UCT/HWT Preview

The Union County Tournament semifinals and final are scheduled for this weekend at Memorial Field in Linden, while the Hunterdon/Warren semifinals are scheduled for Saturday and Monday.


UCT PREVIEW:

No. 5 seed New Providence (15-0) vs. No. 8 seed Cranford (13-5), 6 p.m. Friday

The undefeated Pioneers might want to think again before the revel in the fact that they won't have to face top-seeded Governor Livingston tonight. Cranford, the defending champion, made sure of that with a 1-0 upset over the Highlanders in last weekend's quarterfinals.

New Providence, meanwhile, handled fourth-seeded Elizabeth 10-1 to nobody's surprise, and are hoping to advance to its first-ever final.

Cranford, which fell to Governor Livingston in extra innings on opening day, got off to a slow start, but the Cougars have bounced back, and are 13-5 after losing to Union Catholic on Thursday, a team Cranford beat in the Round of 16.

This will easily be the toughest opponent New Providence has faced all season and the Pioneers will need every player in their lineup to bring their A game if the hope to stay unbeaten.

Of course, ace right-hander Caitlin Ross will be the key, but her bat, as well as those of Robin Farrell, Tara Alberse, Kelly Marchisio, Caitlin Sneeden and Lindsey Ross, will also need to come alive Friday night.

PREDICTION: New Providence 2-1


No. 2 Westfield (13-3) vs. No. 6 Linden (13-5), 8 p.m. Friday

Westfield hasn't been to a final since 1998 when it beat Roselle Park for the championship, but came close a couple of times a few years ago with now-assistant coach Caitlin MacDonald in the circle.

Linden, which upset third-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the quarterfinals, hasn't won the UCT crown since 1980.

This is Westfield's game to lose. If left-hander Lindsay Brown is her usual dominant self and Westfield's, usually potent offense led by Cyndil Matthew gets it done, the Blue Devils should cruise to the final.

PREDICTION: Westfield 4-1


UNION COUNTY FINAL, 7 P.M. SATURDAY at MEMORIAL FIELD

PREDICTION: Westfield 1, New Providence 0



HUNTERDON/WARREN TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS PREVIEW


No. 3 Delaware Valley (18-3) at No. 2 Hunterdon Central (12-6), 10:30 a.m. Saturday

There was a point two weeks ago where I was ready to write off Hunterdon Central after a 6-6 start, capped by a 8-4 loss to Warren Hills. But the Red Devils have won six straight, including impressive decisive victories over North Hunterdon, Hillsborough and Bridgewater-Raritan, and, well, Central is back.

Hunterdon Central had a string of seven straight bi-county titles snapped last season, and coach Pete Fick and company are eager to start another run. The tandem of junior right-handers Jamie Ericson and Jenna Carmon have had their struggles this season -- especialy Carmon, who is 7-5 after beating Bridgewater on Thursday -- but they've both been pitching very well lately and should be key in the circle, as well as at the plate. This is purely a guess based on the fact Carmon has started the last two games, but I expect Ericson to get the nod Saturday.

Hunterdon Central has not missed a final since 1999 -- when it was beaten by Delaware Valley in the semis.

Delaware Valley is enjoying the most successful season in program history, and a trip to the championship game would make it all the more sweeter.

Led by righty Michelle Jensen, Delaware Valley's losses have been to Hackettstown, Bridgewater-Raritan and Mount St. Mary. The Terriers have beaten Hillsborough, Somerville and Belvidere, twice, along the way and looking for their first final appearance since 2003 and their first championship since 1997.

This is a tough one to call. If Central brings its A-game, you have to figure the might Red Devils have the edge. But one false move and the super-talented Terriers will be ready to pounce.

I will be covering the game Saturday and I look forward to a fantastic battle.

PREDICTION: Hunterdon Central 3-1


No. 4 Warren Hills (12-6) at No. 1 North Hunterdon (16-4)

I ain't even going to waste my time analyzing this one. Sure, North Hunterdon lost to Watchung Hills on Thursday. A head-scratcher, to say the least, but I would be shocked if the defending champion Lions didn't reach the final for the third time in four years. I mean, c'mon. Sam Pellechio, Becca Schafer, Hilary Murray, Ali Freedman, Jenna Gonzalez. Need I say more?

Prediction: North Hunteron 5-1


The Hunterdon/Warren Tournament final is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19 at HealthQuest Field in Raritan Township


****

ELSEWHERE.....


Hillsborough clinched a spot in the state tournament Thursday with a 7-6 victory over Phillipsburg.

I'm thinking, after an emotional win over Montgomery the night before in the county semi, the Raiders might have come out and taken the State Liners a bit for granted, and it almost cost them a well-deserved berth in states. Hillsborough should have won this game quite handily.

Also, Bound Brook's faint hopes at a state tournament berth melted away Thursday as the Crusaders were blanked by Somerville 3-0. Laura Nevar allowed three hits and struck out two for the Pioneers.

Somewhere Harry Frezza is wiping a tear.

Other noteworthy results from Thursday include a shocker in Warren.

Who woke up Watchung Hills?!?!

The Warriors (5-10) pulled off the upset of the day, topping North Hunterdon (16-4) as Lydia deMartino and friends overcame a two-run first-inning homer by Sam Pellechio to take a 4-2 decision.

Hunterdon Central, meanwhile, showed it is truly back and ready to reclaim its county crown, as well as make a run in the CJ IV tourney with an impressive 4-0 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan.

I don't know if Bridgewater-Raritan is down on itself or whatever after a heartbreaking loss to Immaculata in the county semis Wednesday, but coach Sandy Baranowski better give her team a swift kick in the behind or the Panthers are going to watch their shot at their first conference title disappear and any hopes of making a run in the state tournament vanish.



PROGRAMMING NOTES:

Part 2 of the Week 5 edition of the Bats and Balls podcast is up for your listening pleasure at www.c-n.com/specialsections/multimedia. The way it's looking, Part 1 might never see the light of day. I guess it doesn't matter, considering it was all about today's state tournament cutoff date. Those discussions are all moot.

COMING SATURDAY: I will preview the Somerset County Tournament. I've already made a prediction for this game on the podcast, but I will do it again here Saturday in case you don't get around to listening.

Still, at the rate I've been going in predicting results the last two weeks, I should probably be ignored.

Also, since the game Saturday night will most likely end too late to get a full game story -- if any -- in the print and online versions of the Courier News, check in to The Inner Circle late Saturday night or Sunday morning for a recap of the game. Or, better yet, head out to North Branch Park in Bridgewater and take in what should be another SCT classic.