By Sam Bernardi for The Montgomery News | Posted May 20, 2026
Mason Neufeld took to the mound in the top of the seventh in a tie game against Pingry at the Somerset Patriots’ TD Bank Park in Bridgewater on April 11.
With one out in the eighth, Neufield hit a double. Then teammate Henry Maddox hit a single, bringing Neufield home, and the score to 10-9.
When Mason Neufeld is not pitching or manning shortstop for the Cougars, his baseball IQ helps him serve as a surrogate coach on Pete Mueller's staff.
The win eventually went to Neufeld in relief, as the Cougars topped Pingry 11-10.
Neufeld told The Montgomery News, “Moments like that make me feel really grateful. This is probably the last time I’ll be playing there and I appreciate the opportunities I’ve been given.
“I’m also [grateful to be] playing with my best friends, who I’ve played with for years.”
Mason Neufeld
Head Coach Pete Mueller describes Neufeld as “even-keeled.”
“Obviously he gets excited for the guys. But, he’s really a calming presence, especially in the face of adversity,” Mueller added.
When Neufeld is not pitching or manning shortstop for the Cougars, his baseball IQ helps him serve as a surrogate coach on Mueller’s staff.
“He just has a knowledge of situational ball. His base-running skills are awesome. You know, he’s like having another coach on the field,” Mueller said.
In terms of his own arsenal, Neufeld throws a four-seam fastball, a curveball, a slider, a changeup and, most recently, added a cutter.
He is not your typical flamethrower, obsessed with velocity. Rather, he crafts each of his five pitches carefully and focuses on deception.
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“It’s important to have a pitch running in on a batter, running outside of the plate and then have a curveball going straight down,” Neufeld said. That approach has helped Neufeld to a 4.09 ERA over 75.1 career innings so far, serving as one of Mueller’s most trusted arms, whether he starts or relieves.
Neufeld is part of the backbone of Montgomery baseball’s culture. His older brother, Adam, had come through the program and went on to play Syracuse University Club Baseball.
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As Nufeld’s high school baseball career winds down, he says he is still open to playing club ball in college.
Perhaps someday he will secure a proper coaching role, at least if you ask Coach Mueller.
