Mainland Baseball Wins 2025 Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic

photo and coverage by: Lukas Guerrier

The Mainland Mustangs have found their rhythm at the right time. With a mix of clutch hitting, strong defense, and a dominant pitching performance from Jake Lodgek, Mainland defeated No. 4 Haddonfield 4-0 on Thursday night to win the 51st Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic—one of New Jersey's premier baseball tournaments.

Lodgek was sensational, tossing a complete-game shutout with nine strikeouts, no walks, and just five hits allowed. The junior right-hander set the tone early and never looked back, confidently working through one of the state’s most dangerous lineups on the championship stage at Alcyon Park.

“Me as well as the team’s mindset heading into the game was really to treat the game like any other,” Lodgek said postgame. “We’ve been in tough games all season long, so we knew we’d be ready for anything. Right when we scored our first run, it helped me get into my rhythm knowing the team did their job—and then I just had to do mine.”

Mainland opened the scoring in the third inning, then tacked on two more runs in the fourth behind a solo home run from Christian Madamba and an RBI single from Brady Arena. Colton Donahue also drove in a run and Chase Camac reached base twice and scored once, helping to keep pressure on Haddonfield throughout the night.

The Mustangs, who started the season at 7-8, have since ripped off eight straight wins, including victories over Cedar Creek, Northern Burlington, Audubon, Delsea, and now Haddonfield—all in tournament play. Their Diamond Classic title is more than just a trophy—it’s a message to the rest of the state.

“Taking the Classic is a huge statement going into playoffs,” Lodgek added. “It shows we can compete with and beat any team in the state—let alone in Group 3. Even though we started off slow, we took everything from those early losses and used it to make us better in all aspects of the game.”

Now 15-8, Mainland heads into the postseason not only with momentum, but also with belief—a group battle-tested, locked in, and ready for what’s next.