a home run and a triple while driving in three runs and scoring twice.

Jancell Veras-Batista

The North Star Academy pitcher who tossed a four-inning complete game, striking out nine batters while allowing just one hit.

Joangel Peralta-Diaz

A player for University who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Henry Almonte

A player for University who drove in three runs.

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What they’re saying

“We came out focused and ready to play our best baseball today. The team executed well in all phases of the game.”

— Brandon Rivera, North Star Academy Player

What’s next

North Star Academy will look to continue its strong start to the season when it faces rival Bloomfield Tech on April 20. University will try to earn its first win of the year when it takes on Barringer on April 18.

The takeaway

This lopsided victory demonstrates the talent and depth of North Star Academy's baseball program, which appears poised for a successful season. The game also highlights the competitive gap between the two Newark-area high school teams, with North Star Academy dominating its opponent.