We're down to the Final Four in the fourth annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.
No surprise that North Hunterdon and Hunterdon Central are still standing, along with Sparta. However, Vernon stunned everyone with its second win in six days over Newton, 6-2, in Saturday's quarterfinals to give Sussex County two representatives in the semis for the first time in tournament history.
The Vikings are shaking things up on the field and in the Open Mike rankings, which continue to realign with each parity-filled week.
We will take a closer look at both semifinal games later in the week. Meanwhile, both Newton and Sparta are looking to claim at least shares of NJAC division titles in the coming days.
Newton (9-1 division) owns a two-game lead over Jefferson (7-3) and North Warren (7-3) in the Freedom, so the Braves can win the title outright with wins over both, starting with the Patriots today. Newton hosts Jefferson on Wednesday at Memory Park.
Sparta (8-1-1 division), which has American Division games with Pope John today and at High Point on Wednesday, is two games up on Montville (7-3) in the loss column with four to league games to play entering this week.
Now onto the rankings:
1. Sparta (12-5-1) -- Spartans rise to the top spot for the first time this season after a 3-0 week, including a 10-4 win over Wallkill Valley in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals on Friday. Coach Sam Slobodzian's club also beat Morris Hills (4-0 on Tuesday) and Morris Catholic (7-1 on Wednesday). Outfielders Thomas Ruddy and Jon-Karl Widuch doubled to help junior pitcher Nick Shlala get the win over Wallkill Valley. Ruddy went 3-for-5 , while second baseman Austin Unglaub finished 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs against Morris Catholic. Spartans will look to earn their first finals appearance in the HWS Tournament against 2010 champion Hunterdon Central, which beat Sparta, 10-0, for the title that year.
Up next: at Pope John on Monday; at High Point on Wednesday; Mendham at home on Friday; Hunterdon Central at home on Saturday in HWS semifinals.
2. Hunterdon Central (10-8) -- Red Devils keep rolling along and are very much in play for their second HWS title in four years. Coach Mike Raymond's team advanced to its fourth straight semifinal with Saturday's 4-2 win over Pope John in the quarterfinals. Sophomore infielder Brett McManus stayed red-hot at the plate -- going 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win. Freshman Matt Toke was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while ace Billy Maier (3-2) struck out five for the win. Central opened the week with a 7-5 win over previous No. 1 North Hunterdon, avenging a 12-6 loss when the teams met on April 4. McManus went 4-for-4 with an RBI in the rematch, while Toke homered. McManus also drove in the lone run in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Immaculata in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division showdown.
Up next: at Voorhees on Monday; Montgomery at home on Tuesday; Phillipsburg at home on Thursday; at Sparta on Saturday in the HWS semifinals.
3. North Hunterdon (11-7) -- Lions dropped out of the top spot for the first time this season following a 7-5 loss to Hunterdon Central last Tuesday. Coach Mike Kane's club has stumbled, losing three of its last four coming into this week. The good news is that the Lions advanced to the HWS semifinals with Saturday's 6-5 come-from-behind win over Delaware Valley. A four-run bottom of the fifth tied it, before senior second baseman Robbie Young doubled for the go-ahead run in the sixth. Junior shortstop Marc Monks belted a two-run homer, while junior Quentin Klein (3-0) got the win on the mound. Against Central, senior first baseman Mike Ragozine went 2-for-3 with a double.
Up next: South Plainfield at home on Monday; Hillsborough at home on Tuesday; at Watchung Hills on Thursday; Vernon at home on Saturday in the HWS semifinals.
4. Vernon (8-8) -- Vikings on the rise following two wins over previous No. 2 Newton last week, including a 6-2 win in the HWS quarterfinals on Saturday. Coach Scott Berge's team, which won in its first quarterfinal appearance, travels to No. 3 North Hunterdon for Saturday's semifinals. The week started with a 6-5 win at home against Newton last Monday, followed by a 3-0 win over High Point on Tuesday. In Monday's game, senior Ryan Duvall went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while junior Mike Harboy finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Michael Franklin got the win on the mound.
Up next: at Mount Olive on Monday; Pope John at home on Wednesday; at Snyder on Friday; at North Hunterdon on Saturday in the HWS semifinals.
5. Newton (11-5) -- Braves' 9-1 start seems so long ago after a pair of losses to Vernon last week, including a 6-2 defeat in the HWS quarterfinals on Saturday at venerable Memory Park, which has crisp new bleachers. Coach John Selitto's team, which also lost to 10-5 to Blair Academy on Friday, is lacking the quality pitching it was getting in the first half of the season. Selitto elected to save lefty Nick Grant for today's conference game at North Warren, as the Braves can clinch the NJAC Freedom Division title with wins over the Patriots and Jefferson (Wednesday). Center fielder Ben Cramer continues to rake -- going 2-for-4 with a double and triple against Blair and 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in an 8-6 win over Lenape Valley. Shortstop Jon Bernotas is 5-for-6 in his last two games.
Up next: at North Warren on Monday; Jefferson at home on Wednesday.
6. Pope John (9-10) -- Lions' roller-coaster ride continued last week with three straight losses -- 7-1 to Montville, 4-3 to Delbarton and 4-2 at Hunterdon Central on Saturday in the HWS quarterfinals. Coach Vin Bello's team, amazingly, drops under .500 for the first time since 2006. Senior first baseman Rob Sanders collected three RBIs last week, two in the Delbarton loss. Axel D'Addario went 2-for-4 in that one and doubled against Hunterdon Central. Center fielder Mike Young went 3-for-4 with an RBI against Central. Dan Cunico (2-2) and Ethan Collins (3-2) took the losses against Delby and Central, respectively.
Up next: Sparta at home on Monday; at Vernon on Wednesday.
7. Delaware Valley (6-10) -- Terriers went 1-2 last week, dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker to North Hunterdon on Saturday in the HWS quarterfinals. Coach Marty White's team squandered a 5-1 lead after 4 1/2 innings in the school's first quarterfinals appearance. It was the fifth one-run loss for the Terriers, who opened the week with a 10-0 win over Warren Hills in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash. Senior third baseman Ryan Hann went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and belted a walk-off homer against the Blue Streaks, while going 3-for-4 with a double and a homer against North. Senior first baseman Scott Skripko blasted two homers in the week.
Up next: at Blair Academy on Monday; at Lenape Valley on Thursday; Phillipsburg at Riegel Ridge Park on Saturday night.
8. Warren Hills (8-11) -- Blue Streaks are suddenly surging after a big 3-1 week, capped by a 6-5 win over North Warren on Saturday at Joseph Steinhardt Field. Coach Mike Quinto's team also beat Hackettstown (6-4 on Wednesday) and Franklin (5-4 in 10 innings on Thursday) following a 10-0 loss to Delaware Valley last Tuesday. Ace Nathaniel Capone (3-2) went 1-1, losing to Del Val in a four-strikeout effort and fanning six to beat North Warren. Center fielder Cody Crowley went 3-for-4 with an RBI against the Patriots, while leadoff man Craig Lawson went 2-for-4 with a double. Catcher Ronnie Legreide had two doubles, a homer and four RBIs total in the wins over Hackettstown and Franklin, while outfielder Matt Cummings, promoted from JV last Tuesday, went 2-for-3 with an RBI on Saturday.
Up next: Watchung Hills at home on Monday; at Pius X (Pa.) on Wednesday; Belvidere at home on Friday.
9. High Point (5-10) -- Wildcats went 1-2 last week, capping it off with a 19-3 thumping of Wallkill Valley in an independent clash on Thursday. Last Wednesday, senior outfielder Mike Ragnetti had an RBI triple in a 9-2 loss to Kittatinny. Coach Mickey Thomas' club has been tough to figure out with a win over Pope John and that loss to the 4-11 Cougars. Two wins over previously-ranked Wallkill Valley keep the 'Cats ranked for at least another week.
Up next: at Montville on Monday; Sparta at home on Wednesday.
10. Phillipsburg (5-15) -- Stateliners re-enter the rankings following an 8-3 win over previously-ranked North Warren on Friday. Coach Dave Hinkle's team has played one of the toughest conference and independent schedules around this season, with 10 of its losses -- six by two or fewer runs -- coming in Skyland Conference Delaware Division matchups. Junior second baseman Matt McAnally doubled in an 11-7 loss to Watchung Hills on Thursday and had an RBI double against North Warren. Senior third baseman Tyler Widitz had a big week at the plate -- going 2-for-3 with an RBI against North Warren and knocking in two runs against Watchung. He also belted a double and home run with RBIs in a loss to Hillsborough last Tuesday.
Up next: Immaculata at home on Tuesday; at Hunterdon Central on Thursday; Delaware Valley at Riegel Ridge Park on Saturday night.
On the bubble: North Warren (8-7); Lenape Valley (8-8); Wallkill Valley (6-8); Hackettstown (7-9).
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