County semifinal No. 2

Will it go seven innings?

That's not a knock on Watchung Hills, but I believe that's what a lot of folks are wondering about tonight's Somerset County Tournament semifinal between fourth-seed Watchung Hills and top seed Immaculata at Commerce Bank Ballpark in the Finderne section of Bridgewater.

Watchung Hills coach Mario Diez told me Sunday that he was hoping his team could avoid a mercy-run rule loss and play a regulation seven-inning game. I suspect Mario was half kidding.

I really believe Hillsborough has the best chance of beating Immaculata. But that's for another day. C'mon, we have to have a little drama.

Immaculata lost to Delbarton Monday, but that's not an issue. The Spartans live for the county tournament and winning it. They won't miss a beat.

Immaculata simply has too much firepower for anybody in the area where we live. That's the way it is and will be eight out of 10 years when it comes to this event.

Watchung Hills is a good, solid team with a good chance of winning the North 2, Group IV title. The chance Watchung Hills has against Immaculata is if lefty Joe Giaimo keeps the Warriors in the game and his teammates can scrap together a few runs.

Immaculata's own lefty ace Sean McKeown is used to pitching in big venues and the Spartans should get enough firepower from junior third baseman Chas Crane, senior shortstop Tom Burke, junior center fielder Matt Marquis and senior left fielder Frank Florio and senior catcher Jeff Bland. Don't forget junior right fielder Frank DeNick, who has been moved to the top of the lineup.

Immaculata wins 8-2, but it goes seven.

P.S.: We have had some adjusted deadlines at the Courier News. Since they have become much earlier, there is a good chance that the second game of the double header -- Somerville plays Hillsborough at 4 p.m. -- will not make the newspaper's Wednesday print editions.