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Sam Carchidi: Playoff picks on diamond include Lenape
With the cutoff date nearing, it's time to look at the NJSIAA South Jersey tournament.
Based on the baseball season's first five weeks, Lenape in Group 4, Shawnee in Group 3, Overbrook in Group 2, Maple Shade in Group 1, Gloucester Catholic in Non-Public A, and Sacred Heart in Non-Public B are my early picks - subject to change, of course - in the NJSIAA South Jersey tournament.
And keep an eye on pitching-rich Northern Burlington in the Central Jersey Group 3 bracket.
Warning to South Jersey Group 4 contenders: Ocean County teams from Toms River North and Toms River South are powerful, as always, and one could walk off with the crown.
The tournament cutoff date is Friday, when teams need to have at least a .500 record to qualify for play, which will start on May 16.
Teams on the "bubble" should feel comfort in knowing that Washington Township did the unthinkable last year by winning the Group 4 state title despite being seeded 14th in the 15-team South Jersey field.
The Minutemen had to win on the cutoff date last season just to qualify for the playoffs.
In a game that will have a major impact on the Olympic Patriot race, surging Cherry Hill West will play host to Winslow Township today.
Joe Calogero, a junior lefthander who is drawing interest from Rider and is one of the area's hottest pitchers, will start for West.
"He's very poised and cool out there," West coach Gary Sarno said. "Nothing bothers him, and the team feels confident behind him."
"Pitching has carried us, but the offense is starting to come around," added Sarno, whose team entered yesterday averaging nearly 11 runs in its last five games.
Like Calogero, St. Augustine's Anthony DeLeo has blossomed into one of the area's best control artists. In 362/3 innings, he has struck out 36 and walked only seven.
DeLeo and Kyle Baxter, who has an 0.72 ERA, give St. Augustine a formidable one-two pitching punch, which should make the Hermits dangerous in a South Jersey Non-Public A field that also will feature Holy Spirit and Gloucester Catholic.
Speaking of Gloucester Catholic, the Rams will host Overbrook today in a game that will have a major bearing on the Tri-County Diamond title. Gloucester Catholic will be trying to avenge a 7-6 opening-day loss.
The Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic has several great first-round matchups on Saturday. My favorites: Shawnee vs. Bishop Eustace at Deptford, 10:30 a.m.; Sacred Heart vs. Vineland, a city rival, at Washington Township, 10:30 a.m.; Northern Burlington at Washington Township, 1 p.m.; Winslow Township vs. Mainland at Overbrook, 10:30 a.m.; and Millville vs. Lenape at Maple Shade, 1 p.m.
The last two games could be previews of Group 4 matchups.
"It's like a Tournament of Champions midway through the season," said tournament director Joe Hartmann, referring to the 16-team field.
The tournament features speed-up rules that make the games so much more enjoyable. For years, I've encouraged the NJSIAA to adopt similar rules.
So far, no one has listened, but I will bring the matter up at today's NJSIAA meeting.
South Jersey is mourning the passing of Doug Frambes, an ex-Riverside baseball and boys' basketball coach and former sportswriter at the Courier-Post and the Retrospect. His specialty was writing about the accomplishments of athletes from yesteryear.
Mr. Frambes, 83, who spent nearly 30 years covering the Phillies for United Press International, was a wealth of knowledge, and we spent many nights in the Veterans Stadium press lounge talking about former high school athletes and major-leaguers from the past.
I'll cherish those conversations, which usually were filled with smoke from Doug's ever-present cigar - and I'll always remember his quiet laugh and unassuming nature. He was a dignified, classy gentleman and he will be missed.
Every time I smell a cigar burning, I think of Doug - and it brings a smile to my face.
Friends can pay tribute from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Foster-Warne Funeral Home in Collingswood. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m.
Post a question or comment for Sam Carchidi at http://go.philly.com/asksam. He also can be reached at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
In a game that will have a major impact on the Olympic Patriot race, surging Cherry Hill West will play host to Winslow Township today.
Joe Calogero, a junior lefthander who is drawing interest from Rider and is one of the area's hottest pitchers, will start for West.
"He's very poised and cool out there," West coach Gary Sarno said. "Nothing bothers him, and the team feels confident behind him."
"Pitching has carried us, but the offense is starting to come around," added Sarno, whose team entered yesterday averaging nearly 11 runs in its last five games.
Like Calogero, St. Augustine's Anthony DeLeo has blossomed into one of the area's best control artists. In 362/3 innings, he has struck out 36 and walked only seven.
DeLeo and Kyle Baxter, who has an 0.72 ERA, give St. Augustine a formidable one-two pitching punch, which should make the Hermits dangerous in a South Jersey Non-Public A field that also will feature Holy Spirit and Gloucester Catholic.
Speaking of Gloucester Catholic, the Rams will host Overbrook today in a game that will have a major bearing on the Tri-County Diamond title. Gloucester Catholic will be trying to avenge a 7-6 opening-day loss.
The Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic has several great first-round matchups on Saturday. My favorites: Shawnee vs. Bishop Eustace at Deptford, 10:30 a.m.; Sacred Heart vs. Vineland, a city rival, at Washington Township, 10:30 a.m.; Northern Burlington at Washington Township, 1 p.m.; Winslow Township vs. Mainland at Overbrook, 10:30 a.m.; and Millville vs. Lenape at Maple Shade, 1 p.m.
The last two games could be previews of Group 4 matchups.
"It's like a Tournament of Champions midway through the season," said tournament director Joe Hartmann, referring to the 16-team field.
The tournament features speed-up rules that make the games so much more enjoyable. For years, I've encouraged the NJSIAA to adopt similar rules.
So far, no one has listened, but I will bring the matter up at today's NJSIAA meeting.
South Jersey is mourning the passing of Doug Frambes, an ex-Riverside baseball and boys' basketball coach and former sportswriter at the Courier-Post and the Retrospect. His specialty was writing about the accomplishments of athletes from yesteryear.
Mr. Frambes, 83, who spent nearly 30 years covering the Phillies for United Press International, was a wealth of knowledge, and we spent many nights in the Veterans Stadium press lounge talking about former high school athletes and major-leaguers from the past.
I'll cherish those conversations, which usually were filled with smoke from Doug's ever-present cigar - and I'll always remember his quiet laugh and unassuming nature. He was a dignified, classy gentleman and he will be missed.
Every time I smell a cigar burning, I think of Doug - and it brings a smile to my face.
Friends can pay tribute from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Foster-Warne Funeral Home in Collingswood. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m.
Post a question or comment for Sam Carchidi at http://go.philly.com/asksam. He also can be reached at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.