But hey, what do I know?

Hillsborough's victory over Mount St. Mary in the quarterfinals of the Somerset County Tournament taught us two things:

1. Never count out Hillsborough, especially in a county tournament that they've all but dominated the previous five seasons (this is the Raiders' sixth straight trip to the semifinals and the quest will continue Wednesday for their sixth straight finals appearance and fourth championship since 2002).

2. Pincus' prognosticating ability is about on par with his ability to run a half a block without collapsing (that's what a pack a day and a penchant for fried foods and chocolate will do for you, kids!).

Sure, when I originally predicted the tournament I had Hillsborough beating Mount St. Mary in the quarterfinals and the Raiders topping Montgomery in the semifinals. But after further review and considering not only the way Hillsborough has been playing, but how Mount St. Mary had been performing, I picked the Mount Lions to defeat Hillsborough on Saturday.

Final score: Hillsborough 2, Mount St. Mary 1

Come on. Let me have it, Raiders fans. I deserve it.

But what do you expect when one team is 6-7, which included a loss to Delaware Valley, a squad Mount St. Mary handled 7-3 earlier this year, and the other is undefeated? Besides, I didn't hear anyone disagreeing with me when I picked the Mount.

Kudos to Hillsborough coach Cheryl Iaione, who lit a fire under her team after Thursday's 9-1 loss to Hunterdon Central, and they responded with a masterful performance.

Kudos to Raiders hurler Megan McInaw, who not only pitched a three-hitter and did not allow an earned run, but smacked a two-run homer in the first inning off an excellent pitcher in Dani Accardi.

Sure, Mount St. Mary's Alex Russomagno came within a half a foot of tying it in the seventh inning when her drive hit off the top of the fence in left field. And sure, Mount Lions coach Denise Materia decided not to bunt Russomango over with no outs to put the tying run on third with less than two outs. A questionable move, magnified when her pinch-hitter struck out on three pitches, though the two hitters that followed both hit comebackers that wouldn't have plated the run.

Still, well done, Hillsborough. Enjoy it. You deserve it. You get Montgomery in Wednesday night's semis and that should be another exciting contest.

But guess what, I'm picking the Cougars!


Elsewhere Saturday, the three other quarterfinals games in the Somerset County Tournament went as expected.

Top-seeded and defending champion Montgomery took care of business against ninth-seeded Ridge with a 9-5 victory. I guess I'm impressed that the Red Devils were able to put up five runs on the Cougars and Elora Daniele, though the junior righty did hold Ridge to just one run Thursday when the teams met in a regular-season contest. I had asked coach Johnny Rooney if he was going to start Daniele in both games, and, as of Tuesday night, he wasn't sure. For his sake, I'm glad it didn't cost him more than five runs. Montgomery gets Hillsborough in Wednesday night's semis.

Second-seeded Immaculata blanked No. 10 Rutgers Prep 5-0, as Katelyn Piazzolla took a perfect game into the seventh inning before it was broken up by Kristen Cheft's infield single. Despite being without one of their top hitters in senior catcher Candice Smith, the Argonauts got a taste of what it's like to play someone other than the likes of Gill St. Bernard's, Timothy Christian, Purnell and Solomon Schechter. Still nice job by Prep just getting here. I would also like to thank Immaculata coach Erica Bell for beating the Argos, since I told her I would quit covering softball if the Spartans lost Saturday. Somehow I don't think I would enjoy covering golf. Immaculata will face Bridgewater-Raritan in Wednesday night's semifinals.

No. 3 Bridgewater-Raritan and No. 6 Watchung Hills followed up Monday's extra-inning affair, which was won by the Panthers 2-1 in 11 innings, with another nail-biter Saturday. After the teams went to the eighth inning scoreless, Watchung Hills got a run in the top of the eighth before Bridgewater-Raritan responded with two in the bottom of the frame to win it. After Panthers' catcher Sammi DeSimone led off with a triple and scored on an error to tie it, Warriors hurler Lydia deMartino lost the plate, walking three straight, including Lindsay Durant on four pitches with the bases loaded to force home the winning run. I'm sure, if she had her druthers, B-R coach Sandy Baranowski would like to see Watchung Hills move to, say, oh, I dunno, Cape Mary County or something. At the rate it's going, three games a year between these two teams -- and, though not this year, potentially a fourth in the state tournament -- might drive the Panthers' coach into therapy. Bridgewater-Raritan will face Immaculata on Wednesday night.


The Hunterdon/Warren quarterfinals also went as planned Saturday.

Top-seeded North Hunterdon blanked No. 9 North Warren 6-0, as reigning Courier News Player of the Year Sam Pellechio blasted two homers and drove in five runs in support of senior right-hander Ali Freedman, who tossed a three-hitter. The Lions were slowed by a 9-6 loss to Central last Tuesday, but it looks like they recovered nicely. North will face Warren Hills on Saturday in the semifinals.

Second-seeded Hunterdon Central, which has struggled, followed up a much-needed 9-1 victory over Hillsborough on Thursday with a 7-4 victory over 10th-seeded Hunterdon Central on Saturday. Megan Everett tripled and homered, and Jenny Harabedian went 3-for-3, behind junior righty Jamie Erickson, who improved to 5-1. The Red Devils are on a roll since losing three straight two weeks ago and have now won four in a row, including victories over Hillsborough, Watchung Hills and North Hunterdon. Whatever Pete Fick did to get his team back on track seems to be working. Central gets Delaware Valley in Saturday's semifinals.

Third-seeded Delaware Valley edged No. 6 Belvidere 2-0 as Michelle Jensen fired a two-hitter and struck out seven. It was the Terriers' 16th victory of the season after they went 17-10 last year. Del Val will face Central on Saturday.

Fourth-seeded Warren Hills topped No. 5 Hackettstown 7-6 and will play North Hunterdon in the semifinals.


Over in Union County, there were upsets galore, including the fall of the top seed.

No. 1 Governor Livingston lost to No. 8 Cranford, which capitalized on the only hit Capri Catalano allowed. I can't say I was shocked by the result, as I watched the Highlanders need extra innings on opening day to beat the Cougars. The GL offense needs to wake up if it hopes to make a run in the state tournament, and coach Ricky Iacono, who is a man who is not afraid to speak his mind in no uncertain terms, I'm sure has let his team know it. Catalano still managed 16 strikeouts as she continues her assault on the state's all time K record.

No. 2 Westfield handled No. 7 Union 2-1, two days after losing to the Farmers 1-0 in a regular-season tilt. Sophomores Katie Kiefer and Emily Tebettes knocked in runs for the Blue Devils in the second inning, while Lindsay Brown threw a five-hit shutout and fanned seven. Nice recovery for Tara Pignoli's team. Westfield will play sixth-seeded Linden in Friday night's semifinals

No. 3 Scotch Plains-Fanwood was ousted by sixth-seeded Linden and the Raiders have lost two of their last three games after an 11-3 start. Kelly Cianciotta's sixth-inning homer was all the scoring for SPF, which was five-hit. Still, expect coach Kelli Covert to get the ship righted in time for states.

No. 5 New Providence dispatched No. 4 Elizabeth 10-1, a result that surprised nobody outside the Union County capital. Frankly -- and I said this on the podcast a couple of weeks ago -- I was expecting the Pioneers to 10-run the Minutemen. New Providence is now the only undefeated team in the Courier News area, after Governor Livingston and Mount St. Mary fell Saturday. Right-hander Caitlin Ross not only improved to 12-0, but she blasted two homers and drove in five runs. Coach Kelly Villa insists this has been a total team effort, and she's right in the sense that it takes nine players to win, but Caitlin Ross is having a dream season and the Pioneers wouldn't be in the driver's seat in the Mountain Valley Conference Valley Division without her. New Providence gets Cranford in the semifinals Friday night.

******

COMING MONDAY ON THE INNER CIRCLE: A preview and predictions of the semifinals of the Somerset, Hunterdon/Warren and Union country tournaments.

COMING TUESDAY: We will be recording the fifth edition of the Bats and Ball podcast Monday night. Look for that Tuesday at http://www.c-n.com/specialsections/multimedia/index.htm

COMING WEDNESDAY IN THE COURIER NEWS: The weekly notebook will feature the latest Top 10, standings, Capri Watch, Stars of the Week, and much more, including a look at what Friday's cutoff date for qualifying for the state tournament means for our local teams.

Check out The Inner Circle on Thursday and listen to the podcast for a more in-depth look at who's in, who's out and who's on the bubble for a state tourney berth.