The tri-county tournament is in full swing and we're down to the final eight teams.
Top seeds Hunterdon Central and Pope John were among Saturday's first-round winners. No surprise there. Central improved to 8-1 all time in HWS games with a 7-1 victory over Hackettstown, which has been eliminated by the Hunterdon County school in every tournament since its inception in 2010.
Pope John, the 2011 champion, is now 5-1 all time in the tournament after a 5-3 win over Vernon.
The quarterfinal round will be played on Saturday. North Hunterdon at Sparta should be a very intriguing matchup as both teams are playing extremely well. I'll have more on the matchups later in the week.
We finally had our first set of rainouts last Monday, but that's both good and bad. Since teams are playing four and five games at a clip, the pitching has been stretched mighty thin. As a result, we've seen some crazy scores. Coaches are also being forced to chose between sending their aces out in conference contests or saving them for tournament games.
Now to this week's set of rankings, which seem to keep turning over quite a bit in the bottom half.
1. Hunterdon Central (10-3) -- No change at the top as the Red Devils have clearly established themselves as the top team in tri-county area. Coach Mike Raymond's troops went 3-1 last week, falling 6-5 to Watchung Hills in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash. Central, which beat Voorhees earlier in the week, rebounded with wins over Hillsborough (5-3 on Thursday) and Hackettstown (7-1 on Saturday in the HWS). Geggie Russomagno had another huge week, going 3-for-4 with a pair of homers and five RBIs against Voorhees and 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs against Hillsborough. Brett Bonn was 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs against Hackettstown.
Up next for the Red Devils -- Montgomery at home on Tuesday; at Immaculata on Thursday; Voorhees at home on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
2. Pope John (8-4) -- Lions went 2-1 last week, beating Mount Olive (6-2 on Wednesday) and Vernon (5-3 on Saturday in the HWS). PJ's four-game win streak over Delbarton dating to 2010 came to an end with Friday's 8-4 loss to the Green Wave. Ryan McNally belted a double and a homer with five RBIs against Mount Olive and 2-for-3 with an RBI against Vernon. Glenn Gavan went 3-for-3 against Vernon, while ace pitcher Dan Cunico ran his record to 4-0 with wins over Mount Olive and Vernon. PJ improved to 7-0 in the NJAC American Division with the win over Mount Olive.
Up next for the Lions -- at Vernon on Monday; High Point at home on Tuesday; Jefferson at home on Wednesday; at Morris Hills on Thursday; Phillipsburg at home on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
3. Phillipsburg (8-5) -- Stateliners are on a major role, having won five of six, including a 10-4 win over previous No. 3 North Hunterdon on Thursday. Coach Dave Hinkle's club knocked off Hopatcong, 6-1, on Saturday in the tri-county tournament. Ace Anthony Ciavarella dominated Hopatcong on Saturday with 14 strikeouts to up his season ledger to 2-2. Ciavarella also was big at the plate, belting an RBI double in the win over North. Mike Ciesla got the win in that one with five K's. Devin Grade had three RBIs and Tyler Plesnarski had a double and three RBIs.
Up next for the Stateliners -- at Ridge on Monday; at Hillsborough on Tuesday; Montgomery at home on Thursday; at Pope John on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
4. North Hunterdon (8-9) -- Lions snapped their four-game skid with a pair of wins on Saturday -- 4-1 over Wallkill Valley in the HWS and 13-1 against Memorial in an independent clash. Coach Mike Kane's team lost a tough 4-3 decision in 10 innings against Montgomery before a 10-4 setback against No. 3 Phillipsburg on Thursday. Ben Stine (3-3), who will likely start the next county game on Saturday, got the win against Wallkill with six K's, while Tim Howard and Troy Fitzpatrick had RBIs. Against Memorial, Alex Noboa had a double, a homer and four RBIs, while Derek Jenkins had two doubles and three RBIs.
Up next for the Lions -- at Watchung Hills on Tuesday; at Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday; Sparta at home on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
5. Voorhees (6-6) -- Vikings bounced back nicely this week with a pair of wins -- 7-4 over Warren Hills on Thursday and 13-8 against Lenape Valley on Saturday in the first round of the HWS. Bryan Konsig went a combined 4-for-9 in the victories. Tyler Duplaga (2-1) got the win on the mound against the sixth-ranked Blue Streaks and went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and five RBIs against the Patriots. Trey Conroy had a double and three RBIs against Hills. Kyle Honickel went 2-for-4 with two doubles and got the win on the mound against Lenape.
Up next for the Vikings -- North Plainfield at home on Tuesday; at Franklin on Thursday; at Hunterdon Central on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
6. Warren Hills (7-6) -- Blue Streaks have stumbled a bit, dropping four of six since a 5-2 start. Coach Mike Quinto's club snapped a three-game slide with Saturday's 6-1 win over Kittatinny in the HWS first round. Ryan Curto had a great week, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs against the Cougars and 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's 7-4 loss to No. 5 Voorhees. Mark Apgar was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI against the Vikings. Kyle Allen fanned seven in the loss. Connor Cruts improved to 2-0 with the win against Kittatinny.
Up next for the Blue Streaks -- at North Warren on Monday; Somerville at home on Tuesday; at Pingry on Thursday; at High Point on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
7. Sparta (9-5) -- Watch out for the Spartans, who have won eight of 10, including three wins last week. Coach Sam Slobodzian's team, which scored a total of 22 runs in the wins, capped it with an 8-7 win over No. 8 Delaware Valley in the HWS first round on Saturday. Devon Livingston doubled in that one and had a pair doubles in Wednesday's win over Morris Hills. Jason Postorino went the route against Del Val to pick up the win.
Up next for the Spartans -- at High Point on Monday; at Montville on Tuesday; Vernon at home on Wednesday; Mount Olive at home on Friday; at North Hunterdon on Saturday in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarterfinals.
8. Delaware Valley (6-6) -- Terriers have dropped three of four in their toughest stretch of the season. After a 6-4 loss to a very good Somerville club in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash on Thursday, coach Marty White's squad rebounded with a 13-2 pounding of Pingry on Thursday. Tom Chiswick, who had three hits and two RBIs against the 'Ville, picked up his second win on the mound against Pingry. He also had three RBIs in Saturday's loss to No. 7 Sparta. Scott Scripko had a pair of RBIs against Pingry and went 2-for-4 against the Spartans.
Up next for the Terriers -- Franklin at home on Tuesday; Metuchen at home on Wednesday; at Lenape Valley on Friday.
9. Hopatcong (10-6) -- Chiefs had been the hottest team in the area until dropping three out of four last week, including a 6-1 loss at Phillipsburg in the HWS first round. Coach Chris Buglovsky's club got a second win over Hackettstown, 10-5, on Wednesday. Chiefs were outscored by a combined 30-15 in losses to Kinnelon and Morristown-Beard. Big showdown on Monday against rival Lenape Valley, which Hopatcong needs to stay atop the NJAC Freedom Division.
Up next for the Chiefs -- Lenape Valley at home on Monday; Parsippany at home on Tuesday; at Newton on Wednesday; Morris Catholic at home on Friday.
10. Wallkill Valley (11-7) -- Rangers have won five of six since a loss to Hopatcong, including back-to-back 13-3 wins over Vernon on Tuesday and South Hunterdon on Wednesday. Wallkill also kept pace in the NJAC Freedom Division title hunt with a 2-0 win over Kittatinny on Thursday. Tommy Sweller went 3-for-4 with four RBIs against Vernon and Jake Konopka had back-to-back two-RBI games against South Hunterdon and Kittatinny. Casey Jervis also had a big week, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Whippany Park on Friday. He also got the win on the mound -- his third in four decisions this season -- against Kittatinny. Owen Law was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and five RBIs against Whippany Park.
Up next for the Cougars -- Hackettstown at home on Monday; Lenape Valley at home on Wednesday; at Vernon on Thursday; at Wayne Valley on Saturday.
On the bubble -- High Point (6-6); Lenape Valley (8-6); North Warren (7-3).
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Field hockey: DiMaio takes over at Pope John
Gina DiMaio has a track record of building successful programs.
Pope John is banking on her ability to do the same for its field hockey program. DiMaio was hired as the Sparta schools head coach on Tuesday.
DiMaio replaces Susan Blanchard, who guided the Lions from 2009-11. Under Blanchard, Pope John went 28-29-2 overall, including a 10-16-1 mark in Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference games. The Lions, who had sub-.500 seasons the last two years, went 17-4-1 in 2009 -- reaching the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament semifinals in the event's inaugural season.
"I'm excited," said DiMaio, who sports an overall coaching mark of 123-70-15 in stints at Hackettstown and Newark Academy. "Pope John wants to win. I like to win. Winning is fun. Losing [stinks]."
DiMaio made her mark at Hackettstown, where she resurrected a program that had been idle for 15 years. DiMaio took over in 2001 and the school spent one season on the junior varsity level before becoming a varsity program in 2002.
The Tigers enjoyed immediate success as the qualified for the state playoffs in only its second varsity season in 2003 and every year after until 2009. Hackettstown went a combined 111-49-9 in her eight seasons in charge, winning three Skyland Conference Raritan Division titles and the school's only two Hunterdon-Warren Tournament championships in 2004 and '05.
In the spring of 2010, DiMaio, a standout defensive player during her high school days at Belvidere, was informed that she would not be rehired for a ninth season at Hackettstown. She then was hired as the head coach at Newark Academy for the 2010 season.
DiMaio spent two seasons at the Livingston-based school, going 7-10-3 her first season and 5-11-3 this past fall, qualifying for the state playoffs both seasons for the first time in recent program history. Her 2011 team went 1-1 in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs -- defeating Whippany Park, 1-0, in the opening round before falling, 6-0, to powerhouse Mountain Lakes.
DiMaio said the hardest part of leaving Newark Academy was informing athletic director Ed Manigan of her decision to take the job at Pope John.
"It was tough," said DiMaio, who developed a very good relationship with Manigan the last two years. "The girls there are great and they worked hard."
Pope John is banking on her ability to do the same for its field hockey program. DiMaio was hired as the Sparta schools head coach on Tuesday.
DiMaio replaces Susan Blanchard, who guided the Lions from 2009-11. Under Blanchard, Pope John went 28-29-2 overall, including a 10-16-1 mark in Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference games. The Lions, who had sub-.500 seasons the last two years, went 17-4-1 in 2009 -- reaching the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament semifinals in the event's inaugural season.
"I'm excited," said DiMaio, who sports an overall coaching mark of 123-70-15 in stints at Hackettstown and Newark Academy. "Pope John wants to win. I like to win. Winning is fun. Losing [stinks]."
DiMaio made her mark at Hackettstown, where she resurrected a program that had been idle for 15 years. DiMaio took over in 2001 and the school spent one season on the junior varsity level before becoming a varsity program in 2002.
The Tigers enjoyed immediate success as the qualified for the state playoffs in only its second varsity season in 2003 and every year after until 2009. Hackettstown went a combined 111-49-9 in her eight seasons in charge, winning three Skyland Conference Raritan Division titles and the school's only two Hunterdon-Warren Tournament championships in 2004 and '05.
In the spring of 2010, DiMaio, a standout defensive player during her high school days at Belvidere, was informed that she would not be rehired for a ninth season at Hackettstown. She then was hired as the head coach at Newark Academy for the 2010 season.
DiMaio spent two seasons at the Livingston-based school, going 7-10-3 her first season and 5-11-3 this past fall, qualifying for the state playoffs both seasons for the first time in recent program history. Her 2011 team went 1-1 in the North 1, Group 1 playoffs -- defeating Whippany Park, 1-0, in the opening round before falling, 6-0, to powerhouse Mountain Lakes.
DiMaio said the hardest part of leaving Newark Academy was informing athletic director Ed Manigan of her decision to take the job at Pope John.
"It was tough," said DiMaio, who developed a very good relationship with Manigan the last two years. "The girls there are great and they worked hard."
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings
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).
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).
Monday, April 16, 2012
Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings
Another wild week across the tri-county area, making it even more difficult to peg the top 10 teams in any reasonable order. But I'll give it another shot, so here goes.
Note: Jefferson was included in last week's rankings, but the Falcons, of course, are from Morris County. That's why they're not here this week.
(Records through April 15)
1. Hunterdon Central (5-0) -- The Red Devils enter the week as the area's lone unbeaten tea, following wins over Phillipsburg (15-3 on Tuesday) and North Hunterdon (6-5 on Thursday). The wins also pushed Central to 4-0 in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division. Evan Klimchak was 3-for-3 against North Hunterdon and Billy Maier (2-0) fanned six to earn the win. Geggie Russomagno had a double, homer and four RBIs against the Stateliners.
Up next for the Red Devils -- at Randolph on Tuesday; at Ridge on Thursday; Hunterdon Central Tournament on Saturday.
2. Warren Hills (5-2) -- Blue Streaks keep piling up runs at an alarming rate, scoring a total of 43 in four wins this past week. After a 15-1 pasting of Hackettstown on Monday, coach Mike Quinto's club tallied 13 against Pingry and 12 in a win at Delaware Valley, coached by Warren Hills grad Marty White. The week closed with a 3-2 win over Moorestown at the annual Millburn Tournament on Saturday. Kyle Allen has wielded one of the may hot bats, with a double and three RBIs against Pingry. Allen improved to 3-0 on the mound with five K's in the win over Moorestown. Shea Kohler, who missed last season with an injury, went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs combined in the wins over Hackettstown and Pingry.
Up next for the Blue Streaks -- at North Hunterdon on Monday; at Franklin on Thursday; at Millburn Tournament on Saturday.
3. Pope John (4-2) -- Lions suffered their first losses on Saturday at the Pennsville Tournament -- a long way down the line from Sparta. Sam Redwood had a double and one RBI in a 12-11 loss to Holy Spirit, while Eder Rivera knocked in three runs in a 15-5 defeat against Seneca. Earlier last week, Pope John picked up a pair of NJAC American Division wins over Jefferson (9-7 on Wednesday) and High Point (14-9) on Friday. Shortstop Matt Tietz belted two homers against the Falcons, while Redwood plated four runs against the Wildcats.
Up next for the Lions -- at Sparta on Wednesday; Montville at home on Friday.
4. North Hunterdon (2-5) -- Lions make a major leap -- up six spots from last week after a 10-8 win over previous No. 3 Voorhees on Saturday. North was bolstered by the return of outfielder Derek Jenkins, who had two RBIs in the win. Tim Howard (1-1) earned the win on the mound and had a double and a triple at the plate. Earlier in the week, North gave a good account in a 6-5 loss to No. 1 Hunterdon Central. Alex Noboa went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the loss. We said it from the start, this team has too much talent and has rebounded nicely after an 0-3 start. North also beat Randolph (17-6 on Monday) and lost to Steinert (3-2 on Wednesday).
Up next for the Lions -- Warren Hills at home on Monday; Ridge at home on Tuesday; at Hillsborough on Thursday; Edison at home on Saturday.
5. Voorhees (3-3) -- Tough week for the Vikings. After a 13-3 waxing of Franklin on Tuesday, coach Spark Mattson's club dropped back-to-back games against Somerville (16-10 in eight innings) and North Hunterdon (10-8 on Saturday). Third baseman Tyler Duplaga certainly isn't slowing down -- going 4-for-10 with a double and an RBI in the last two games. He also doubled in a run against Franklin. Nick Marini went 7-for-9 with a double, triple and four RBIs in the Franklin and Somerville games. Matt Bonavita went 4-for-4 with two RBIs against Franklin.
Up next for the Vikings -- at Pingry on Tuesday; Delaware Valley at home on Thursday; North Warren at home on Saturday.
6. Phillipsburg (3-4) -- Stateliners took a tour of the Keystone State last week, with three games against Pennsylvania foes, starting with a 23-2 drubbing of Wilson on Monday. Anthony Ciavarella had a big week, including a double and an RBI against the Warriors. On Tuesday, he took the loss, despite 10 K's, in the 'Liners' 15-3 setback against Hunterdon Central. Mike Ciesla (1-1) got his first victory on the mound in a 5-1 victory over Pius X. Robert Howell had a triple and two RBIs in Saturday's 12-9 loss to Stroudsburg.
Up next for the Stateliners -- Notre Dame of Green Pond (Pa.) at home on Monday; at Watchung Hills on Tuesday; Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Thursday; at Easton (Pa.) on Saturday.
7. High Point (3-2) -- Wildcats had a short week with a 9-6 win over Morris Hills on Wednesday and a 14-9 loss to Pope John on Friday. Brett Fundell continues to rake, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs against Morris Hills, before a double and an RBI against PJ. Kevin Pettenger also was hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against the Knights before belting a homer against the Lions. Kyle Adams, who transferred from Pope John, got his second win on the mound against Morris Hills.
Up next for the Wildcats -- Kittatinny at home on Monday; at Montville on Wednesday; at Vernon on Friday; at Wallkill Valley on Saturday.
8. Delaware Valley (4-3) -- Terriers capped a 3-1 week with wins over Delran (9-4 on Friday) and South Hunterdon (8-4 on Saturday). The week began with a 6-5 win over Hopatcong. Tom Chiswick is on fire at the plate, going 2-for-4 against South and belting an RBI double in Friday's win. He was also 2-for-4 against Hopatcong. Chiswick also got the win on the mound with five K's against South. Dennis Martell was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs on Saturday. Ace Scott Scripko got the win and was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against Delran.
Up next for the Terriers -- North Plainfield at home on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Thursday.
9. Sparta (5-3) -- Spartans have really turned things around after a 1-3 start. Coach Sam Slobodzian's club picked up its fourth straight win, 15-4, over Park Ridge on Saturday, following a 14-2 pounding of Mount Olive in an NJAC American Division clash on Friday. Devon Livingston went 4-for-5 with two RBIs on Friday, while Codie Aromando went the distance with five K's to pick up his second win on Saturday. Big showdown with crosstown-rival Pope John this week.
Up next for the Spartans -- Pope John at home on Wednesday; Newton at home on Thursday; Jefferson at home on Friday.
10. Wallkill Valley (5-5) -- Rangers enter here for the first time this season, following an impressive 11-5 win over Lenape Valley on Friday. Coach Kevin Lukich's team went 3-1 last week, with wins over Morris Hills (8-6 on Monday) and Hackettstown (6-2 on Wednesday). Tommy Sweller had a huge week, going 2-for-3 with an RBI on Monday, followed by 2-for-3 games against Hackettstown and Lenape. Jake Konopka also stayed hot at the plate, going 5-for-9 in the wins over Hackettstown and Lenape. The win over Hackettstown snapped a six-game skid against the Tigers, in which Wallkill was 10-runned in five of those defeats.
Up next for the Rangers -- Newton at home on Wednesday; at Hopatcong on Friday; High Point at home on Saturday.
On the bubble -- Lenape Valley (4-3); Hopatcong (4-3); Kittatinny (4-2-1); North Warren (2-2).
Note: Jefferson was included in last week's rankings, but the Falcons, of course, are from Morris County. That's why they're not here this week.
(Records through April 15)
1. Hunterdon Central (5-0) -- The Red Devils enter the week as the area's lone unbeaten tea, following wins over Phillipsburg (15-3 on Tuesday) and North Hunterdon (6-5 on Thursday). The wins also pushed Central to 4-0 in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division. Evan Klimchak was 3-for-3 against North Hunterdon and Billy Maier (2-0) fanned six to earn the win. Geggie Russomagno had a double, homer and four RBIs against the Stateliners.
Up next for the Red Devils -- at Randolph on Tuesday; at Ridge on Thursday; Hunterdon Central Tournament on Saturday.
2. Warren Hills (5-2) -- Blue Streaks keep piling up runs at an alarming rate, scoring a total of 43 in four wins this past week. After a 15-1 pasting of Hackettstown on Monday, coach Mike Quinto's club tallied 13 against Pingry and 12 in a win at Delaware Valley, coached by Warren Hills grad Marty White. The week closed with a 3-2 win over Moorestown at the annual Millburn Tournament on Saturday. Kyle Allen has wielded one of the may hot bats, with a double and three RBIs against Pingry. Allen improved to 3-0 on the mound with five K's in the win over Moorestown. Shea Kohler, who missed last season with an injury, went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs combined in the wins over Hackettstown and Pingry.
Up next for the Blue Streaks -- at North Hunterdon on Monday; at Franklin on Thursday; at Millburn Tournament on Saturday.
3. Pope John (4-2) -- Lions suffered their first losses on Saturday at the Pennsville Tournament -- a long way down the line from Sparta. Sam Redwood had a double and one RBI in a 12-11 loss to Holy Spirit, while Eder Rivera knocked in three runs in a 15-5 defeat against Seneca. Earlier last week, Pope John picked up a pair of NJAC American Division wins over Jefferson (9-7 on Wednesday) and High Point (14-9) on Friday. Shortstop Matt Tietz belted two homers against the Falcons, while Redwood plated four runs against the Wildcats.
Up next for the Lions -- at Sparta on Wednesday; Montville at home on Friday.
4. North Hunterdon (2-5) -- Lions make a major leap -- up six spots from last week after a 10-8 win over previous No. 3 Voorhees on Saturday. North was bolstered by the return of outfielder Derek Jenkins, who had two RBIs in the win. Tim Howard (1-1) earned the win on the mound and had a double and a triple at the plate. Earlier in the week, North gave a good account in a 6-5 loss to No. 1 Hunterdon Central. Alex Noboa went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the loss. We said it from the start, this team has too much talent and has rebounded nicely after an 0-3 start. North also beat Randolph (17-6 on Monday) and lost to Steinert (3-2 on Wednesday).
Up next for the Lions -- Warren Hills at home on Monday; Ridge at home on Tuesday; at Hillsborough on Thursday; Edison at home on Saturday.
5. Voorhees (3-3) -- Tough week for the Vikings. After a 13-3 waxing of Franklin on Tuesday, coach Spark Mattson's club dropped back-to-back games against Somerville (16-10 in eight innings) and North Hunterdon (10-8 on Saturday). Third baseman Tyler Duplaga certainly isn't slowing down -- going 4-for-10 with a double and an RBI in the last two games. He also doubled in a run against Franklin. Nick Marini went 7-for-9 with a double, triple and four RBIs in the Franklin and Somerville games. Matt Bonavita went 4-for-4 with two RBIs against Franklin.
Up next for the Vikings -- at Pingry on Tuesday; Delaware Valley at home on Thursday; North Warren at home on Saturday.
6. Phillipsburg (3-4) -- Stateliners took a tour of the Keystone State last week, with three games against Pennsylvania foes, starting with a 23-2 drubbing of Wilson on Monday. Anthony Ciavarella had a big week, including a double and an RBI against the Warriors. On Tuesday, he took the loss, despite 10 K's, in the 'Liners' 15-3 setback against Hunterdon Central. Mike Ciesla (1-1) got his first victory on the mound in a 5-1 victory over Pius X. Robert Howell had a triple and two RBIs in Saturday's 12-9 loss to Stroudsburg.
Up next for the Stateliners -- Notre Dame of Green Pond (Pa.) at home on Monday; at Watchung Hills on Tuesday; Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Thursday; at Easton (Pa.) on Saturday.
7. High Point (3-2) -- Wildcats had a short week with a 9-6 win over Morris Hills on Wednesday and a 14-9 loss to Pope John on Friday. Brett Fundell continues to rake, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs against Morris Hills, before a double and an RBI against PJ. Kevin Pettenger also was hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against the Knights before belting a homer against the Lions. Kyle Adams, who transferred from Pope John, got his second win on the mound against Morris Hills.
Up next for the Wildcats -- Kittatinny at home on Monday; at Montville on Wednesday; at Vernon on Friday; at Wallkill Valley on Saturday.
8. Delaware Valley (4-3) -- Terriers capped a 3-1 week with wins over Delran (9-4 on Friday) and South Hunterdon (8-4 on Saturday). The week began with a 6-5 win over Hopatcong. Tom Chiswick is on fire at the plate, going 2-for-4 against South and belting an RBI double in Friday's win. He was also 2-for-4 against Hopatcong. Chiswick also got the win on the mound with five K's against South. Dennis Martell was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs on Saturday. Ace Scott Scripko got the win and was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI against Delran.
Up next for the Terriers -- North Plainfield at home on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Thursday.
9. Sparta (5-3) -- Spartans have really turned things around after a 1-3 start. Coach Sam Slobodzian's club picked up its fourth straight win, 15-4, over Park Ridge on Saturday, following a 14-2 pounding of Mount Olive in an NJAC American Division clash on Friday. Devon Livingston went 4-for-5 with two RBIs on Friday, while Codie Aromando went the distance with five K's to pick up his second win on Saturday. Big showdown with crosstown-rival Pope John this week.
Up next for the Spartans -- Pope John at home on Wednesday; Newton at home on Thursday; Jefferson at home on Friday.
10. Wallkill Valley (5-5) -- Rangers enter here for the first time this season, following an impressive 11-5 win over Lenape Valley on Friday. Coach Kevin Lukich's team went 3-1 last week, with wins over Morris Hills (8-6 on Monday) and Hackettstown (6-2 on Wednesday). Tommy Sweller had a huge week, going 2-for-3 with an RBI on Monday, followed by 2-for-3 games against Hackettstown and Lenape. Jake Konopka also stayed hot at the plate, going 5-for-9 in the wins over Hackettstown and Lenape. The win over Hackettstown snapped a six-game skid against the Tigers, in which Wallkill was 10-runned in five of those defeats.
Up next for the Rangers -- Newton at home on Wednesday; at Hopatcong on Friday; High Point at home on Saturday.
On the bubble -- Lenape Valley (4-3); Hopatcong (4-3); Kittatinny (4-2-1); North Warren (2-2).
Monday, April 9, 2012
Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings
Greetings high school baseball fans.
This is the season debut for our top 10 rankings. Teams in the tri-county area are eligible only. Check back here for a new edition on Mondays during the season.
(Records through April 8)
1. Hunterdon Central (3-0) -- Red Devils off to a flying start with quality wins over Edison (7-6 on April 5) and Watchung Hills (6-2 on April 7). Kenny Wilson and Evan Klimchak are pacing the offense early on. Wilson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs against Watchung, while Klimchak went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against Edison. On the mound, Pete Monahan is 2-0, fanning five in an opening day win over Montgomery.
Up next for the Red Devils: at Phillipsburg on Tuesday; North Huntedon at home on Thursday.
2. Warren Hills (1-2) -- Blue Streaks have dropped two in a row after a nice opening day win at home over No. 4 Voorhees, 6-5, on April 3. Coach Mike Quinto's club dropped a pair of 7-5 decisions to Somerville and most recently Red Bank on Saturday. Kyle Allen got the win on the mound against Voorhees, while Mark Apgar went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in the loss to Red Bank. Ryan Curto had four RBIs entering the week.
Up next for the Blue Streaks: at Hackettstown on Monday; Pingry at home on Tuesday; at Delaware Valley on Thursday; at Millburn Tournament on Saturday.
3. Voorhees (2-1) -- Vikings lost one of the best players in the area and school history to graduation, but third baseman Tyler Duplaga is filling the bill nicely early on. Through three games, Duplaga is .583 (7-for-12) with one double, three homers and four RBIs. On the mound, Duplaga is 1-0, beating Phillipsburg on Saturday. Catcher Josh Hausler also is hot early on with a homer and a team-high five RBIs.
Up next for the Vikings: Franklin at home on Tuesday; Somerville at home on Thursday; at North Hunterdon on Saturday.
4. Pope John (2-0) -- Lions out of the gate with a pair of wins, 6-5 over Mount Olive and 3-1 over Vernon. Coach Vin Bello's team has yet to play a highly-regarded team, though Rutgers-bound shortstop Matt Tietz is off to a fast start with a homer against the Vikings. Sam Redwood also off to a blazing start, going 3-for-3 against Vernon after belting two doubles with four RBIs in the opener.
Up next for the Lions: at Jefferson on Wednesday; at High Point on Friday; at Pennsville Tournament on Saturday.
5. Phillipsburg (1-2) -- Stateliners were blown out by Hillsborough and Voorhees, but notched a somewhat-surprising 10-1 win over a good Montgomery club. Anthony Ciavarella belted a triple and had five RBIs in the victory and Robert Howell allowed only two hits and struck out 14 for his first win on the mound. Those two are a potent combo on the hill and when they hurl, P'burg will have a chance to win.
Up next for the Stateliners: Wilson (Pa.) at home on Monday; Hunterdon Central at home on Tuesday; at Pius X (Pa.) on Friday; at Stroudsburg (Pa.) on Saturday.
6. Hopatcong (3-0) -- Chiefs are off to their best start in years with wins over Butler, Dover and Hackettstown, most recently on April 4. That 6-2 win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Tigers dating to 2010. Hopatcong's previous win in the series was 6-5 on April 9, 2009. Hunter Guard went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs and earned the win on the mound against the reigning NJAC Freedom Division champs. Matt Cautero tossed a complete game with eight K's in a win over Dover.
Up next for the Chiefs: at West Morris on Monday; at Delaware Valley on Tuesday; at Lenape Valley on Wednesday; Newton at home on Friday.
7. Jefferson (4-1) -- Coach Jason Kalish's Falcons are the surprise team through the first week of the season after a 6-14 campaign in 2011. Jefferson opened with an 8-0 win over Wallkill Valley and followed that with a 5-3 victory over NJAC American Division-rival High Point. On Saturday, ace Steve Cuccio struck out seven in a five-inning win over Belvidere, 13-2. Cuccio also has been on fire at the plate, belting two doubles and a homer with a pair of RBIs in the team's 15-5 win over Mount Olive.
Up next for the Falcons: at Newton on Monday; Pope John at home on Wednesday; at Montville on Friday; at Kinnelon on Saturday.
8. High Point (2-1) -- Wildcats made a statement in Sussex County with a 12-3 win over Sparta their last time on April 4. Brett Fundell has led the way both at the plate and on the hill, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs against the Spartans. Fundell also homered in a 5-3 loss to Jefferson. Ryan Conklin had four K's to earn the win over Sparta.
Up next for the Wildcats: Morris Hills at home on Wednesday; Pope John at home on Friday.
9. Delaware Valley (1-2) -- Coach Marty White's Terriers have been right there in three tough games to open the season, after a disappointing 2-18 season a year ago. Scott Scripko is off to a great start, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in a 6-5 loss to a pretty good Franklin team on April 5. Scripko followed that with a dominating effort on the mound, as he logged nine K's in the team's 6-3 win over Lenape Valley on Saturday. Tom Chiswick belted a homer and had three RBIs in the first three games.
Up next for the Terriers: Hopatcong at home on Tuesday; Warren Hills at home on Thursday; at Delran on Friday; South Hunterdon at home on Saturday.
10. North Hunterdon (0-3) -- Tough to put a winless team in here, but the Lions have played three very tough teams out of the chute. First-year coach Mike Kane's team gave a good account in a 7-6 loss to a good Watchung Hills club in the season opener. First baseman Ben Stine is off to a fast start with RBIs in two of the first three games. North is also missing star outfielder Derek Jenkins, who is out with indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Jenkins' return will certainly make this team better.
Up next for the Lions: at Randolph on Monday; Steinert at home on Wednesday; at Hunterdon Central on Thursday; Voorhees at home on Saturday.
On the bubble: Belvidere (2-1); Hackettstown (0-2); North Warren (1-1).
This is the season debut for our top 10 rankings. Teams in the tri-county area are eligible only. Check back here for a new edition on Mondays during the season.
(Records through April 8)
1. Hunterdon Central (3-0) -- Red Devils off to a flying start with quality wins over Edison (7-6 on April 5) and Watchung Hills (6-2 on April 7). Kenny Wilson and Evan Klimchak are pacing the offense early on. Wilson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs against Watchung, while Klimchak went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against Edison. On the mound, Pete Monahan is 2-0, fanning five in an opening day win over Montgomery.
Up next for the Red Devils: at Phillipsburg on Tuesday; North Huntedon at home on Thursday.
2. Warren Hills (1-2) -- Blue Streaks have dropped two in a row after a nice opening day win at home over No. 4 Voorhees, 6-5, on April 3. Coach Mike Quinto's club dropped a pair of 7-5 decisions to Somerville and most recently Red Bank on Saturday. Kyle Allen got the win on the mound against Voorhees, while Mark Apgar went 2-for-4 with a grand slam in the loss to Red Bank. Ryan Curto had four RBIs entering the week.
Up next for the Blue Streaks: at Hackettstown on Monday; Pingry at home on Tuesday; at Delaware Valley on Thursday; at Millburn Tournament on Saturday.
3. Voorhees (2-1) -- Vikings lost one of the best players in the area and school history to graduation, but third baseman Tyler Duplaga is filling the bill nicely early on. Through three games, Duplaga is .583 (7-for-12) with one double, three homers and four RBIs. On the mound, Duplaga is 1-0, beating Phillipsburg on Saturday. Catcher Josh Hausler also is hot early on with a homer and a team-high five RBIs.
Up next for the Vikings: Franklin at home on Tuesday; Somerville at home on Thursday; at North Hunterdon on Saturday.
4. Pope John (2-0) -- Lions out of the gate with a pair of wins, 6-5 over Mount Olive and 3-1 over Vernon. Coach Vin Bello's team has yet to play a highly-regarded team, though Rutgers-bound shortstop Matt Tietz is off to a fast start with a homer against the Vikings. Sam Redwood also off to a blazing start, going 3-for-3 against Vernon after belting two doubles with four RBIs in the opener.
Up next for the Lions: at Jefferson on Wednesday; at High Point on Friday; at Pennsville Tournament on Saturday.
5. Phillipsburg (1-2) -- Stateliners were blown out by Hillsborough and Voorhees, but notched a somewhat-surprising 10-1 win over a good Montgomery club. Anthony Ciavarella belted a triple and had five RBIs in the victory and Robert Howell allowed only two hits and struck out 14 for his first win on the mound. Those two are a potent combo on the hill and when they hurl, P'burg will have a chance to win.
Up next for the Stateliners: Wilson (Pa.) at home on Monday; Hunterdon Central at home on Tuesday; at Pius X (Pa.) on Friday; at Stroudsburg (Pa.) on Saturday.
6. Hopatcong (3-0) -- Chiefs are off to their best start in years with wins over Butler, Dover and Hackettstown, most recently on April 4. That 6-2 win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Tigers dating to 2010. Hopatcong's previous win in the series was 6-5 on April 9, 2009. Hunter Guard went 2-for-4 with a double, homer and three RBIs and earned the win on the mound against the reigning NJAC Freedom Division champs. Matt Cautero tossed a complete game with eight K's in a win over Dover.
Up next for the Chiefs: at West Morris on Monday; at Delaware Valley on Tuesday; at Lenape Valley on Wednesday; Newton at home on Friday.
7. Jefferson (4-1) -- Coach Jason Kalish's Falcons are the surprise team through the first week of the season after a 6-14 campaign in 2011. Jefferson opened with an 8-0 win over Wallkill Valley and followed that with a 5-3 victory over NJAC American Division-rival High Point. On Saturday, ace Steve Cuccio struck out seven in a five-inning win over Belvidere, 13-2. Cuccio also has been on fire at the plate, belting two doubles and a homer with a pair of RBIs in the team's 15-5 win over Mount Olive.
Up next for the Falcons: at Newton on Monday; Pope John at home on Wednesday; at Montville on Friday; at Kinnelon on Saturday.
8. High Point (2-1) -- Wildcats made a statement in Sussex County with a 12-3 win over Sparta their last time on April 4. Brett Fundell has led the way both at the plate and on the hill, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs against the Spartans. Fundell also homered in a 5-3 loss to Jefferson. Ryan Conklin had four K's to earn the win over Sparta.
Up next for the Wildcats: Morris Hills at home on Wednesday; Pope John at home on Friday.
9. Delaware Valley (1-2) -- Coach Marty White's Terriers have been right there in three tough games to open the season, after a disappointing 2-18 season a year ago. Scott Scripko is off to a great start, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in a 6-5 loss to a pretty good Franklin team on April 5. Scripko followed that with a dominating effort on the mound, as he logged nine K's in the team's 6-3 win over Lenape Valley on Saturday. Tom Chiswick belted a homer and had three RBIs in the first three games.
Up next for the Terriers: Hopatcong at home on Tuesday; Warren Hills at home on Thursday; at Delran on Friday; South Hunterdon at home on Saturday.
10. North Hunterdon (0-3) -- Tough to put a winless team in here, but the Lions have played three very tough teams out of the chute. First-year coach Mike Kane's team gave a good account in a 7-6 loss to a good Watchung Hills club in the season opener. First baseman Ben Stine is off to a fast start with RBIs in two of the first three games. North is also missing star outfielder Derek Jenkins, who is out with indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Jenkins' return will certainly make this team better.
Up next for the Lions: at Randolph on Monday; Steinert at home on Wednesday; at Hunterdon Central on Thursday; Voorhees at home on Saturday.
On the bubble: Belvidere (2-1); Hackettstown (0-2); North Warren (1-1).
Monday, April 2, 2012
Wrestling: NJAC alignments for 2012 through '14
Here are the divisional alignments for the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. This setup runs through the 2013-14 school year.
North Warren jumps from the Skyland Conference to the NJAC this fall. The Patriots join fellow Warren County school Hackettstown, which left the Skyland following the 2008-09 school year.
Jefferson, previously housed in the American Division, joins the Freedom to reunite with five of its former Sussex County Interscholastic League rivals. Morris Knolls shifts from the National to the American Division.
Freedom Division
Hackettstown
Hopatcong
Jefferson
Kittatinny
Lenape Valley
Newton
North Warren
Wallkill Valley
American Division
High Point
Montville
Morris Hills
Morris Knolls
Mount Olive
Pope John
Sparta
Vernon
National Division
Chatham
Delbarton
Mendham
Morristown
Parsippany Hills
Randolph
Roxbury
West Morris
Independence Division
Boonton
Butler
Kinnelon
Morris Catholic
Mountain Lakes
Pequannock
Liberty Division
Dover
Hanover Park
Madison
Parsippany
Whippany Park
North Warren jumps from the Skyland Conference to the NJAC this fall. The Patriots join fellow Warren County school Hackettstown, which left the Skyland following the 2008-09 school year.
Jefferson, previously housed in the American Division, joins the Freedom to reunite with five of its former Sussex County Interscholastic League rivals. Morris Knolls shifts from the National to the American Division.
Freedom Division
Hackettstown
Hopatcong
Jefferson
Kittatinny
Lenape Valley
Newton
North Warren
Wallkill Valley
American Division
High Point
Montville
Morris Hills
Morris Knolls
Mount Olive
Pope John
Sparta
Vernon
National Division
Chatham
Delbarton
Mendham
Morristown
Parsippany Hills
Randolph
Roxbury
West Morris
Independence Division
Boonton
Butler
Kinnelon
Morris Catholic
Mountain Lakes
Pequannock
Liberty Division
Dover
Hanover Park
Madison
Parsippany
Whippany Park
Wrestling: New Skyland Conference alignment
Here is the Skyland Conference divisional alignment for the next two seasons starting in 2012-13.
North Warren is heading to the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference this fall, so its departure leaves 19 wrestling schools in the Skyland.
Delaware Division
Bridgewater-Raritan
Franklin
Hillsborough
Hunterdon Central
Ridge
Watchung Hills
Raritan Division
Delaware Valley
Montgomery
North Hunterdon
Phillipsburg
Somerville
Voorhees
Warren Hills
Valley Division
Belvidere
Bernards
Bound Brook
Manville
North Plainfield
Pingry
North Warren is heading to the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference this fall, so its departure leaves 19 wrestling schools in the Skyland.
Delaware Division
Bridgewater-Raritan
Franklin
Hillsborough
Hunterdon Central
Ridge
Watchung Hills
Raritan Division
Delaware Valley
Montgomery
North Hunterdon
Phillipsburg
Somerville
Voorhees
Warren Hills
Valley Division
Belvidere
Bernards
Bound Brook
Manville
North Plainfield
Pingry
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