The stars keep aligning. The similarities continue to file in.
Rutherford’s Chris Gioia and Ramapo’s Charlie Wingfield are the most tightly-connected baseball players in the state who are not on the same team.
Both from Bergen County, Gioia and Wingfield are championship student-athletes in baseball, basketball, and football. Before hanging up their baseball cleats to play Division 1 football this fall, the two stars each twirled their 200th career strikeout in their senior seasons.
They finally faced each other after competing in the same area for almost two decades, doing so just a few weeks before their baseball careers are over.
Then, on Monday, May 19, 2025, Chris Gioia and Charlie Wingfield added one more layer of a rare connection to the mix.
Making another ultimate chase for a milestone, they both registered the 100th hit of their careers - on the very same day.
Gioia and Wingfield reached out to each other, offering yet another congratulatory message to further cement the unique connection.
“It’s a crazy coincidence that we happened to do it on the same day,” Gioia said.
“It all seems too good to be true. Congratulations to Charlie, he deserves it.”
Gioia’s 100th hit was a three-run home run at home against North Arlington in the bottom of the fourth inning, which capped a 3-for-3 day with four RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases to steer the Bulldogs to a 14-4 victory.
It was his second home run of the season and the 10th of his career. Gioia is now 30-for-67 (.448) this spring with 36 runs, 28 stolen bases, 18 RBIs, 16 walks, and seven extra-base hits.
Wingfield snared his 100th hit in the bottom of the fifth inning against Demarest. Ripping an RBI single, Wingfield’s hit gave the Green Raiders a 4-0 lead.
He went 1-for-2 in the 6-0 victory, walking once. Wingfield is a .394 hitter this spring, logging 28 runs, 24 walks, 23 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.
“It’s just such a great feeling to be able to get 100 hits. This program has done so much for me and I couldn’t have done it without my coaches, teammates, family and friends,” Wingfield said.
“I’m incredibly blessed to be in this position. Thank you to everyone who helped.”
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PJ Potter may be reached at PPotter@njadvancemedia.com.