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on May 22, 2016 2:20 PM
NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3
BRACKET
SEEDS: 1-Mendham; 2-Somerville; 3-Gov. Livingston; 4-Cranford; 5-Summit; 6-Warren Hills; 7-Snyder; 8-Nutley; 9-Carteret; 10-Colonia; 11-Matawan; 12-South Plainfield; 13-Orange; 14-Barringer; 15-Chatham; 16-Voorhees
FAVORITE: Top-seeded Mendham is battle tested heading into states. It has faced Morristown, Delbarton, Hunterdon Central, Montgomery, Roxbury and Seton Hall Prep during the regular season. Jack Donlon and Thomas Koide will handle a bulk of the pitching for the Minutemen, while Jack Chernow and Tyler Hoops lead the offense. Mendham is outscoring opponents 100-49 this season.
CONTENDERS:
Second-seeded Somerville has some tough losses and some good wins much like most of the teams in Skyland Conference this year. Andrew Prescott has pitched well for the Pioneers and Chris DiCostanzo, JoJo Mosca and Preston Scott key the offense.
Third-seeded Gov. Livingston get hot in the Union County Tournament and is hoping to ride that momentum into states. The Highlanders are averaging five runs per game and have proven they can win clutch games. Josh Katz came up with the game-winning hit in extra innings during GL’s Union County Tournament semifinal win over Westfield and Vin Doren pitched a gem in the final.
After advancing to the sectional final last year, fourth-seeded Cranford is looking to get back there this season. The Cougars have wins over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Westfield, Randolph, Bridgewater-Raritan, Gov. Livingston and St. Mary (Ruth.). Cranford has the pitching to go on run with Chris Librera and Gordon Graceffo leading the group.
Sixth-seed Warren Hills will be able to make some noise when Anthony Veneziano takes the hill. The big question will be whether or not Warren Hills uses Venziano against Matawan in the first round of save him for a potential meeting with Gov. Livingston in the second round.
Jake Alba (1) pitches for South Plainfield during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
DARK HORSE: 12th-seeded South Plainfield, the defending champs, have had a rough season, but are hoping to make some noise in the state tournament. Jake Alba was the winning pitcher in last year’s extra inning triumph over Cranford in the sectional final and will be key in any run for the Tigers. Jack Gillis and Nick Polizzano also were key players in last year’s Group 3 championship team.
South Plainfield SS Nick Polizzano (25) flings the ball to first during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Anthony Condito, Nutley; Garrett Forrestal, Cranford; Chrystian Walker, Orange; Anthony Veneziano, Warren Hills; Mike Wilson, Colonia; Thomas Moore, Warren Hills; Peter DeMaria, Chatham; Will Schaffer, Summit; Jojo Mosca, Somerville; Jack Donlon, Mendham; Jason Juarez, Orange.
THE PICK: Gov. Livingston over Mendham
The Highlanders have proven they can win the big games. Although the road to the sectional final will not be easy, Gov. Livingston has two solid starters in Nick Cocchia and Vin Doren that can bring it to the final. If this sectional final pits these two together a duel between Cocchia and Donlon would be a lot of fun.
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/6701171825851097197/baseball-playoffs-2016-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-preview/
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