THE COUGARS, CAPRI, AND THE GMC

Last fall, when Montgomery coach Johnny Rooney learned that I would be returning as a regular at the Courier News and resuming the softball beat after a two-year absence (I left toward the end of the 2004 season), he told me about the "Simeon Pincus curse." You see, during my absence, Montgomery won a state title and a county crown, after not winning anything since their days as a Group I school in 1999, my first year on the beat.

According to Rooney, now that I was back, he said he felt my presence would doom the Cougars, and after a loss to Hillsborough in the county semifinals, well, I thought twice about disputing his claim even though I'm sure he was kidding. But then Montgomery won the Skyland Delaware East with a victory over Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday in a big spot and I was ready to show Rooney that the Pincus Curse was all in his mind.

That was until the second-seeded Cougars got trounced by No. 7 seed East Brunswick 8-1 in Thursday's quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament.

Perhaps Rooney is on to something.

I am amazed that Montgomery's postseason run ended so unceremoniously.

East Brunswick?

These aren't the same Bears that won state and sectional titles in the early 2000's. This is a squad that got blanked by 11th-seeded Sayreville last week in the GMC tourney as the No. 6 seed.

I guess I underestimated East Brunswick. Or did I overrate the Cougars?

We'll soon find out as East Brunswick faces Manalapan in the semifinals, while eighth-seeded Hunterdon Central, which, as predicted, handled top-seeded Old Bridge on Thursday, battles No. 5 seed Rancocas Valley in the other semi, which is certainly not where we thought the Red Devils would be a few weeks ago.

Speaking of correct predictions for a change, fifth-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan trounced No. 4 Elizabeth 11-0 in six innings Thursday to advance to face top-seeded North Hunterdon in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group IV semifinals, a team the Panthers have already beaten once this season.

Look for a story on that game in next Wednesday's Courier News. If I can't get there, one of my colleagues definitely will.

Elsewhere, Governor Livingston and Delaware Valley both advanced to the CJ II semi, and could face off in the final. South Plainfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood, meanwhile, both moved on in the North 2 Group III tourney and would face each other in the final if they were to beat Mendham and JFK, respectively Tuesday.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood's victory over UCT champ Cranford on Thursday is the leader in the clubhouse for most impressive victory by a local team so far in the state tournament.

Union Catholic also advanced Thursday, topping Kent Place in the Non-Public A North Tournament, and will face Mount St. Dominic in Tuesday's quarterfinals.

After Bernards, Somerville and Hillsborough checked out in the first round, two more local teams joined Montgomery in leaving the perverbial building on Thursday, as Westfield fell to J.P. Stevens in North 2, Group IV -- a mild upset -- and New Providence was ousted by Matawan in CJ I, a bigger surprise.


CAPRI WATCH HITS ZERO


Governor Livingston senior right-hander Capri Catalano posted 11 strikeouts Thursday and tied Ashley Forsythe's state record of 1,231 career strikeouts as the Highlanders handled Roselle Park 10-0 in six innings in their CJ II quarterfinal.

Check out Friday's print edition of the Courier News for the story, or read it online

Also, make sure to check out Jerry Carino's column on Catalano in Friday's CN. It tells a very interesting and heart-warming tale about how she has overcome a handicap and a childhood disease that nearly killed her to become the most dominant pitcher in state history. Excellent work, as usual, by Jerry.



GMC TOURNAMENT: ONE LOCAL REMAINS

Fifth-seeded South Plainfield advanced to the GMCT semifinal Wednesday by knocking off No. 4 seed Old Bridge 8-4, and will face top-seeded JFK in the semis Saturday. The final is slated for Monday.

Eighth-seeded Dunellen, meanwhile, did not fare very well against JFK, losing 18-0 while getting no-hit.


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The latest Bats and Balls podcast (Week 7, dated, May 22) is up at www.c-n.com/specialsections/multimedia


Enjoy your holiday weekend!