The outstanding weather we've been enjoying since the season started finally took a turn with the weekend rain. We were due, that's the way it goes.
There were several head-scratching results from last week. The biggest, to me, was Vernon's stunning 7-6 win over High Point on Friday. Where did that come from? The Vikings (3-7) had lost six of their first seven before putting together back-to-back wins -- a 3-1 victory over Mount Olive preceding High Point.
It's a crazy year in the NJAC, and I have a feeling we'll see even more bizarre results as we head down the stretch.
Check back in a day or two and I'll rundown the action in the third annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament that starts on Wednesday with preliminary games. First-round games will be played at the higher seeds on Saturday. Pope John is the defending champion and received the No. 1 seed in the Sussex bracket. Hunterdon Central, which won in 2010 and lost to PJ in the 2011 final, is the No. 1 seed for Hunterdon-Warren.
Here goes this week's top 10 (records through Monday):
1. Hunterdon Central (8-2) -- The Red Devils finally hit a bump, two in fact, last week with back-to-back losses against Randolph (7-5 on Wednesday) and Ridge (10-9 on Thursday). Coach Mike Raymond's club rebounded by winning three straight, including a pair in its own Red Devil Classic on Saturday. In doing so, Raymond became the winningest coach in program history. Central played despite Monday's rain and came away with an 11-7 win over previous-No. 5 Voorhees. Geggie Russomagno continued his torrid ways at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in the win over the Vikes. Brett Bonn also has been on fire of late, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in that one.
Up next for the Red Devils -- Watchung Hills at home on Tuesday; Hillsborough at home on Thursday; Hackettstown-Newton winner at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
2. Pope John (6-3) -- Lions rule the roost in Sussex County, nothing new there. Coach Vin Bello's club went 2-1 last week, beating crosstown rival Sparta, 8-4, on Wednesday with a five-run sixth. Matt Tietz went 4-for-4 and Glenn Gavan was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in that one. The Lions followed up with a 13-8 win over NJAC American Division rival Montville. Sam Redwood, who's hitting like he's a swinging a tree, went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in that victory, which pushed first-place PJ to 6-0 in the division, one game ahead of second-place Jefferson (5-1).
Up next for the Lions -- Mount Olive at home on Wednesday; at Delbarton on Friday; Belvidere-Vernon winner at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
3. North Hunterdon (6-7) -- Still climbing the charts with several bullets is coach Mike Kane's Lions. Big win last Monday, 9-4, over the Warren Hills Blue Streaks. North won six straight until back-to-back losses to Edison (8-5 on Saturday) and Immaculata (14-6) on Monday at Diamond Nation. Ben Stine has been leading the charge both at the plate and on the mound. He had an RBI double against Warren Hills and got the complete-game win in the Lions' 5-2 win over Hillsborough on Thursday. This will be a pesky team to play in the HWS.
Up next for the Lions -- Montgomery at home on Tuesday; Phillipsburg at home on Thursday; South Hunterdon-Wallkill Valley winner at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
4. Warren Hills (6-4) -- Blue Streaks won four in a row until a 9-4 loss to North Hunterdon last Monday. Coach Mike Quinto's team rebounded with an 8-3 win over Franklin before a tough 8-6 loss to Millburn in the Krug Tournament on Saturday. Ryan Curto, Mark Apgar and Kyle Allen continue to have outstanding seasons for the Washington school. Curto had three doubles and four RBIs in the three games last week, while Apgar went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Millburn. Allen was 2-for-4 with two RBIs against Franklin and took his first loss on the mound in four decisions on Saturday.
Up next for the Blue Streaks -- North Plainfield at home on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Thursday; Kittatinny at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
5. Phillipsburg (6-4) -- Stateliners are coming off a 3-0 week with wins over Watchung Hills (11-4 on Tuesday); Bridgewater-Raritan (13-12 on Thursday) and archrival Easton (Pa.) on Saturday. Ace Anthony Ciavarella recorded his first win and struck out 13 in the 8-3 win over the Red Rovers. He went a combined 5-for-12 with five runs scored at the plate. Tyler Widitz also had a great week at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Easton. He also had two doubles and five RBIs against Watchung Hills.
Up next for the Stateliners -- at Immaculata on Tuesday; at North Hunterdon on Thursday; Hopatcong at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
6. Voorhees (4-6) -- Vikings have really struggled of late, dropping five of six since a 3-1 start. Wins over Phillipsburg and Delaware Valley keep coach Spark Mattson's team this high for now. Bryan Konsig is on a major tear going a combined 4-for-6 with three RBIs in a loss to Pingry (6-3 on Tuesday) and a win over Delaware Valley (15-7 on Thursday). He also had an RBI in Saturday's 8-6 loss to North Warren. Dan Barone was 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs and Matt Bonavita was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs in the win over Del Val.
Up next for the Vikings -- Warren Hills at home on Thursday; at Lenape Valley on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
7. Delaware Valley (5-4) -- Terriers saw their three-game winning streak snapped with a 15-7 loss to Voorhees on Thursday. Coach Marty White's team also beat North Plainfield, 3-1, on Tuesday. Scott Scripko went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in the loss to Voorhees, while Chris Pilone went 2-for-4 in that one. Coming into the week, Scripko was batting .344 with 10 RBIs, while Pilone carried a .400 average. Dennis Martell (.375, six RBIs) and Reed Williams (.550 with six RBIs) are also off to great starts. Williams also entered the week riding a six-game hitting streak.
Up next for the Terriers -- Somerville at home on Tuesday; Pingry at home on Thursday; at Sparta on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
8. Sparta (6-5) -- Tough week for the Spartans with losses to NJAC Freedom foes (Pope John, 8-4, on Wednesday and 2-1 to Jefferson on Friday). In between, coach Sam Slobodzian's team beat Newton, 10-0, on Thursday. Jason Postorino went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Devon Livingston was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the win over the Braves. Codie Aromando improved to 3-0 on the mound. Thomas Ruddy went 4-for-4 and Peter Forman 2-for-3 with a double in the loss to Pope John.
Up next for the Spartans -- Morris Hills at home on Wednesday; Morris Knolls at home on Friday; Delaware Valley at home on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
9. North Warren (5-2) -- Patriots have won three straight and enter here for the first time this season, thanks to an 8-6 win over Voorhees on Saturday. Coach Jim Haupt's team drew the No. 7 seed for the Hunterdon-Warren group. Garret Becker belted two doubles and had a pair of RBIs, while Joe Frankosky got the win on the mound against Voorhees. Pats outscored their last three opponents by a combined total of 28-6.
Up next for the Patriots -- Bernards at home on Tuesday; Sussex Tech at home on Wednesday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament; at South Hunterdon on Thursday; at High Point on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
10. Hopatcong (9-3) -- Chiefs climb back into the rankings after a 5-0 week, extending their win streak to six overall with Saturday's 12-2 drubbing of Belvidere. Coach Chris Buglovsky's team also posted a nice 7-4 win over previously-ranked Wallkill Valley on Friday. Hunter Guard has been unreal at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a homer, while also getting win on the mound with six K's, in last Monday's 9-2 win over Vernon. He belted a homer against Kittatinny on Wednesday and capped the week with a pair of homers (his sixth and seventh of the season) against Belvidere. Matt Cautero got the win against the Seaters with six K's.
Up next for the Chiefs -- Kinnelon at home on Tuesday; Hackettstown at home on Wednesday; Morristown-Beard at home on Friday; at Phillipsburg on Saturday in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
On the bubble -- Wallkill Valley (7-6); High Point (5-4); Lenape Valley (7-4); Kittatinny (5-4-1).
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