State Tournament time is upon us. The third annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex championship will be decided this Saturday at Diamond Nation. Lots of good stuff coming our way on the local baseball scene.
Unfortunately, it looks like rain will be a problem to start the week. It's actually been more like April, than May, this month weather-wise. We have a big slate of games to open the week, but it thins out considerably as we head into the postseason action.
On Saturday, Hunterdon Central goes for its second HWS crown against first-time finalist Phillipsburg. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The Red Devils have beaten the Stateliners twice this season by wide margins, 15-3 and 10-0. The first game on April 10 saw P'burg ace Anthony Ciavarella strike out 10 in a loss.
The lefty will go in the title game and he always gives the 'Liners a chance. In his six starts this season, Ciavarella has 65 K's, along with three more in a relief appearance for a season total of 68. Central, making its third trip to the title game, features a potent lineup with Brett Bonn, Kenny Wilson, Jeremy Ake and Geggie Russomagno.
Both Central and P'burg have four games scheduled in advance of Saturday's title tilt.
Should be a good one in Flemington.
Now, on to this week's rankings:
1. Hunterdon Central (17-4) -- Red Devils stumbled this week in a 6-2 loss at North Hunterdon on Thursday. But coach Mike Raymond's team rebounded with a 7-2 win over No. 6 High Point in the HWS semifinals on Saturday. Central also beat No. 2 Phillipsburg, 10-0 on Tuesday, and No. 10 Warren Hills, 5-3, last Monday. Bonn continued to stay hot at the plate with a pair of doubles against High Point, while getting his first career win on the mound against the Blue Streaks.
Up next for the Red Devils -- at Chatham on Tuesday; Ridge at home on Thursday; Cherokee at home on Friday; Phillipsburg in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final at Diamond Nation on Saturday.
2. Phillipsburg (10-8) -- Stateliners have been playing well of late, outside some tough losses in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division, where coach Dave Hinkle's team owns a 4-6 record this season. Ciavarella has been money in the HWS games, striking out 10 in Saturday's win over North Hunterdon. In three tourney starts, the lefty compiled 34 K's in two wins. He struck out 10 in a no-decision against Pope John in the quarters.
Up next for the Stateliners -- Watchung Hills at home on Tuesday; at Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday; Somerville at home on Friday; Hunterdon Central in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final at Diamond Nation on Saturday.
3. North Hunterdon (10-12) -- Lions were halted by a good pitcher in a 3-1 loss to Phillipsburg on Saturday in the HWS. North ace Ben Stine (4-4), who has been solid in three tourney starts, was the tough-luck losing pitcher with 11 K's. Coach Mike Kane's team was coming off a 6-2 win over No. 1 Central two days earlier. Derek Jenkins is heating up at the plate with a homer against Central and North's lone RBI on Saturday.
Up next for the Lions -- at Ridge on Tuesday; Hillsborough at home on Thursday; at Montgomery on Saturday.
4. Pope John (13-6) -- Lions had a short week with Wednesday's thrilling 5-4 walk-off win against crosstown rival Sparta as their lone contest. Rutgers-bound shortstop Matt Tietz came through in the clutch with a two-run single to left to give PJ a win in the bottom of the seventh. Glenn Gavan and Mike Young sparked the rally with back-to-back doubles to start the inning. Freshman Matt Piwko provided solid relief work for the win.
Up next for the Lions -- at Montville on Tuesday; at Roxbury on Thursday; Morris Hills at home on Friday.
5. High Point (10-9) -- Wildcats made a good showing in their first HWS semifinal, despite a 7-2 loss to No. 1 Hunterdon Central. Coach Mickey Thomas' club went 2-1 prior to that one, with wins over Vernon (5-2 on Friday) and Montville (15-6 on Thursday). Ryan Schulok belted a two-run homer against Vernon, while Brett Fundell went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the loss to Central.
Up next for the Wildcats -- at Kittatinny on Wednesday; Mount Olive at home on Thursday.
6. Voorhees (9-10) -- Vikings are a tough team to figure like several others in the Open Mike area. Coach Spark Mattson's team opened last week with a 14-7 win at Princeton, then proceeded to lose three straight games to Somerville (3-1 on Tuesday); Pingry (3-1 on Thursday) and Mount Olive (7-6 on Saturday). The first two losses took them out of contention for a second straight Skyland Conference Raritan Division title. Tyler Duplaga continued his fine season with an RBI double against the 'Ville and a double and two RBIs against MO.
Up next for the Vikings -- at Delaware Valley on Tuesday; West Morris at home on Thursday.
7. Sparta (11-10) -- Spartans suffered another late loss to crosstown rival Pope John, 5-4, on Wednesday. Coach Sam Slobodzian's team was three outs away and seemingly in control after second baseman Austin Unglaub made a diving stop on a hot smash up the middle to start a nice 4-6-3 double play to end the sixth. Starter Kevin Foulds was slowing in the latter innings and gave up back-to-back doubles to start the seventh before being pulled. In their first meeting, Pope John rallied for a five-run inning to erase a 4-2 deficit en route to an 8-4 win. Sparta closed the week with a 4-3 loss to Jefferson.
Up next for the Spartans -- at Roxbury on Tuesday; Vernon at home on Wednesday; Montville at home on Thursday; Hopatcong at home on Friday.
8. Hopatcong (11-6) -- Chiefs haven't lost a game in May. That's because coach Chris Buglovsky's team hadn't played since April 30 (a 3-2 win over Lenape Valley) entering this week. But the Sussex County school is on the brink of its first NJAC Freedom Division title, needing a win at Wallkill Valley on Tuesday to clinch a share of the prize. In addition, a win over Newton on Thursday would clinch the title outright.
Up next for the Chiefs -- at Wallkill Valley on Tuesday; at Newton on Thursday; at Sparta on Friday.
9. Delaware Valley (8-8) -- Terriers avenged an earlier loss with Saturday's 9-6 win over Warren Hills. The win was certainly satisfying for coach Marty White, a 1991 graduate of the Warren County school. Tom Chiswick led the way by going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and an RBI. He also got his fourth win in five decisions on the mound. Dennis Martell was 2-for-3 with an RBI as well in the win.
Up next for the Terriers -- Voorhees at home on Tuesday; at Somerville on Thursday; Belvidere at home on Saturday.
10. Warren Hills (8-12) -- Blue Streaks are free-falling following an 0-3 week that stretched their losing streak to five in a row. The fact that coach Mike Quinto's team, which has gone 2-8 in its last 10, plays a very tough schedule is the biggest factor why it is still here. After a close 5-3 loss to No. 1 Hunterdon Central on Monday, Hills was pounded by Ridge, 18-1, on Friday in a game played at TD Bank Park in Somerset. The Streaks dropped a 9-6 decision to Del Val at home on Saturday, a team they beat 12-1 back on April 12.
Up next for the Blue Streaks -- Franklin at home on Tuesday; at North Plainfield on Thursday.
On the bubble: Kittatinny (10-8-1); North Warren (13-4); Lenape Valley (10-9); Wallkill Valley (12-10).
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