Team New Jersey beat Team Georgia 11-9 in 8 innings to start off the 2023 PBR Future Games with a win. 

Through the first three offensive frame, New Jersey went down in order. But in the fourth, 2025 OF Zack Kochnover (Demarest HS, NJ) got things going with a clean, barreled single through the left side of the infield and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch after stealing two bases.

After Kochnover got the party started, it was a constant hit parade for the next four frames. In the top half of the fifth, with the score 3-1 in favor of Georgia, 2025 SS Matthew Ferrara (Toms River East) led off with a single up the middle - 2025 OF William Mahala (Seton Hall Prep) then followed with a double that split the gap in left center field, scoring Ferrara from first. Mahala would steal third and would eventually come home on a first-and-third double steal play. New Jersey would tack on two more runs before the inning was "rolled," including a line drive 2-RBI single by 2025 OF Bennett Siegel (West Windsor South).

In the sixth, Kochnover led off with a walk and advanced to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run by 2025 OF Curtis Chropuvka (Ranney). Chropuvka would steal second on the next pitch to make it second and third with nobody out and 2026 SS Mason Wilson (Randolph) at the plate. With the count 0-2, Wilson mashed a triple in the right center field gap, turning around a 92mph heater for 2-RBI. Wilson would come around to score on 2025 SS Joey Erace's (St. Augustine Prep) RBI single.

All in all New Jersey pounded out eight hits in the last four frames to collect 11 runs. Siegel, Mahala, Erace, and Wilson led the way offensively with big knocks.

On the pitching side, NJ had five pitchers throw in the game, with 2025 RHP James Hare (Ranney) getting the start on the bump. The 6-foot-2 200-pound Hare punched out three in two innings of work, working mostly 83-86. 2025 LHP Jake Marciano (Donovan Catholic), NJ's top uncommitted 2025, replaced Hare and was effective in his two innings of work, punching out four and walking one. Marciano fanned the side in his second frame in a 1-2-3 inning effort working in and out with his fastball at 84-86. 2025 RHP Joseph Vaccarella (Gloucester Catholic) collected a pair of strikeouts in two frames and 2025 RHP Brendan Lewis (St. Joseph's Montvale) was dominant in his one inning of work, punching out the side at 85-87 with the fastball. 2025 C/RHP JR Rosado (Bridgewater-Raritan) closed the game working around a couple walks to lead NJ to a solid game 1 win.

Game 2 gets underway at 7pm vs. Team Texas at Lakepoint on Friday evening.