STATE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

It’s state tournament time, as the 2008 NJSIAA sectionals are getting underway, and, as promised, here is a section-by-section look at how I see things shaping up in the brackets containing our local teams.

I won’t be making any official picks until the sectional semifinals at the earliest, so consider these overviews.

For complete tournament brackets, go to http://www.njsiaa.org/ and click on “tournament brackets” at the top of the page.


(Seeds in parenthesis)
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP IV
The Favorite:
Hunterdon Central (1) – If there was any question how the Red Devils would do against the elite, Central answered it Saturday with an impressive 5-0 victory over North Hunterdon in the Hunterdon/Warren Tournament final.

The Darkhorse:
Old Bridge (2) – The top seed in the GMC Tournament, the Knights will pretty much need to win that title for me to even take them seriously here.

The Sleeper:
Hillsborough (6) – There are several lower-seeded teams in this bracket that are capable of a run, but I’m going to go with the Raiders because they’ve proved they can play with anyone. Two wins over Bridgewater-Raritan is impressive, plus Megan McInaw is as good as any pitcher I’ve seen in the state this season.

Outlook:
Middletown North, Rancocas Valley and West Windsor-South, all of which are on Hunterdon Central’s side of the bracket, have, historically, always had good teams, so the Red Devils’ run to the final will be anything but easy. Montgomery, even if it does get past Middletown North in the first round, will be hard-pressed to beat Central in the quarters. Hillsborough also has some tough nuts to crack on its side of the bracket, but, interestingly, probably has an easier road to the championship game than Central.


CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP II
The Favorite:
Shore Regional (2) – Shore beat Bordentown in last year’s quarterfinals before being blanked by Capri Catalano in the semis, and the Blue Devils won’t have the state’s all-time strikeout queen to deal with this time around.

The Darkhorse:
Bordentown (1) – Two losses is impressive, but who has Bordentown played?

The Sleeper:
Somerville (4) – The Pioneers definitely have what it takes to make a run here, it’s just going to be a question of their draw.

Outlook:
I expect Roselle Park to handle Governor Livingston in the first round, setting up a Panthers meeting with Somerville. If the Pioneers can get past Roselle Park, I don’t see them having any problem with Bordentown in the semis, even if the Scotties have just two losses. The final will be another story.


CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I
The Favorite:
Florence (2) – The Flashes have faced little resistance in this tournament in recent years.

The Darkhorse:
Bound Brook (5) – You all think I’m nuts, but I’m telling you, I could totally see the Crusaders winning this section, and I pretty much expect Bound Brook will be playing in the final.

The Sleeper:
Dunellen (1) – The Destroyers have dominated the GMC Gold over the past couple of seasons, but there are no Tech schools in this tournament.

Outlook:
As much as a Florence vs. Bound Brook final is a near-certainty in my mind, the Crusaders cannot overlook Brearley in the first round. After that, it’s just a question of whether Courtney Wood can throw strikes and stymie Florence’s bats because Bound Brook definitely has the bats to swing with anyone. New Providence should get through South Amboy in the first round, but that should be as far as the Pioneers go.


NORTH JERSEY GROUP IV
The Favorite:
North Hunterdon (1) – The Lions are vying for their third straight sectional title, but should have plenty of competition this time around.

The Darkhorse:
Union (2) – The Farmers, who will be playing in the Union County Tournament this weekend, beat Bridgewater-Raritan earlier this season, but lost to Westfield.

The Sleeper:
Bridgewater-Raritan (6) – The Panthers got off the tournament schnide by winning the Somerset County title, and definitely have what it takes to add another trophy.

Outlook:
This should be one of the most exciting brackets in the state, as six of the eight teams all have a shot – fifth-seeded Bayonne is not gong to be able to run with these Central Jersey powerhouses, and I don’t see JP Stevens making much noise, either. I don’t see North Hunterdon having much trouble getting to the final, though Watchung Hills and Lydia deMartino are not to be overlooked. The other side of the bracket should be a war and whoever emerges will definitely have earned it. I think Bridgewater-Raritan will beat Westfield in the first round, setting up a rematch with Union.


NORTH JERSEY GROUP III
The Favorite:
Cranford (1) - The undefeated Cougars have shown they are a force to be reckoned with and will face Union in the Union County Tournament final this weekend.

The Darkhorse:
J.F. Kennedy (3) – It’s all about pitching, and the Mustangs have one of the best in Heather Corica, who no-hit North Hunterdon earlier this season.

The Sleeper:
South Plainfield (4) – The Tigers are on an amazing run, having won 16 of 17 through Monday’s dramatic victory over A.L. Johnson. But South Plainfield is young and inexperienced, and when push comes to shove in the state tournament, the Tigers might find themselves a little overwhelmed.

Outlook:
J.F Kennedy should waltz into the final. Voorhees, meanwhile is just happy to be there, while Scotch Plains-Fanwood has struggled mightily in the latter half of the season and is unlikely to survive the first round. South Plainfield should make the semifinals, but I don’t see the Tigers getting past Cranford.


NORTH JERSEY GROUP II
The Favorite:
Mountain Lakes (1) – Hey, they’re the top seed, so I guess that makes them the favorite, right?

The Darkhorse:
Chatham (2) -- Ditto (no, I'm not getting lazy. There's a point to all this, I promise).

The Sleeper:
West Essex (5) – Always good, so, yeah, sleeper.

Outlook:
This one‘s a Colonial Hills Conference free-for-all, so the seeds pretty much tell the tale. The only thing I can say with any certainty is that I don’t expect former Colonial Hills member Bernards to survive the first round.


NORTH NON-PUBLIC A
The Favorite:
Immaculate Heart (3) – Say what you will about the Eagles’ record; This is their tournament.

The Darkhorse:
Mount St. Dominic (2) -- MSD is always good, and whatever team emerges from its likely meeting with IHA in the sectional semis, should win the title.

The Sleeper:
Immaculata (9) – I’m sure the Spartans’ prospective opponents have heard that pitching to Kaitlyn Piazzolla is not a great idea in big spots, but maybe they don’t realize how bad of an idea it really is.

Outlook:
While most teams won’t play their first-round game until Tuesday, Mount St. Mary already played its semifinals contest and won it in dramatic fashion on a double by Gina Quartorola on Monday with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat St. Dominic Academy. Enjoy it, Mount Lions, because I don’t see you getting through Immaculate Heart. Immaculata, meanwhile, definitely has the pitching to win this tournament; it’s just a question of whether the Spartans can find some offense to support Piazzolla. Sound familiar?


NORTH NON-PUBLIC B
The Favorite:
Montclair-Kimberly (3)—MKA has won the state Non-Public B title in four straight seasons, and while anyone wearing a Cougars uniform is still breathing, I’m not picking against them.

The Darkhorse:
St. Mary’s-Rutherford (5) – Another traditional Non-Public B powerhouse, the Gaels have shown their ability to run with the big dogs.

The Sleeper:
Eastern Christian (2) – The Eagles’ girls soccer team won a state title this year, perhaps the softball squad can build on it.

Outlook: Blah, blah, blah…. Montclair-Kimberly. Oh yeah, seventh-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s = one and done.