Busy Tuesday

A very busy day with sectional semifinals -- and don't forget Immaculata in the Non-Public A quarterfinals.

At one point, I was primed to talk about how the Skyland Conference dominated. The league did well enough - Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Immaculata, Somerville all advanced. So that's 4-2. Hunterdon Central and Phillipsburg lost.

What could have been -- Central had a 6-2 lead at top-seed Steinert (Hamilton East) in the Central Jersey Group IV semis, but Steinert ralled to win 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh. Hillsborough won, so it's Steinert-Hillsborough in the sectional final Friday in Hamilton. But it could have been Central-Hillsborough. Oh well.

Phillipsburg also got knocked out by Westfield 9-4 in the North 2, Group IV semi. Nice job by the Blue Devils, who really hit the ball early in the game. They'll play at Edison Friday. Its Wesfield's first sectional final since 1995. They haven't won one since 1988.

Immaculata thumped Bergen Catholic 17-2 and will now play host to Roselle Catholic at 1 p.m. Friday at HealthQuest Park.

I was at Somerville-New Providence game at White Oak Park.

The story was Somerville junior left hander Ryan Zamorsky, who pitched a complete-game, six hitter, striking out 10 and allowing two walks. He also made a terrific play in the fifth inning, fielding a slow roller and throwing home instead of going to first to keep the score tied at one. He and catcher Chris DeMarco hooked up to nail a New Providence baserunner who was attempting to score.

Somerville went ahead in the bottom of the inning on junior Eric Karpinski's two-out, pinch hit base hit. The Somerville Pioneers (New Providence is also called the Pioneers) got two outstanding defensive plays by first baseman Mike Mottes and second baseman Dan Reynolds in the seventh to close out a 2-1 win.

I like the Pioneers to win the CJ Group II title Friday in Branchburg against Spotswood. Spotswood has to play the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final Saturday and will use its ace Will Beard against J.P. Stevens in that game. Who knows. Call me a shill, but I've been on the Ville bandwagon for awhile.


After the game, longtime New Providence coach Tom Beck told us that he is stepping down to accept a job with Weichert Reality in Seminole, Fla. Beck said they made him a offer he couldn't refuse. Good luck to Tommy.

Middlesex and its first-year head coach Mike O'Donnell advanced to the Central Jersey Group I final Friday against Metuchen. The Blue Jays beat Metuchen 12-1 and 3-1 during the regular season.