In a season already filled with standout moments, Northern Burlington High School’s varsity baseball team continues to make waves—and sophomore shortstop Brent Walulak just delivered a breakout performance that turned heads across Burlington County.
On Monday, Walulak went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, drove in two runs, and scored another to help the undefeated Greyhounds roll to a 12-0 victory over Florence Township Memorial High School in a five-inning mercy-rule game. With the win, Northern Burlington improved to a perfect 14-0, cementing their status as one of New Jersey’s top high school baseball programs this spring.
A Young Talent on a Loaded Team
On a team stacked with seasoned talent, Walulak is quietly carving out a name for himself—not just as a slick-fielding shortstop, but as a reliable bat deep in head coach Gene Darling’s lineup. Batting out of the No. 7 spot, he made every one of his at-bats count.
“I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball hard all season, but sometimes the results just haven’t been there,” Walulak said after the game. “Today, I was seeing the ball better, and I’ve made a few adjustments to my stance that helped.”
Those adjustments paid off immediately. Walulak sparked a rally in the third inning with a hard single to right field that brought home Liam Velit and Jimmy Musser, thanks to an outfield error. He then hustled all the way to third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Gilligo, stretching Northern’s lead to 6-0.
Setting the Tone Early
Northern Burlington wasted no time setting the tone. Nick Dromboski launched a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning. Cole Marchetti followed with a base hit, and Luca Mannino drove him in with a double to deep center field. Before Florence starter Evan Saintz could even settle in, the Flashes were in a 2-0 hole—with five more Greyhound hitters still to come.
Walulak added another single in the first and again came through in the fourth inning, notching his third hit of the day as the Greyhounds piled on five more runs to seal the game.
Pitching Shines Behind the Hit Parade
While the offense exploded for 15 hits, Northern Burlington’s pitching staff was equally dominant. Sophomore right-hander Logan Downey threw the first three innings and earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the season. He allowed just one hit—a single from Florence’s Zach Sobon, who also took the mound in relief.
Freshman Jaden Freeze took over in the fourth and was electric, striking out five of the six batters he faced to close out the game.
Florence had one golden opportunity in the bottom of the first, loading the bases after Sobon’s single, a dropped pop-up, and a walk. But Downey kept his composure and induced a flyout to end the inning—and effectively shut the door on the Flashes’ only real chance to stay in the game.
Star-Studded Greyhounds Lineup Produces Again
Northern Burlington’s offensive firepower wasn’t limited to Walulak. The top of the lineup delivered again, with:
- Nick Dromboski hitting his second home run of the season and collecting two RBIs.
- Luca Mannino smashing a two-run homer in the fourth to go along with his first-inning double.
- Jimmy Musser and Gavin Hoppe each contributing doubles.
- Additional RBIs from Nick Filipponi, Hoppe, and Gilligo rounded out the Greyhounds’ scoring.
By the end of the fourth inning, the Greyhounds had scored in every frame and forced Florence to cycle through three different pitchers. With 12 runs on 15 hits, the offense was firing on all cylinders.
What’s Next for the Undefeated Greyhounds?
Northern Burlington now stands at 14-0, with both their pitching depth and offensive lineup proving tough for any team to match. Head coach Gene Darling has a deep bench, a productive top-to-bottom batting order, and underclassmen like Walulak stepping up in big moments—ingredients for a serious postseason run.
“We know the season only gets tougher from here,” Walulak said. “But we’re just playing together and having fun. That’s what makes it special.”
As the playoffs approach, the Greyhounds are not only chasing wins—they’re making a statement: Northern Burlington is built to last, and players like Brent Walulak are rising fast.
Final Score Recap:
Northern Burlington (14-0) – 3 0 4 5 0 — 12 15 1
Florence (7-5) – 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 2
Key Stats:
- Home Runs: Dromboski, Mannino (NB)
- Doubles: Mannino, Hoppe, Musser (NB)
- RBIs: Dromboski (2), Mannino (3), Musser, Filipponi, Walulak (2), Gilligo, Hoppe (NB)
- Winning Pitcher: Logan Downey (3-0)
- Losing Pitcher: Evan Saintz (1-2)
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