By
on May 18, 2015 6:52 AM
NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3 BRACKET
The seeds and first round pairings: 16-Newark East Side at 1-Cranford. 9-West Morris at 8-Mendham. 12-Morris Hills at 5-Colonia. 13-Voorhees at 4-West Essex. 14-Warren Hills at 3-South Plainfield. 11-Carteret at 6-Ferris. 10-Summit at 7-Nutley. 15-Passaic Valley at 2-Roxbury.
The favorite: The nod has to go to Roxbury. The Gaels wrapped up their second straight Morris County Tournament title last week and have state tournament experience in the lineup with a handful of starters back from last year's Group 4 finalist club. Very quietly, Roxbury has been among the state's elite programs for much of the past two seasons. The Gaels are 42-11-2 in their last 55 games (.781) dating back to last spring.
The top contenders: Three-time reigning sectional champion Cranford is once again the top seed and perhaps in better shape than they were a season ago as they begin a quest for another title. This year's club has already won the Union County Tournament, solidified a state ranking and appears to have a bit more firepower both on the mound and in the lineup. ... South Plainfield has played an absolutely brutal schedule, hence its handful of losses. But the Tigers, who appeared in the 2013 sectional final, are very capable of making their way back there. ... West Essex has not played as rugged a schedule as in past seasons, but the Knights, who appeared in last year's sectional final, are extremely well-coached and always a contender.
The dark horses: South Plainfield will have its hands full in the first round, though, with 14th-seeded Warren Hills. The Blue Streaks have underachieved a bit, but ace Anthony Veneziano gives them a shot. Also worth noting: That 7-10 game between Nutley and Summit is one worth watching; either team could give Roxbury a run in the quarterfinals.
Player to watch: Patrick Knight is the key to it all for Cranford. The Rutgers-bound standout is both the team's best hitter (.474, 24 RBI) and its ace on the hill (3-1, 2.46). Coach Dennis McCaffery is second to none in managing his pitching staff, and he will find ways for the southpaw to impact almost every state tournament game on the mound.
Pitcher to watch: Roxbury southpaw Alex Busby has emerged as the team's ace after spending much of last year throwing in its midweek games. Busby went 3-0 in the MCT en route to being named tournament MVP, and will be crucial to any hopes the Gaels have of returning to Toms River.
Other players to keep an eye on: 3B Joe Norton, OF Ryan Bakie, Cranford; C Nick Matera, 2B Craig Roumes, Roxbury; OF Anthony Condito, P Nick Senatore, P Sean Rodriguez, Nutley; 3B Anthony Dominguez, Mendham; 3B Michael App, Carteret; 3B Mike White, Voorhees; 2B Craig Lawson, Warren Hills; C Tyler Hablitz, Passaic Valley; OF Kyle Brown, P/OF Alec Fuoti, P/IF Cam Fuoti, Summit; P Jake Alba, South Plainfield; P Mike Parry, Colonia; OF Sway Russell, Newark East Side.
The pick: Roxbury over Cranford in the sectional final.
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/8054469765649065223/baseball-playoffs-2015-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-preview/
No comments:
Post a Comment