The baseball season is winding down in the West Jersey area, but there is still plenty to talk about as the spring season comes to a close.
On Thursday, longtime North Hunterdon coach Parker Snare joined an exclusive club by winning his 500th game in the Lions' 11-9 win over Montgomery in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division tilt in Annandale. Andrew Westlin paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs and helped North (12-13) rally from an 8-1 deficit.
“I am proud of coach Snare’s perseverance in achieving this momentous goal in his career. Mr. Snare has spent many untold hours during his coaching tenure with our student athletes and providing a positive experience for all of them. Coach Snare has had a great group of kids in the Hunterdon Community every year. Coach Snare falls under a small elite group of New Jersey coaches to obtain 500 wins and this is truly a historic day in North history.” said North Hunterdon athletic director John Deutschm in a school-issued press release.
Snare owns a 500-284-2 overall mark in 32 seasons and it was, perhaps, his final season at the helm as rumors swirl that he will not back in 2012. The retired teacher is no longer in the building and someone in-house may be after the baseball job.
The Lions didn't have the season they hoped for after a 3-8 stretch from April 16 to May 11 essentially took them out of conference contention. North started 4-0 in the division and finished 9-7.
Vikings claim Raritan championship
Voorhees officially wrapped up the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with Thursday's 1-0 win over Somerville. Lefty ace Sean Keselica struck out a career-high 16 batters and Tyler Duplaga drove in the winning run with a double.
It was a nice ending for coach Spark Mattson's team after a disappointing 6-1 loss to Middlesex in Tuesday's Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinals. Voorhees finishes 18-4 overall and 10-2 in the division after an 8-15 campaign in 2010.
The Virginia Tech-bound Keselica capped a tremendous season and career with a school record seven homers and going 10-1 on the mound with 121 strikeouts. He struck out no fewer than nine in any of his starts this season.
Patriots repeat as Valley champions
North Warren claimed the Skyland Conference Valley Division title with Thursday's 4-3 win in eight innings against Bernards in Blairstown. Ryan McCarthy delivered the win and a title with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Coach Jim Haupt's team finishes 15-8 overall and 11-1 in the division.
NJAC American update
Pope John did what it had to do last week to keep its American Division title hopes alive in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference with wins over Montville and High Point. The Lions (11-2-1 in the division) are tied with Montville (12-2) in the loss column.
Pope John's suspended game, a 2-2 tie on the books with Sparta, was supposed to be replayed in its entirety since the outcome affects the standings. However, it has been learned that the conference may instead use a points system rather than play that game to declare a champion, awarding the title to Montville.
Stay tuned on this one. My guess is that Lions coach Vin Bello won't raise a fuss at this time with his club still alive for a bigger title in the Non-Public North A playoffs.
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