South Plainfield, Don Bosco Prep, West Essex stand firm at 1-2-3 in Baseball Top 20
By Bob Behre/For The Star-Ledger
May 24, 2010, 11:02PM
By Bob Behre/For The Star-Ledger
May 24, 2010, 11:02PM
South Plainfield, Don Bosco Prep and West Essex have remained in the top three spots in The Star-Ledger Top 20 as the pressure-packed portion of the baseball schedule begins on Tuesday.
The 16 public sections (the four groups in each of four sections) will have their semifinals as the non-publics move to the quarterfinals (groups A and B in North Jersey and South Jersey).
This is the most fun part of the schedule as teams throw their aces at each other and attempt to survive and advance in the NJSIAA tournament.
Eighteen of the 20 teams in the Top 20 are still playing for a sectional and, perhaps, a group championship. We welcome No. 12 Manalapan to the Top 20 for the first time this season. This does not mean, in any shape or form, that we haven't been all over Manalapan this season. We've just been waiting for the perfect time to spring this outstanding team on you.
Also entering the Top 20, at No. 16, for the first time this season is perennial stronghold Cranford. Returning to the 20 are No. 17 Scotch Plains-Fanwood and No. 20 Morristown.
The other big mover is Pope John, which jumped from No. 18 to No. 10. That can happen when a team just keeps winning and there is attrition ahead of it. It is also a reminder to focus on the winning and the rankings will take care of themselves, right coach?
One of the hottest teams in the state is Seton Hall Prep, which bounces from No. 19 to No. 14. Seton Hall, which won today to improve to 22-6, has won nine straight and 17 out of 19. Yes it is wonderful to have great athletes come to your school because you have a great reputation in baseball, but it is always wonderful to have Mike Sheppard, Jr. there to turn your boys into men and ever-improving baseball players.
Speaking of coaches who are getting it done and probably don't get enough attention for their efforts; South Plainfield's Anthony Guida and Morristown's Josh Ury come to mind. Okay, okay, I'm covering them both tomorrow in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 semifinals and I want to make sure I'm greeted with smiling faces. Hey, we all know what it feels like to be unwelcome in some places. Seriously, who wouldn't want to play for these guys? My hand is up.
I had the pleasure of covering the Hillsborough at Westfield game on Saturday. The Section 2, Group 4 quarterfinal was moved a day due to proms at both schools. What a pleasure it was. The game pitted two quality teams and two gentlemanly coaches, Hillsborough's Norm Hewitt and Westfield's Bob Brewster, who I think couldn't pick me out of a lineup. A police lineup, I mean. I don't think I could bat higher than fifth in that lineup.
Westfield won, 7-6, in 12 innings, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 12th to pull out the victory. Just an unbelievable game. I enjoyed chatting with a parent of one of the Hillsborough players during part of the game. I was reminded what a grinder it is for the parents watching the poor guy watch his kid put in one huge spot after another. This makes me crazier than a room-full of monkeys when I think about the things some people say about high school kids on open forums.
With that thought in mind, I tip my hat to all you parents who can't eat after watching your kids put through the meat-grinder high school sports can sometimes be. And shame on you people who criticize these athletes.
Now drop and give me 20 -- ALL OF YOU!
THE STAR-LEDGER BASEBALL TOP 20
1-South Plainfield (24-2)
2-Don Bosco Prep (23-3)
3-West Essex (23-3)
4-Jackson (21-5)
5-Monroe (22-3)
6-Delbarton (24-5)
7-Randolph (24-3)
8-Lenape (21-4)
9-St. Joseph (Mont.) (21-4)
10-Pope John (23-4)
11-Toms River South (21-4)
12-Manalapan (20-6)
13-St. Joseph (Met.) (18-7)
14-Seton Hall Prep (21-6)
15-Immaculata (18-3)
16-Cranford (22-5)
17-Scotch Plains-Fanwood (24-5)
18-Wall (22-5)
19-Paramus (22-6)
20-Morristown (21-9)
No comments:
Post a Comment