Somerset semis

Was there any doubt?

The only real drama in Immaculata's 11-3 win over Watchung Hills was how long would it take before the Spartans took control. That would be four batters. Jeff Bland hit a two-out, two-run first inning homer off Joe Giaimo to get things rolling.

In the fourth -- Giaimo gets the first two batters out again -- but -- walk to Frank Florio, Bland gets hit by a pitch and Jack Rice singles in the Spartan's seventh run. Four runs in the seventh -- highlighted by Tom Burke's three run blast over the left field fence -- put the game to bed.

Some numbers from the game. Chas Crane: 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Florio: 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a single, double and triple -- which just missed clearing the fence. Bland was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Rice went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Maybe Somerset County would be better if it pooled all of its best players into one team and played Immaculata. But as somebody told me as I left Commerce Bank Ballpark, "That wouldn't be enough." How about if we threw in Hunterdon and Warren counties?

One chink in Immaculata's game. Four errors. Two in the outfield and two in the infield. It didn't matter.

Hillsborough's 3-2 win over Somerville in the first game of the doubleheader was pretty much what was expected. The Raiders' Mike Andrews and Somerville's Nick McNamara were very good. Andrews got the better defense, though Andrews was actually hurt by it in the first inning. Both of Somerville's runs were unearned.

Hillsborough will have to play a near-perfect game to beat Immaculata. Immaculata doesn't have to play a near-perfect game to beat Hillsborough.

The county final is next Thursday night.