County semifinal No. 1

Of the two county semifinals at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater Tuesday, which one figures to be the better game? I'm not crazy about picking baseball games, but since my colleague Simeon Pincus has been doing it with the softball tournament, why not do it with baseball?

I'm thinking Somerville-Hillsborough should be the better of the two games. Watchung Hills and Immaculata is the second game.

Funny how things work out. Hillsborough and Somerville always played a cross-over regular season game, but this year -- with the expansion of the Skyland Conference - the two didn't play each other. But they'll see each other in the first game of doubleheader at 4 p.m.

I haven't seen Hillsborough play this year, but scheduled starter Mark Andrews has been terrific and senior first baseman Cory Swickle, outfielder Matt Zygmund and shortstop Corey Towey have been steady contributors. Swickle played a major role two years ago when the Raiders won county and state Group IV titles. Swickle, Towey, second baseman Ricky Schwalje and third baseman Sean MacDonald give the Raiders consistent defense.

Somerville is an outstanding team and could make a run for a Central Jersey Group II title behind good pitching and reliable defense. Nick McNamara, the senior lefty, will start against Hillsborough. He's had a player of the year kind of season. Center fielder Eric Fowler has shown his promise and senior shortstop Mike Kaminski is very good. Kaminski is also the team's closer and No. 2 pitcher.

The question is where will Somerville's offense come from Tuesday?

I like Hillsborough 5-2. (This is exactly what Somerville wants I would suspect).

We'll get around to Game II tomorrow.