Sunday, May 22, 2011

West Jersey Baseball rankings

1. Pope John (18-3-1) -- Lions went 3-1 last week, including an 8-1 win over No. 3 Hunterdon Central on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final. MVP Brendan Mayers fanned seven for his third tourney win and catcher Alex DeBellis belted a three-run homer as coach Vin Bello's team won its first tri-county title. PJ is still chasing the NJAC American Division title, but a 5-3 loss at Mount Olive on Friday hurt its chances.

Up next: Monday at St. Joseph's-Metuchen; Tuesday at home against Montville; Wednesday at home against Morristown; Thursday at High Point.

2. Voorhees (14-2) -- Vikings blanked North Plainfield, 6-0, behind ace pitcher Sean Keselica (8-1), who fanned 12 and also doubled in a run at the plate in the Vikings' lone game last week. Coach Spark Mattson's club is in control of the Skyland Conference Raritan Division race with an 8-1 mark and is the No. 1 seed for the Central Jersey, Group 2 playoffs.

Up next: Monday at home against Shore in state playoffs; Tuesday at home against Warren Hills; Wednesday at home against Pingry.

3. Hunterdon Central (16-6) -- Red Devils saw their 11-game win streak end with Friday's 6-1 loss to Hillsborough and coach Mike Raymond's team also fell 8-1 to Pope John in Saturday's HWS final. Central had outscored its opponents 97-29 during the streak and was outscored 14-2 in the two losses. That's baseball, folks. Central is the top seed for the North 2, Group 4 playoffs after going one-and-done last year following back-to-back Group 4 titles.

Up next: Monday at home against Bridgewater-Raritan in state playoffs; Tuesday at Bridgewater-Raritan; Wednesday at home against Ridge; Thursday at Montgomery.

4. Hackettstown (16-1) -- Tigers posted a 5-4 win over Mount Olive on Sunday in their own Diamond Classic tournament final. Coach Gary Poyer's team is the No. 1 seed in the North 2, Group 2 state playoff bracket after a runner-up finish in 2010.

Up next: Monday at home against Cliffside Park in the state playoffs; Wednesday at Hopatcong.

5. Sparta (13-8-1) -- Spartans beat Wallkill Valley, 3-2 on Saturday as Devon Livingston had a homer and two RBIs. Winning pitcher Gaveric Back struck out 10. Coach Sam Slobodzian's team drew the No. 8 seed in the North 1, Group 3 playoffs.

Up next: Monday at home against Old Tappan in state playoffs; Tuesday at Morris Hills.

6. Warren Hills (12-8) -- Blue Streaks beat Delaware Valley, coached by former Warren Hills wrestling champ Marty White, 9-4 on Saturday as coach Mike Quinto's team ran its win streak to five on the cusp of the state playoffs. Scott Paulus was 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in the win over Del Val. Warren Hills will host its first state game since 2008 on Monday.

Up next: Monday at home against Belleville in state playoffs; Tuesday at Voorhees; Wednesday at home against North Plainfield.

7. Phillipsburg (10-10) -- Stateliners didn't play this past week, but coach Dave Hinkle's troops earned the No, 10 seed for the North 2, Group 4 playoffs.

Up next: Monday at East Orange in the state playoffs; Tuesday at Ridge; Thursday at Immaculata.

8. North Hunterdon (8-11) -- Lions suffered a 12-3 loss to Hillsborough o Saturday in their only contest of the rainy week. Coach Parker Snare's club, despite a sub-.500 mark at the cutoff, drew the No. 12 seed in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs.

Up next: Monday at Bayonne in state playoffs; Tuesday at West Morris; Wednesday at Bridgewater-Raritan.

9. North Warren (12-6) – Patriots didn't play last week and coach Jim Haupt's team drew the No. 7 seed in the North 1, Group 2 playoffs. Lefty Nick Macaione will be on the hill for Monday's state opener and the Pats can clinch the Skyland Conference Valley Division title with division wins on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Up next: Monday at home against River Dell in state playoffs; Tuesday at home against Bound Brook; Wednesday at Manville.

10. High Point (12-7) – Wildcats and coach Mickey Thomas earned the No. 7 seed for the North 1, Group 3 playoffs

Up next: Monday at home against Indian Hills in state playoffs; Tuesday at home against Jefferson; Wednesday at home against Montville; Thursday at home against Pope John; 

On the bubble: Lenape Valley (11-8); Hopatcong (12-4).

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