The 2007 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Softball Tournament brackets were released today and are available for viewing at http://www.njsiaa.org/.
Let's take a look at the brackets containing local teams, shall we?
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP IV
The Favorite: Montgomery (No. 2 seed) - the Cougars are in for a tough game in the semifinals, but should cruise past whomever they face in the final.
The Darkhorse: Hunterdon Central (8) - The Red Devils got a No. 8 seed here, but remember, they began the season 6-6 and have since won 10 straight. If Central can get by Jackson in the first round, expect a win over top-seeded Old Bridge in the final.
The Sleeper: Hillsborough (11) - The Raiders proved last season that their seed was irrelevant, as they went to the final as a No. 8 seed. Hillsborough will not have an easy path, even in the first two rounds.
Outlook: I expect Hunterdon Central in the final, but there are several teams, including Manalapan, that could come out of the other side of the bracket. Hillsborough has shown it can play with anyone, including Montgomery, when the chips are down. This is Montgomery's first year as a Group IV school, so there could be some growing pains in this tournament.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP II
The Favorite: Governor Livingston (1) - I'm going to pretend the Union County Tournament never happened. It's a simple equation for Governor Livingston: Score runs, win a state title.
The Darkhorse: Delaware Valley (3) - The 9-1 loss to Hunterdon Central in the Hunterdon/Warren semifinals last week seems to have knocked the Terriers for a loop. First, Del Val goes out and gets 10-runned by Mount St. Mary on Tuesday, and then barely beats North Warren on Thursday, 2-1. Now is not the time for a slump. If Del Val can focus, expect a trip to the final.
The Sleeper: Roselle Park (9) -- Roselle Park's been through the wars in Union County, and could have something to say if it can get past Governor Livingston in the quarterfinals.
Outlook: Barring an offensive drought of epic proportions, Governor Livingston should waltz into the final. Once there, there are several teams that could give the Highlanders a run, including New Providence. It's not looking like Somerville is going to get past the first round unless junior right-hander Lindsay Ciresa can find the plate, if she's even given the chance.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I
The Favorite: Florence (1) - No mystery there.
The Darkhorse: Dunellen (2) - Should make the final.
The Sleeper: Middlesex (4) - Gonna take a miracle to beat Florence in the semis.
Outlook: Considering there are only four teams in the bracket, this shouldn't be too hard to analyze. Florence is the overwhelming favorite, while I expect Dunellen to win what has essentially become the GMC Gold championship game with South Amboy (the teams split their regular-season meetings and finished tied atop the division).
NORTH JERSEY GROUP IV
The Favorite: North Hunterdon (1) -- Hopefully, for the Lions, they won't take anyone too lightly in this tournament. North has the talent to repeat as state champions, but they're are a marked team and won't be sneaking up on anybody this time around.
The Darkhorse: Bridgewater-Raritan (5) -- The Panthers will 10-run Elizabeth in the quarterfinals, and if they manage to upset North Hunterdon in the semifinals, expect a Bridgewater-Raritan sectional title.
The Sleeper: Union (3) -- The Farmers have been a fickle bunch. Capable of beating a great team one day and losing to a mid-level team the next. Should they beat UCT runners-up Linden in the quarterfinals, a semi against Westfield would be very intersting as the Blue Devils dropped both regular-season meetings with Union, though they beat the Farmers in the UCT quarters.
Outlook: North Hunterdon is clearly the most talented of this group, though it has shown chinks in the armor. With Lauren Fizsimmons in the circle, Bridgewater-Raritan is capable of beating anyone if its firing on all cylinders. A Panthers/Lions semifinal would be, for all intents and purposes, the sectional championship game.
NORTH JERSEY GROUP III
The Favorite: Cranford (4) - The Cougars have shown they are a force to be reckoned with after their performance in winning the Union County title. When you consider Cranford beat Governor Livingston in the UCT semi, and lost in extra-innings to the Highlanders on opening day, and that GL blanked JFK 6-0 earlier this week, well, I don't see anyone stopping the Cougars on their side of the bracket.
The Darkhorse: J.F. Kennedy (1) - JFK was given the top seed in the GMC Tournament for a reason, though I don't see it getting past Cranford.
The Sleeper: South Plainfield (7) -- If South Plainfield's defense can make the plays behind Jen Little, and the Tigers can score some runs, Jen Little is a good enough pitcher to lead South Plainfield to the final.
Outlook: I see this section as Cranford's to lose. Scotch Plains-Fanwood is capable of the upset, but I think the Cougars are in the zone and should handle the Raiders. We're probably looking at Cranford against one of the Morris County teams in the final.
NORTH JERSEY GROUP II
The Favorite: Caldwell (2) - Expect a meeting with Jefferson in the semifinals.
The Darkhorse: West Essex (4) -- If West Essex can get out of the quarterfinals, expect an easy time in the semis.
The Sleeper: Jefferson (6) -- They're still Jefferson, despite the seed.
Outlook: I don't quite know what to make of this section except that Bernards figures to be one and done.
NORTH NON-PUBLIC A
The Favorite: Immaculata (3) -- The Somerset County champs have never won this section. I think this is the year.
The Darkhorse: Mount St. Dominic (2) -- MSD is always good. They're the only squad standing in Immaculata's way to a sectional final.
The Sleeper: Immaculate Heart (4) -- Considering Immaculata fell to Immaculate Heart in the sectional final all four years of Erica Bell's pitching career (1997-2000), I don't know if the Spartans' coach wants to see the Eagles in the final, or if the nightmares leading up to game day would be too much for her to handle.
Outlook: Top-seeded Mount St. Mary fattened up its record against the Raritan and Valley Divisions of the Skyland Conference, but the Mount Lions are not going to find any Manvilles or North Warrens here. Not that MSM isn't talented. With Dani Accardi in the circle and a solid lineup led by Alyssa D'Addio, the Mount Lions definitely have a shot. Union Catholic should cruise in its opening game with Kent Place, but I don't see the Vikings getting past Mount St. Dom's. Pingry could beat St. Dominic in its first-round game, but the Big Blue are not getting past Mount St. Mary. This is the strongest and deepest this section has been in years, but expect whomever wins a potential Mount St. Dom's/Immaculata matchup to win the section.
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Check out next week's Bats and Balls podcast, which is scheduled to be recorded Monday night and posted Tuesday, for more analysis of the state tournament.
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4 comments:
central jersey group 2/OUTLOOK
Dear Simeon P...It seems to me that you keep giving the Ciresa kid a lot of credit. Have you seen her pitch? She can't seem to find the plate. Come on now if she was that good, don't you think they would use her. Give a little credit to the other 8 players in the game.
Kiko-Man:
Ciresa's past is well documented. She was a good pitcher at Blair and has been clocked at upwards of 60 MPH, the gold standard for softball pitchers. And though I have yet to see her in person, all reports I have gotten from those who have say she has the ability to be among the top pitchers in the area.
That said, in the games she has started for Somerville this season after sitting out the mandatory 30 days as a transfer, she has shown control problems.
My point isn't that the rest of the team doesn't deserve credit for what they've done so far, but if the Pioneers hope to make a run in the state tournament, they’re going to need Ciresa to perform at her best and throw strikes. They need her upside. As of now she hasn’t been pitching, she has been playing center field. Somerville’s season to date suggests it is going to have trouble going very far in the states with Lindsay Lehman and Lauren Nevar in the circle.
I disagree with your outlook, it seems you’ve put a lot of emphasis on MSM who you admit had a weak schedule. You’ve also mentioned players by name overlooking other teams players – are you a big MSM fan? You see UC over KP but not getting past MSD – why so? You say Pingry could best St. Dom’s – that would be an upset correct? But not getting past MSM – of course. You say this is the strongest and deepest the section has been in years but then give it all to a MSD/Immaculata showdown. You don’t talk about Pope John vs. Marist, DePaul vs. IHA, Mother Seton vs. PC at all – Is it your contention that the favs are going to win outright? For grins, let’s just say Pope John, Pingry or PC or UC get passed MSM or Immaculata or MSD. How exactly does your sleep advance and why is this Immaculata’s year to win the section? What if your darkhorse losses to UC’s Caravano? I’ve asked a lot and know you’ve only covered so much as I have as well. I just like “what if’s” and see no sure things in HS sports unless you can substantiate with specifics. BTW – if you have not guessed it already, I am a UC fan who’d like to know specifically what you think of their chances (include names if you can)
UCOVERDUE:
Admittedly, I have not had the chance to see every team in person and I often have to make judgements based on other factors; like who teams have played and how they've fared against them.
Union Catholic is one of the teams in the Courier News coverage area that I have not seen in person.
That said, I know the Vikings are no pushovers, based on their performances against some of the better teams on their schedule -- like beating UCT champ Cranford. I know Nicole Caravano is a solid varsity pitcher, and I know Angela Sessa and Ashley Wytenus are having good years with the bat. I also know Kent Place has not performed well against good teams, hence my picking a UC victory, and the Vikings delivered.
What I know about Mount St. Dominic is that, historically, it's always good, it plays in a very competitive conference, and its record was good enough to earn them a No. 2 seed. That is why I cannot pick Union Catholic to win. Would I be surprised if the Vikings pulled off the upset? Yes. Would I be shocked? Probably. Is it out of the realm of possibility? Absolutely not.
Like you said, you never know in high school sports, and Union Catholic has shown that while its not beaten every team that has come its way, the Vikings have definitely played close, competitive games in the contests they've lost.
What I can tell you is that I have seen Immaculata and Mount St. Mary play, and because of their successes, and the fact their schedules are stocked with other teams in the Courier News coverage area -- Union Catholic's is not, outside of Governor Livingston and New Providence -- I know Immaculata and MSM better and have talked more in-depth and more often with their coaches and I know what they're capable of.
And while MSM does play weaker schedule, they have some quality players, especially in the circle, and we all know that in high school softball a dominant pitcher is key. Considering MSM was in UC's conference until this season -- and won it -- I would think you would know how good the Mount Lions are, and I wouldn't be shocked if they won the section.
As for Union Catholic, well, a sectional title is a longshot, but hey, those people who have followed my prognosticating this season know I am often wrong. I would love to see the Vikings prove me wrong again.
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