Wrestling: P'burg adds Beast, loses Paulsboro

Even during the spring, there's always a buzz surrounding Phillipsburg's wrestling program.

On Tuesday, Joe Kopesky's popular wrestling web site revealed the Stateliners' tentative schedule for the 2014-15 season. It seems that was indeed a very tentative schedule.

Open Mike learned on Wednesday after speaking with P'burg coach Dave Post that several matches were missing from that list and one annual match won't happen at all.

Apparently, Phillipsburg's longstanding rivalry with South Jersey power Paulsboro is over -- at least for next season.

In the wake of the picture controversy that depicted P'burg wrestlers surrounding a wrestling dummy hanging by a rope and clad in a Paulsboro T-shirt, Post said he was informed last week by Raiders coach Paul Morina that his school district will not let the team compete against the Stateliners.

Since 1999, P'burg and Paulsboro have met all but one season (2010) with the 'Liners, trailing, 8-7, in the all-time series. P'burg has won the last three meetings, including a 38-21 victory at The Pit this past season.

Post also said matches with Raritan and Roxbury are likely to be added pending agreeable dates with those schools. Also, standing engagements with Northampton (Pa.) and Howell will return on this year's schedule.

"Northampton will be the first Saturday in January [the 3rd] and Howell will be our [dual] opener away on Dec. 23," Post said. "We just need confirmation on the dates."

By far the biggest addition to the schedule was the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament, slated to be held opening weekend in New Jersey on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Bob Carpenter Center on the campus of the University of Delaware.

As it also did in 2008, P'burg competed in the Reno Tournament of Champions to open this past season. But a return trip to that event was nixed, mainly due to financial reasons.

"Going out to Reno was a lot -- the fundraising is difficult," Post said. "The traveling was crazy. And our kids had a hard time adjusting to the altitude. In P'burg it's about 190-200 feet [above sea level]. In Reno, it's 4,500 feet elevation. The Beast is close and we should have a decent team coming back."

P'burg was hoping to return to the King of the Mountain Tournament in Pennsylvania, but regrettably the dates for that event -- for the second straight year -- are scheduled before New Jersey opens its season.

"I love that tournament," Post said. "That tournament has everything we want. Next year [2015-16], Thanksgiving is as late as it can be and we can get back there."

In all, Phillipsburg will have approximately 14 dual meets (at least eight at home) to go with three tournaments -- Beast of the East, Bethlehem Holiday Classic and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex. As is the norm, the dual meet portion features some of the top programs in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"We try to keep it balanced [the number of home and away matches], but everyone wants to wrestle us in The Pit," Post said. "[West Morris coach Ken] Rossi said he will come here every year."

Coming to The Pit for independent matches are -- High Point, Kittatinny and West Morris along with Pennsylvania powers Easton and Parkland.

Last season, Phillipsburg (18-0) completed it first campaign with zero losses since the 1969-70 squad capped a run of three straight unbeaten seasons under legendary coach Thad Turner. The 'Liners capped their perfect season with a 32-21 victory over Southern to capture the program's 18 state title.

"We won't have too many opportunities to sit kids," Post said. "Not that you want easier matches, but we have two big tournaments and match counts become an issue. We don't want to sit kids in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex if we don't have to. I like our schedule. It's going to be a heckuva challenge for the kids. But that second weekend of February after you win a Group 4 title, it will all be worth it."

Due to Skyland Conference matches now being held mainly on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Post said the traditional Thursday date with Easton was made impossible. The Red Rovers will come to town on Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Stateliners scored a 36-20 win over the Rovers this past season -- just the 15th in 77 meetings and P'burg's first in an Easton gym since 1988. The series, which began in 1947, switched from home-and-home to a neutral site at Lafayette College from 1989 to 2003.

Many P'burg fans have longed for the renewal of a series with Nazareth (Pa.). Post said getting a mutual date is complicated by the Blue Eagles' involvement in the annual District 11 Duals across the Delaware River. 

"They can't wrestle us after the [New Jersey state cutoff] and we didn't want to do it before because we have to be careful about getting our 70 percent [of in-state matches]," Post said. "That would give us four Pennsylvania teams. With the 10-match rule [schools must have 10 by the cutoff], if you get snowed out, you're scrambling and you have Howell [last year] driving up here in six inches of snow so we could get it in." 

With the realignment of the Skyland Conference for 2014-16, the seven-team Raritan Division will have a new look with the addition of Bound Brook, which moves over from the Valley Division. The Crusaders, winners of the last three Group 1 titles, will come to The Pit on Jan. 21.

Delaware Valley, Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Voorhees and Warren Hills are the other schools in the Raritan Division for wrestling.

With an overall record of 888-259-7, Phillipsburg will enter its 67th season just 12 wins shy of 900. Only Paulsboro, which is 1,067-86-12 in 71 seasons, has more dual victories as a program.

Phillipsburg's schedule for 2014-15 (tentative)

Note: Does not include dates with Raritan and Roxbury the week of Feb. 2

Dec. 20-21 -- at Beast of the East Tournament in Newark, Del.
Dec. 23 -- at Howell
Dec. 28-29 -- at Bethlehem (Pa.) Holiday Classic (Liberty High School)
Jan. 2 -- West Morris
Jan. 3 -- Northampton (Pa.)
Jan. 5 -- at North Hunterdon
Jan. 7 -- Kittatinny
Jan. 9-10 -- Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament (at Hopatcong)
Jan. 14 -- at Delaware Valley
Jan. 16 -- at Voorhees
Jan. 17 -- Easton (Pa.)
Jan. 21 -- Bound Brook
Jan. 23 -- Parkland (Pa.)
Jan. 24 -- High Point
Jan. 28 -- Hunterdon Central
Jan. 29 -- Warren Hills
Feb. 11 -- Sectional semifinals
Feb. 13 -- Sectional finals
Feb. 15 -- Group championships at Toms River North
Feb. 20-21 -- District 1 Tournament at Mount Olive
Feb. 25, 27-28 -- Region 1 Tournament at Wallkill Valley
March 6-8 -- State Tournament at Atlantic City

Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex standings

   (Through Tuesday's games)

Skyland Conference
Delaware Division
		Overall	Division
Hunterdon Central		(13-2)	(7-2)
North Hunterdon		(11-7)	(6-3)
Bridgewater-Raritan		(10-4)	(4-3)
Hillsborough		(6-4)	(4-3)
Watchung Hills		(8-8)	(4-5)
Immaculata		(6-8)	(4-5)
Montgomery		(4-11)	(3-5)
Phillipsburg		(3-12)	(1-7)
Raritan Division
		Overall	Division
Ridge		(13-1)	(7-0)
Somerville		(9-6)	(5-2)
Warren Hills		(9-6)	(5-2)
Delaware Valley		(6-5)	(3-4)
Franklin		(3-9)	(1-6)
Voorhees		(0-11)	(0-7)
Valley Division
		Overall	Division
Bernards		(11-1)	(8-0)
Belvidere		(8-5)	(5-3)
Pingry		(5-6)	(4-3)
South Hunterdon		(4-6)	(4-3)
Gill St. Bernard's		(7-9)	(5-4)
North Plainfield		(4-7)	(3-6)
Bound Brook		(3-8)	(2-6)
Manville		(2-7)	(0-6)
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Freedom Division
		Overall	Division
Lenape Valley		(9-2)	(8-0)
Jefferson		(9-7)	(5-3)
Wallkill Valley		(7-4)	(5-3)
Hackettstown		(6-5)	(4-4)
Newton		(7-5)	(3-4)
North Warren		(5-5)	(3-4)
Kittatinny		(3-7)	(2-5)
Hopatcong		(2-12)	(0-7)
American Division
		Overall	Division
Sparta		(10-4)	(7-1)
Pope John		(8-4)	(5-2)
Mount Olive		(9-6)	(5-3)
Montville		(10-4-1)	(4-3-1)
High Point		(3-6-1)	(2-3-1)
Morris Knolls		(5-10)	(3-5)
Morris Hills		(5-10)	(2-5)
Vernon		(3-8)	(0-6)
Independence Division
		Overall	Division
Morris Catholic		(8-5)	(6-0)
Mountain Lakes		(8-4)	(5-2)
Kinnelon		(8-6)	(5-2)
Butler		(7-9)	(4-4)
Pequannock		(8-6)	(3-4)
Boonton		(3-10)	(1-6)
Sussex Tech		(3-11)	(0-6)

Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex rankings

Welcome to the wild and wacky world of high school baseball in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

Among last week's head-scratching results was High Point's 12-8 win over previous No. 1 Pope John, while Phillipsburg posted a 9-6 win at Warren Hills on Monday to bounce the Blue Streaks out of the rankings. The Stateliners are 3-12 and had just ended a seven-game skid with a 17-2 win over Sussex Tech last Wednesday.

It's been that kind of season, folks. Don't even get us started on the NJAC.

Sparta loses to Newton, 7-6, then beats Pope John, 2-1. Speaking of Newton, coach John Selitto's Braves have seemed to get it together after a 2-4 start. Monday's 4-2 win over Delaware Valley may be the one that gets them going moving forward.

"We're just getting back to basics [at the plate]," said left fielder Justin Smith, who drove in the go-ahead runs with a single in a three-run sixth that erased Del Val's 2-1 lead.

"We're just not letting the game come to us some times," Selitto said. "I was happy for Justin. He works as hard as anyone on the team."

Wallkill Valley, which was 1-4 to start the season, has suddenly won six in a row, including Monday's 7-3 win at Hackettstown in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex contest. That sets up an All-Sussex quarterfinal clash with Vernon, a No. 10 seed, which advanced by beating Lenape Valley, 5-1, on Saturday.

Sussex County is making a strong showing in the tri-county tournament with five teams in the quarters for the second straight year. From 2010-12, the county put a combined total of six teams in the Round of 8.

Now onto this week's set of what have become very fluid rankings:

1. Hunterdon Central (13-1) -- Red Devils are the hottest team around right now as they enter the week riding a 12-game winning streak following a 4-0 week, capped by Saturday's 5-0 victory over High Point in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament contest. Winning pitcher Pat Clare improved to 4-1 by tossing a seven-inning no-hitter with four strikeouts. Mike Pfenninger went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Matt Toke was 2-for-3 with a double. Pfenninger has been red-hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in a 15-10 slugfest with Watchung Hills last Thursday in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash. Coach Mike Raymond's club also hammered Bridgewater, 11-1, in a battle of division title contenders.

Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Tuesday; Immaculata at home on Thursday; Sparta at home on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

2. North Hunterdon (10-7) -- Lions continued their roller coaster ride by winning four in a row until Monday's 5-3 loss to Steinert. Coach Mike Kane's team opened last week with a 1-0 loss to Ridge before reeling off four straight wins, including a 13-4 pasting of Bridgewater last Thursday in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division showdown. Shayne Fontana belted a two-run homer and Marc Monks hit a solo shot, while Tom Schumacher also went deep and had five RBIs. Schumacher continued his torrid hitting by going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and an RBI in Saturday's 7-0 win over Belvidere in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex contest. Later that day, Schumacher hit a two-run homer in 10-8 win over Memorial (N.Y.).

Up next: at Hunterdon Central on Tuesday; at Montgomery on Thursday; Newton at home on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

3. Sparta (10-4) -- Spartans are on the rise having won five of their last six, including four in a row with Monday's 5-1 victory over North Warren in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex clash. Coach Sam Slobodzian's teams have reached the quarterfinals every season in the tourney's five-year history. Matt Chemis went 2-for-4 and Thomas Ruddy was 2-for-4 in the win, while Dillon Mendel finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Chemis also had a pair of hits in first-place Sparta's 10-0 win over Morris Knolls last Friday in a Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference American Division matchup. Last Wednesday, Mendel belted an RBI triple and Kevin Foulds fanned five for the win in a 2-1 victory over Pope John.

Up next: at Vernon on Tuesday; Morris Hills at home on Thursday; Watchung Hills at home on Friday; at Hunterdon Central on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

4. Pope John (8-4) -- Lions fall a couple of spots following a 2-1 loss to Sparta last Wednesday and a stunning 12-8 loss at unranked High Point on Thursday after opening the week with a 13-2 loss to Roxbury. Coach Vin Bello's team, which last lost three of four, snapped a three-game skid with Saturday's 3-1 win over Phillipsburg. Ethan Collins, PJ's No. 2 on the mound, had a nice week at the plate -- with a triple and two RBIs vs. Roxbury and going 2-for-4 with an RBI vs. High Point. Ace Dan Cunico (4-1) went 1-1 on the hill, taking the loss against Roxbury and striking out six to beat P'burg. Zach Leach went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs against High Point.

Up next: at Morris Hills on Tuesday; Montville at home on Thursday; at Mount Olive on Friday; Warren Hills at home on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

5. Lenape Valley (9-2) -- Patriots suffered their first two losses last week -- 8-7 at Mount Olive on Monday and 5-1 at home against Vernon on Saturday in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex contest. In between, coach Bob Klinck's club posted wins over Kittatinny (14-1 on Thursday) and Jefferson (2-1 on Friday) to stay atop the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division standings. Ace Jim Fluke ran his record to 5-0 with nine strikeouts against a young and talented Jefferson squad, which knocked off Sparta earlier in the week. Fluke has 47 K's in his five victories. Pat Togno continued to swing a red-hot bat by going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs vs. Kittatinny.

Up next: North Warren at home on Tuesday; at Newton on Thursday; at North Plainfield on Saturday.

6. Vernon (3-8) -- Don't be fooled by their record, the Vikings have shown themselves to be a dangerous club this season as evidenced by Saturday's 5-1 win over Lenape Valley in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex upset. Coach Scott Berge's Vikes, a No. 10 seed, advance to the quarterfinals for the second straight season -- winning just one HWS game the first three years of the tourney -- after making a Cinderella run to the final last year as a No. 6 seed. Center fielder Chris Pontus is on fire at the plate -- going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs vs. Lenape, while ace Anthony Germinario (3-1) struck out 10 for the win. Germinario and Mike Harboy each went 2-for-4 in that one. Pontus went 3-for-4 with a double in last Thursday's 10-1 loss to Morris Knolls.

Up next: Sparta at home on Tuesday; at Montville on Wednesday; at High Point on Thursday; at Wallkill Valley on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

7. Wallkill Valley (7-4) -- Break up the Rangers, who won their sixth straight game with Monday's 7-3 victory at Hackettstown in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex showdown at Art Dimiceli Field. Sean Endres went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Rich Stecher was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Winning pitcher Joe Colosimo got his first win with four strikeouts. Colosimo had a big week offensively with two RBIs in a 5-4 win over North Warren last Monday and a 2-for-3 day with a double and an RBI in the team's 16-6 win over High Point last Tuesday. Shortstop Kyle Rosencranz went 4-for-4 with a double in the Rangers' 6-4 win over Newton last Thursday.

Up next: at Kittatinny on Tuesday; Hopatcong at home on Thursday; Vernon at home on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

8. Newton (7-5) -- Braves have turned things around after a 2-4 start, winning five of their last six including Monday's 4-2 come-from-behind win against Delaware Valley in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex showdown at Memory Park. Left fielder Justin Smith delivered the go-ahead RBIs with a single and later scored on a passed ball to cap a three-run sixth inning. Ace Nick Grant (3-0) had eight strikeouts. Coach John Selitto's team went 1-1 in Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division games -- beating North Warren, 16-4, last Wednesday before a 6-4 loss to red-hot Wallkill Valley on Thursday. Smith was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base vs. North Warren and was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three steals vs. Wallkill. In his last five games, Smith went 8-for-20 (.400) with seven RBIs and six steals.

Up next: at Hackettstown on Tuesday; Lenape Valley at home on Thursday; at North Hunterdon on Saturday in HWS quarterfinals.

9. Delaware Valley (6-5) -- Terriers dropped a heartbreaker on Monday -- 4-2 to Newton in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex clash at Memory Park. Coach Marty White's team took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but ace pitcher Logan Brown labored in a three-run frame. Brown struck out eight in taking his first loss of the season. Third baseman Joe Chiarino went 2-for-3, including an RBI single in the first. Jake Brogan and Adam Novotny drove in runs to support winning pitcher Chris Fiaschetti, who had eight strikeouts, in a 3-0 win over Voorhees last Tuesday in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash.

Up next: at Franklin on Tuesday; at Warren Hills on Thursday; Hopatcong at home on Friday.

10. North Warren (5-5) -- Patriots are hanging on here after dropping their fourth straight -- 5-1 at Sparta on Monday in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex contest. John Vuz had an RBI double in a 5-4 loss at Wallkill Valley last Monday and had a double and three RBIs in last Thursday's 10-7 loss at Jefferson in a pair of Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division matchups.

Up next: at Lenape Valley on Tuesday; Kittatinny at home on Thursday.

On the bubble: Hackettstown (6-5); Warren Hills (9-6)

Baseball: Braves, Rangers, Spartans advance in HWS

NEWTON -- With one swing, Justin Smith salvaged his personal day at the plate and erased a game's worth of missed opportunities for the Newton Braves.

Smith's single scored the tying and go-ahead runs as the Braves rallied for a three-run sixth inning in posting a 4-2 win over Delaware Valley in a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament contest on Monday at Memory Park.

Newton (7-5), the No. 4 seed on the Sussex side of the bracket, will play at No. 1 North Hunterdon in Saturday's quarterfinal round. The Braves are now 3-4 all-time in HWS games and have never been past the quarters in the tournament's five-year history -- dropping a 6-2 decision to Vernon in their first Round of 8 appearance a year ago. Pope John (2011) is the only Sussex school to win a county title.

"It would be good to go far in this tournament -- it's one of our main goals," said Smith, who finished 1-for-3 after striking out twice and popping up into a double play. "We are trying not only to establish Newton [in the HWS] but Sussex County as well."

Smith's hard shot through Del Val shortstop Chris Fiaschetti put Newton up by one run before the speedy left fielder raced home on a passed ball to cap the three-run sixth. All three runs crossed with two outs.

Newton catcher Charlie Grotyohann started the inning with a grounder that took a bounce and handcuffed second baseman Nick Perna for a single. After Joe Maker's successful sacrifice bunt, Steve Kelly grounded out to third, but Grotyohann did not advance on the out. With two down, No. 9 hitter Casey Thomas lined one off Del Val pitcher Logan Brown's leg for an infield hit, putting runners on first and third before Thomas stole second.

Smith, then stepped to the plate and delivered with his only hit of the game. Grotyohann scored easily as the ball kicked into center field and Thomas slid in safely to give Newton its first lead. Smith made a heads-up play by advancing all the way to third as Del Val lapsed by not backing up the throw to the plate.

"I was just trying to hit it up the middle and at least tie it up," said Smith, who is 8-for-20 (.400) with seven RBIs and six stolen bases in his last five games. "We didn't expect there to be many runs. Both pitchers had nice games."

It certainly was quite the pitchers' duel for the first five innings -- a battle of aces with Newton lefty Nick Grant and Del Val's Logan Brown, a tall and lanky right-hander.

Brown, who suffered his first loss in four decisions, had a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth and had worked in and out of trouble in three of the previous five frames. Newton stranded five runners in the first two innings -- leaving the bases loaded in the second -- and had the leadoff batter on in four of the six. Yet, coach John Selitto's team could not get a timely hit -- until Smith came through.

"The first four or five innings summed up our whole season," said Selitto, whose Braves have won five of their last six since a 2-4 start. "We haven't gotten the big hit, and you can see the guys are squeezing the bat too hard. We've been going over situational hitting a lot, but now it's to the point where we are saying to just go up there and swing, and try to hit it hard somewhere. Hopefully, this is the one that gets us going."

Delaware Valley (6-5) struck for a pair of early runs off Grant (3-0), who matched Brown with eight strikeouts. Frank McHugh drew a one-out walk in the first before moving to second on a groundout. With two out, cleanup hitter Joe Chiarino's bloop single to center gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead.

In the third, designated hitter Devin Merritt drew a leadoff walk and stole second after Brown popped up to Grant on a bunt attempt for the first out. After Fiaschetti struck out looking, McHugh's hard ground ball to shortstop was booted and the visitors had a 2-0 lead.

Grant settled in after that, allowing just three singles and four walks. Only one of the runs he allowed was earned. The lefty retired nine of the last 11 batters, yielding just a walk and a single from the fifth inning on.

"Nick wasn't great the first two innings, he was struggling with his command a little bit," Selitto said. "He kind of put the game on his shoulders the last three innings. That's what you expect your ace to do."

After a quick start, coach Marty White's club managed just three hits on the day and only had four baserunners over the final four innings -- two walks and two singles.

"You have to be able to get hits. We started out better than we finished and you're supposed to see the pitcher better as the game goes on," said White, whose Terriers had won four of their last six coming in.

Del Val's defense didn't help its pitcher by committing three errors -- one of which led to Newton's first run in the third. Ben Cramer belted a leadoff double to the left-center-field gap -- the only extra-base hit of the game -- and moved to third on a passed ball. After Grant walked, Brown got Jon Bernotas to pop up to first in foul territory. Travis Scharffenberger squeezed it for the out, but then he made an ill-advised throw to the plate that bounced past catcher Mike Pilone and allowed Cramer, who was maybe a quarter of the way down the line on the throw, to score to make it 2-1.

The Terriers also committed two errors in the second inning -- an errant flip to first after a grounder to second and a booted grounder to first that allowed the first two batters to reach and eventually load the bases -- but Brown pitched out of it.

"Those are plays we should make," White said. "They got a tack on run [on the passed ball] because we didn't back up the play. It was mental mistakes. [Brown] kind of scattered the hits and he was missing with his curve down low, but we have to make some plays on defense."

DELAWARE VALLEY (ab-r-h-rbi) -- Fiaschetti ss 2-0-0-0, McHugh cf 2-1-0-0, Perna 2b 3-0-0-0, Chiarino 3b 3-0-2-1, Pilone c 3-0-0-0, Adam Novotny rf 2-0-1-0, Jake Brogan lf 3-0-0-0, Merritt dh/Scharffenberger 1b 2-1-0-0, Brown p 2-0-0-0, Billy Osmun ph 1-0-0-0. Totals: 23-2-3-1.

NEWTON (ab-r-h-rbi) -- Smith lf 3-1-1-2, Anthony Brown 2b 4-0-1-0, Cramer cf 3-1-2-0, Grant p 2-0-1-0, Bobby Fehr cr 0-0-0-0, Bernotas ss 3-0-0-0, Grotyohann c 3-1-1-0, Maker 3b 2-0-0-0, Kelly 1b 3-0-0-0, Thomas rf 2-1-2-0. Totals: 25-4-8-2.

                                         123       456      7     R   H  E

Delaware Valley (6-5)       101       000      0  --  2   3   3

Newton (7-5)                     001       003      x  --  4   8   1

E -- Scharfenberger 2, Perna; Bernotas. DP -- Delaware Valley 1 (Scharfenberger-Brown, 4th). LOB -- Delaware Valley 4, Newton 7. 2B -- Cramer. SB -- Merritt; Thomas. CS -- Chiarino, McHugh. Sac -- Maker.

Brown and Pilone; Grant and Grotyohann. W -- Grant (3-0). L -- Brown (3-1). SO-BB -- Brown 8-2; Grant 8-4. WP -- Brown. PB -- Pilone 2.

Elsewhere on Monday:

Sparta 5, North Warren 1 -- Thomas Ruddy and Matt Chemis each went 2-for-4, while winning pitcher Gordy Bonker tossed a five-hitter in leading the third-seeded Spartans past the sixth-seeded Patriots. Dillon Mendel also went 2-for-3 with an RBI as Sparta (10-4) advanced to play second-seeded Hunterdon Central in the quarterfinals. Coach Sam Slobodzian's teams are now 8-4 all-time in HWS games and have reached the quarters every year since the tournament's inception in 2010. North Warren (5-5) is now 4-5 overall in county games.

Wallkill Valley 7, Hackettstown 3 -- Nick McWilliams went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Sean Endres was 2-for-3 with an RBIs as the sixth-seeded Rangers, who have won six straight, used a four-run sixth inning to knock off the third-seeded Tigers for the second time in 14 days. Endres and Kyle Rosencranz had doubles, as did Rich Stecher, who hit a pair in finishing 3-for-3 with two runs scored for Wallkill (7-4), which will host 10th-seeded Vernon in the quarterfinals. Wes Walton also had two hits and two RBIs, while Joe Colosimo (1-1) went the distance on the mound with four strikeouts. Jonathan Pezzato hit a two-run homer for the Tigers (6-5).

Saturday's quarterfinal matchups

A-Hunterdon-Warren
B-Sussex

4B-Newton at 1A-North Hunterdon
10B-Vernon at 6B-Wallkill Valley
4A-Warren Hills at 1B-Pope John
3B-Sparta at 2A-Hunterdon Central

Baseball: HWS weekly schedule April 28 to May 3

Monday, April 28

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament 

(First round)

Delaware Valley at Newton
Wallkill Valley at Hackettstown
North Warren at Sparta

Skyland Conference

Phillipsburg at Warren Hills, 3:45 p.m.

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Sussex Tech at Hopatcong

Independent

Steinert at North Hunterdon, 6 p.m.

Pius X (Pa.) at Belvidere

Blair Academy at North Warren (ppd, TBA)

Tuesday, April 29

(All games 3:45 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at Somerville (ppd, TBA)

South Hunterdon at Bernards (ppd., TBA)

Hillsborough at Phillipsburg (ppd, TBA)

North Hunterdon at Hunterdon Central

Delaware Valley at Franklin (ppd. to 5/5)

Belvidere at Gill St. Bernard’s 

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Jefferson at Hopatcong, 4 p.m. (ppd., TBA)

High Point at Morris Knolls, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/5) 

Wallkill Valley at Kittatinny, 4 p.m. 

North Warren at Lenape Valley, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/2)

Newton at Hackettstown, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/2)

Pope John at Morris Hills, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/7)

Sparta at Vernon, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/8)

Independent

Sussex Tech at Morris Tech, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, April 30

(All games 4 p.m.)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at Mount Olive (ppd., TBA)
Vernon at Montville (ppd. to 5/13)

Thursday, May 1

(All games 3:45 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Delaware Valley at Warren Hills (ppd., TBA)

Franklin at Voorhees (ppd., TBA)

North Plainfield at South Hunterdon (ppd. to 5/10)

Phillipsburg at Watchung Hills (ppd., TBA)

North Hunterdon at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Immaculata vs. Hunterdon Central (at Diamond Nation)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Vernon at High Point, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/9)

Kittatinny at North Warren, 4 p.m. (ppd., TBA)

Lenape Valley at Newton, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/4 at 1 p.m.)

Montville at Pope John, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/8)

Hopatcong at Wallkill Valley, 4 p.m. (ppd. to 5/9)

Independent

Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (Pa.) at Belvidere, 4 p.m.

Passaic Tech at Sussex Tech in NJTAC Tournament

Friday, May 2

(All games 4 p.m., unless noted)

Independent

Vernon at Delaware Valley

Mountain Lakes at Sussex Tech

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Pope John at Mount Olive
Newton at Hackettstown
Morris Hills at Sparta

Saturday, May 3

(All games 2 p.m. unless noted)

Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament

Quarterfinals

Newton at North Hunterdon
Vernon at Wallkill Valley
Warren Hills at Pope John, 2:30 p.m.

Sparta at Hunterdon Central, 3:45 p.m.

Skyland Conference

Warren Hills vs. Ridge at TD Bank Ballpark in Somerset, 7 p.m.

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at Jefferson, 2:30 p.m.
Morris Hills at High Point, 3:30 p.m.
North Warren at Kittatinny

Independent

Princeton Day at South Hunterdon

Lenape Valley at North Plainfield, 3 p.m.

Newton at Blair Academy, 3 p.m. (ppd, TBA)

Sunday, May 4

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Lenape Valley at Newton, 1 p.m.

Baseball: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex standings

   (Through Wednesday's games)

Skyland Conference
Delaware Division
		Overall	Division
Hunterdon Central		(11-1)	(6-1)
Bridgewater-Raritan		(7-3)	(4-2)
Hillsborough		(5-3)	(4-2)
North Hunterdon		(7-6)	(4-3)
Immaculata		(4-6)	(3-4)
Watchung Hills		(5-7)	(3-4)
Montgomery		(3-7)	(2-5)
Phillipsburg		(1-10)	(1-6)
Raritan Division
		Overall	Division
Ridge		(10-1)	(6-0)
Warren Hills		(7-5)	(4-2)
Somerville		(6-3)	(4-2)
Delaware Valley		(6-3)	(3-3)
Franklin		(3-6)	(1-5)
Voorhees		(0-9)	(0-6)
Valley Division
		Overall	Division
Bernards		(9-1)	(7-0)
Gill St. Bernard's		(5-6)	(5-2)
Belvidere		(5-3)	(3-3)
Pingry		(4-3)	(3-3)
South Hunterdon		(3-5)	(3-3)
North Plainfield		(4-5)	(3-4)
Bound Brook		(1-7)	(1-5)
Manville		(2-6)	(0-5)
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Freedom Division
		Overall	Division
Lenape Valley		(7-1)	(6-0)
Jefferson		(7-5)	(4-2)
North Warren		(5-2)	(3-2)
Wallkill Valley		(5-4)	(4-3)
Hackettstown		(5-4)	(3-4)
Newton		(4-4)	(2-3)
Kittatinny		(3-4)	(2-4)
Hopatcong		(1-9)	(0-6)
American Division
		Overall	Division
Pope John		(7-2)	(5-0)
Sparta		(6-4)	(4-1)
Montville		(7-3-1)	(3-2-1)
Mount Olive		(6-4)	(3-2)
Morris Hills		(5-8)	(2-4)
Morris Knolls		(3-9)	(2-4)
High Point		(1-5-1)	(1-3-1)
Vernon		(1-6)	(0-4)
Independence Division
		Overall	Division
Morris Catholic		(6-4)	(5-0)
Butler		(7-5)	(4-2)
Mountain Lakes		(6-2)	(4-2)
Kinnelon		(5-5)	(3-2)
Pequannock		(7-2)	(3-2)
Sussex Tech		(3-7)	(0-5)
Boonton		(0-9)	(0-6)