Below article written by Sean Miller of NJ Advance media can be accessed here.

Coming into the 2019 Times of Trenton area baseball season, there is no team that has as much buzz surrounding it as Hun.

The Raiders lineup is loaded from top to bottom (as well as the bench), the pitching is stacked, and it comes from players of all classes. 

The reigning Area Hitter of the Year, Andy Blake, has joined Hun for a post-graduate season on the way to Columbia University in the fall. He will settle into the lineup in the two-hole, between highly-touted freshman Carson Applegate and senior McGwire Tuffy, who will join team mate Dan Melnick at Quinnipiac University next season. 

With so much talent, the three-time reigning Prep A champions showed a glimpse Thursday of just how good they will be this season. Blake had two hits in his first two at-bats for the Raiders, as did Tuffy, as the hosts built up a huge lead through three innings on the way to an impressive 11-0 opening day win over Lawrenceville.

Hun (1-0) had 12 hits in four innings, with Melnick and Ben Petrone joining Blake with two hits each. Tuffy ended his day 3-for-3, with two runs, two RBI, two stolen bases.

"We were seeing the ball today very well," Blake said. "We are focused on hitting the ball up the middle. We just strung a lot of hits together early, at the right time, and put some runs up early. Putting some runs up early was key.

"Our hitters are very good. If one person is down, we will pick them up. That is just how we are going to play this year. Our staff is very good this year. We just preach throwing strikes, and just facing the batters and not being scared of anyone."

Blake may have to hand over his award to his new team mate at the end of this season, if Tuffy carries over his form from this fall and winter. The two may make up the most talented left side of any infield in the state, and most definitely in Mercer County.

"Andy is a great addition to our team," Tuffy said. "He is a great player on the field, and even better off. I love having him in our dugout, and I couldn't have asked for a better post-grad this year. He is a great player to add to the staff and the lineup. We are excited."

Hun will get a chance to show just how good it is again next week, as it travels Monday to take on the top preseason Colonial Valley Conference team, Allentown. The Redbirds have won two straight NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 Sectional titles, and have played in each of the last two Group 3 state finals, winning in 2017. 

But first, the Raiders have to face a tough Mercersburg team in a double header Saturday in MAPL play, so there can be no looking ahead for Tuffy and company.

"Mercersburg has won the MAPL the last 10 years in a row, so we have to do some damage this weekend," Tuffy said. "We have to go 2-0, and like I said before go day-by-day. We have Allentown Monday, and some more interleague games, but we have to take it day-by-day."

Freshman Ryan DiMaggio went the first three innings to get his first win, striking out four and allowing the lone Lawrenceville (0-1) hit to Hawkins Sutter.