The Spring is upon us at Cranford High School, and with it is the spring sports season. Here is a preview for all of Cranford’s athletic programs this Spring.
Baseball:
One of the prides of Cranford, the baseball team enters the season with high expectations, as per usual. Yet this season will be unlike any other in recent memory. For the first time in an incredible 25 years, Coach Dennis McCaffery will not be in the Cranford dugout. It’s impossible to state the impact McCaffery had on the baseball team and the town as a whole. McCaffery is responsible for numerous county and state championships as well as victory in the Last Dance Tournament in 2020 crowning the Cougars as the top baseball program in the state. Last season, he reached 500 wins with the program, becoming only the 39th ever coach in New Jersey to reach such a total. It is safe to say that it will be strange not seeing McCaffrey in Cranford colors. Instead, Coach Ryan Matlosz will make his coaching debut with the Cougars. Cranford is also coming off of something that may be considered a down year given their constant excellence. A 13-11 record overall with runs to the County Semifinals, as well as Sectional Quarterfinals, marked some highlights of the 2024 season. This was only one year removed from a special 26-1 season that included county titles and a run to the semifinal of the sectional tournament, their only loss of the season. It is hard to say what will happen for the Cougars this season, but given their lofty baseball history, it’s not hard to be optimistic about a new change.
Softball:
Another great pride of Cranford is their illustrious softball program. A 16-12 record last season can also be considered a down year considering the lofty expectations that the team has to deal with. Two seasons ago, the team experienced a magical season, capturing a county title as well as a run to the sectional semifinals, just like the baseball team. With key seniors from last season’s team Mady DeLong and Sophia Demarco off to college to continue their careers, it is safe to say that new players will have to step up for Cranford. It is also safe to say that if history has been an indicator, the team should find themselves in good hands. The team gets set to start their season next week on April 1st as they visit Dayton.
Boys Lacrosse:
After a difficult 3-14 season last year, the Boys Lacrosse team turns to the 2025 season with lots of hope. The team began this season with a difficult 11-1 loss at the hands of Scotch Plains, one of the top teams in the county. The score did not flatter Cranford who stayed in the game for a while, only trailing 3-1 at the game’s halfway point before a 5-0 third quarter for the Raiders helped put the game out of reach. Despite the difficult start, optimism is high for the Cougars and rightfully so. A team made up of almost all experienced upperclassmen, the Cougars are a mature and professional group. After a tough start to the season, don’t be surprised to see the team rebound.
Girls Lacrosse:
The Girls Lacrosse team enters the season after a solid 11-9 season. This was capped off by runs to the quarterfinals in both the county and sectional tournaments. New faces are expected to step up this season for the Cougars with all three of their top scorers graduating, and Kate Zambito being the only top-five goal scorer from last season still on the team. Cranford begins their season on March 29 when they host Governor Livingston at Memorial Field.
Boys Tennis:
After a nice 9-8 season, the boys tennis team gets set for the 2025 season. Cranford started on fire last year, winning 5 of their first 6 matches before cooling off. This was good enough for a trip to the sectional tournament, where they knocked off Parsippany Hills before a difficult defeat at the hands of West Morris. This season will also see many players making their varsity debut for Cranford with many seniors graduating.
Boys Golf:
An impressive 6-3 season for the golf team segways into the 2025 season. After a difficult start, the team ended the season on fire, rattling off 3 straight victories. April 1 sets the stage for the Cougars opener against Scotch Plains.
Girls Golf:
The Girls Golf team has already gotten off to a great start this season. A tight 7 stroke victory against New Providence in the season opener got the ball rolling for Cranford this season. After the program’s first season, when the Cougars only got to play two team matches, Cranford has several more matches on tap, the next against West Essex.
