We're heading into the final two weeks of the baseball season and six teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area are still chasing state sectional titles.
Sectional semifinals among the public schools are slated to be played -- weather permitting -- on Tuesday. The championships will be contested on Friday. Non-Public quarterfinals are Tuesday, semifinals on Friday and championships on Tuesday, June 4.
In Sussex County, Newton and Sparta posted thrilling wins in quarterfinal games, while Pope John won its opener, 2-0, in the Non-Public North A bracket.
Over in Hunterdon County, North Hunterdon and Hunterdon Central are still dancing, while North Warren is the lone Warren County team still playing games.
I had a chance to catch Pope John against Vernon last week and the Lions are playing with a lot of confidence. With only one starting senior, the Lions are building for a banner year in 2014, but haven't dismissed a run this postseason, despite playing in a killer section.
Up next for coach Vin Bello's team is a quarterfinal date with St. Joseph-Montvale and ace pitcher Rob Kaminsky on Tuesday. Kaminsky, a lefty, features in a mid-90s fastball and a dynamite curve. He will most certainly be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 6.
Pope John (15-13), which has reached at least the quarterfinal round the last five years and won its only sectional title in 2011, knows what it's up against on Tuesday.
"Anyone at this level can beat anyone at any given time," said Lions second baseman Axel D'Addario, one of the team's offensive leaders this season. "Our No. 1 goal is to win a state championship."
Bello said his team is an extremely heavy underdog with Kaminsky on the hill, but his Lions have prepared themselves for the playoffs by playing a very tough non-conference schedule, including games against Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco and Middlesex. Co-NJAC American Division foes, Mount Olive and Sparta, are both playing in Public sectional semifinals.
"We've played a lot of tough teams," Bello said.
Right fielder Michael Young also has been sensational on offense for the Lions, while right-hander Dan Cunico (4-3) will start against St. Joe. Lefty Ethan Collins (6-2) picked up the win on Sunday against DePaul.
Here's a capsule look at the other games on Tuesday involving Open Mike area teams:
North 1, Group 3
7-Sparta at 3-Paramus -- Sparta (17-8-1) rallied late on Monday to beat No. 15 seed Northern Highlands, 10-9, in the quarterfinals. Junior second baseman Austin Unglaub belted a two-out, two-run single for a thrilling walk-off win, after coach Sam Slobodzian's team had given up six runs in the top of the seventh and trailed by two heading into its final at-bats. Sparta, which hasn't won a sectional title since 2000, will now hit the road to face a good Paramus team, which beat Vernon, 9-1, in a first-round matchup. Sparta beat Vernon twice this season -- 9-3 and 6-3. Ace Kevin Foulds pitched 5 2/3 innings on Monday, so Dillon Mendel will likely start this one for the Sussex County Spartans, who have won four straight and have scored a total of 23 runs in their two state playoff wins.
Other semifinal: 12-Mount Olive at 9-Teaneck (Mount Olive lost to Sparta twice this season, 3-1 and 4-3).
North 1, Group 2
15-Pascack Hills at 3-Newton -- How 'bout them Braves? Coach John Selitto's team continued the program's best season since 2001 with an exciting walk-off win of its own on Sunday, 3-2, over No. 6 seed Glen Rock at Memory Park. Center fielder Ben Cramer continued his torrid postseason hitting with a 3-for-4 day, including a double and an RBI. In two playoff wins, Cramer is 5-for-8 with two RBIs. Right-hander Chris Branham (5-1) tossed a four-hitter and struck out seven for the win. Sophomore shortstop Jon Bernotas, who has at least one RBI in four straight games, delivered the walk-off hit with two outs for the Braves, who led 2-0 after six innings. Lefty ace Nick Grant (5-0) will start against Pascack Hills, which upset No. 2 seed Lakeland, 2-0, in the first round. Newton, which has allowed a total of seven runs in its last four games, seeks its first finals appearance since '01.
Other semifinal: 4-Pequannock at 1-Mahwah.
North 1, Group 1
9-North Warren at 4-New Milford -- Patriots, who have won four in a row and six of seven, are still kicking after an 8-1 thumping of Park Ridge in Sunday's quarterfinals. Coach Jim Haupt's team, which beat Wood-Ridge, 2-0, in the first round, got strong performances from ace Alek Hladik (5-4), who had eight strikeouts, and Mike Clothier, who drove in three runs, against Park Ridge. Clothier is on fire at the plate, with seven RBIs in his last four games. Hunter Stevens (4-3) should get the ball against New Milford.
Other semifinal: 3-Emerson Boro at 2-Pompton Lakes.
North 2, Group 4
5-North Hunterdon at 1-Watchung Hills -- Lions advanced with a nice 5-3 win over Millburn on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Senior outfielder Andrew Gianos went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while senior outfielder C.J. Rasile was 2-for-4 with two RBIs against coach Brian Chapman's Millers. Tyler Smith picked up the win on the mound, so both he and Justin Trinity could pitch against Watchung Hills, which finished second in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division. The Warriors beat the Lions, 6-2, on April 16. Smith took the loss in that one. The second regular-season meeting was cancelled.
Other semifinal: 14-Perth Amboy at 10-Westfield.
Central Jersey, Group 4
12-Marlboro at 9-Hunterdon Central -- Red Devils are rolling right along -- beating West Windsor South, 7-4, in the quarterfinals for their 10th straight win. Coach Mike Raymond's team, which won its second HWS title, is 10-1 in the month of May. Shortstop Jeremy Ake belted a two-run homer -- his team-leading sixth of the season -- and ace right-hander Billy Maier (6-2, 2.10 ERA) struck out seven for his fourth win in his last four outings. Maier shut out Vernon, 10-0, on May 18 in the tri-county final. Mike Novello (5-2, 2.75 ERA) got the win over Howell in the opening round of the sectional tournament.
Other semifinal: 14-Brick Memorial at 2-Jackson Memorial.
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