West Jersey Baseball rankings

1. Pope John (15-2-1) -- Lions went 2-0 last week with a pair of big wins, beating Sparta 6-5 on Monday and besting Voorhees 4-2 on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex semifinals to reach their first-ever title game. Ace Brendan Mayers fanned seven and catcher Alex DeBellis belted a triple and a homer against Voorhees. DeBellis also went 2-for-3 with a triple against crosstown rival Sparta. Weather permitting, coach Vin Bello's team has five games in six days, creating a rotation dilemma as the Lions are still chasing the NJAC American Division title.

Up next: Monday at High Point; Tuesday at Morris Hills; Wednesday at Roxbury; Friday at Mount Olive; Saturday vs. Hunterdon Central in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final at Diamond Nation in Flemington.

2. Voorhees (13-2) -- Vikings went 2-1 last week, suffering their second loss in a 4-2 defeat to Pope John in Saturday’s HWS semifinals. Ace Sean Keselica (7-1) also took his first loss against the Lions, fanning 11 in a six-inning complete game. The leadoff hitter also had the game-winning two-run homer in a 5-4 win over Delaware Valley. Vikings control their own destiny in Skyland Conference Raritan Division race.

Up next: Monday at home against North Plainfield; Wednesday at home against Warren Hills; Thursday at Somerville.

3. Hunterdon Central (16-4) -- West Jersey's hottest team ran its winning streak to 11 with an impressive 14-3 thumping of Hackettstown in Saturday's HWS semifinals. Outfielder Kenny Wilson led the charge for the Red Devils' offense going 3-for-4 with a double and a grand slam. Greg Scassera improved to 5-1 in the win that sets up a showdown with No. 1 Pope John in the final. Wilson and Sean Thomas share the team lead in RBIs with 24. Central has outscored its opponents 97-29 during its current streak.

Up next: Monday at Ridge; Tuesday at home against Watchung Hills; Thursday at home against Hillsborough, Saturday vs. Pope John in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final at Diamond Nation in Flemington.

4. Hackettstown (15-1) -- Tigers slide down a couple spots following Saturday's 14-3 loss to Hunterdon Central in HWS semifinals. Ace right-hander Matt Reynolds fell to 5-1 this season and 18-2 for his career after being tagged for 13 runs (seven earned) in 2 2/3 innings. Reynolds also took a no-decision after going five innings in Tuesday's 8-7 win over Mountain Lakes. No. 2 Justin Knight (6-0) got the win in relief. Adam Young and Kirby Neuner each got their 100th career hit and coach Gary Poyer’s club clinched its second NJAC Freedom Division title with a 21-0 pounding of Newton on Wednesday.

Up next: Monday at Warren Hills; Wednesday at Hanover Park.

5. Sparta (12-7-1) -- Spartans have hit a rough patch of late, dropping their last four games following a seven-game winning streak. Coach Sam Slobodzian's team went 0-3 last week, including shutout losses to Jefferson (8-0 on Wednesday) and Montville (6-0 on Friday). Center fielder Brendan Monahan entered the week 5-for-8 with two homers and four RBIs in his last three contests and went 3-for-4 with a triple in Monday's 6-5 loss to rival Pope John. He took the loss on the mound in that one.

Up next: Monday at Lenape Valley; Wednesday at home against Hopatcong; Thursday at Morris Hills; Friday at home against Lenape Valley; Saturday at home against Warwick (N.Y.).

6. Warren Hills (11-8) -- Blue Streaks are on a little roll after a 4-0 week that included mercy-rule wins over Belvidere (10-0) and Pingry (13-0) and a thrilling 9-8 walk-off victory over North Warren that gave classy coach Mike Quinto his 100th coaching win. Ryan Curto went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and drove in the game-winning run. Kyle Allen went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI a 10-9 win against Franklin and Mark Apgar belted a three-run homer against Pingry.

Up next: Monday at home against Hackettstown; Wednesday at Voorhees; Thursday at home against Delaware Valley.

7. Phillipsburg (10-10) -- Stateliners snapped a four-game skid with Wednesday's 15-0 pasting of Notre Dame-Green Pond (Pa.) and dropped their next two against Watchung Hills (5-4 in 8 innings) and Ridge (6-5). Coach Dave Hinkle’s team, the 15 runs aside, have been outscored 47-15 in its last six losses. Mike Murray, Justin Scuorzo and Robert Howell all homered against NDGP.

Up next: Tuesday at Immaculata; Thursday at home against North Hunterdon; Friday at home against Bridgewater-Raritan; Saturday at Hillsborough.

8. North Hunterdon (8-10) -- Lions suffered two tough one-run losses to rival Hunterdon Central (5-4 on Tuesday) and Hillsborough (6-5 on Wednesday) before closing out the week with wins over Ridge (8-1 on Thursday) and Watchung Hills (11-10 on Friday). Coach Parker Snare's club was under .500 as of Friday's cutoff but will enter the upcoming state tournament. Derek Jenkins continued his monster May, going 7-for-17 with a double and three RBIs in his last four games.

Up next: Monday at home against Hillsborough; Tuesday at home against Montgomery; Wednesday at Somerville; Thursday at Phillipsburg; Friday at Spotswood.

9. North Warren (12-6) – Patriots bounced back from back-to-back losses with mercy-rule wins over Manville (13-0 on Tuesday) and Bound Brook (14-0 on Thursday) before a tough 9-8 loss at Warren Hills on Friday. Coach Jim Haupt's team is a perfect 9-0 in the Skyland Conference Valley Division. Lefty ace Nick Macaione fanned a season-high 14 and went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Bound Brook.

Up next: Monday at home against Kittatinny; Tuesday at home against Bernards; Wednesday at Manville.

10. High Point (12-7) – Wildcats scored the upset of the week with Monday's 7-2 win over Montville and did a huge favor for their friends from Sussex, the Pope John Lions in their battle for the NJAC American Division crown. After a 19-12 win over Vernon on Thursday, coach Mickey Thomas' troops lost 9-3 to Mount Olive on Friday to snap a six-game winning streak. Brett Fundell went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs and picked up the win in relief against Vernon.

Up next: Monday at home against Pope John; Tuesday at home against Montville; Thursday at home against Jefferson.

On the bubble: Lenape Valley (11-6); Hopatcong (12-4).