Eustace, No. 9 in The Inquirer's South Jersey baseball rankings, is coached by Sam Tropiano, who used to coach at St. Augustine.

St. Augustine is directed by rookie coach Mike Bylone, who was a standout player on a St. Augustine team coached by Tropiano.

"He was one of the first great players I had," Tropiano said. "So it's a neat game to play; he wanted to play against his old coach. Little did I know I was walking into a buzzsaw."

St. Augustine is 6-2 and Eustace is 6-3.

While Eustace and St. Augustine are squaring off, Gloucester Catholic and Malvern Prep (Pa.) will play on an adjacent field at Eustace at 10 a.m. The winners will meet in the 1 p.m. championship game, while the losers will play in the 1 p.m. consolation game.

Because there's a chance Eustace could meet Gloucester Catholic, their regular-season game last Tuesday was postponed.

Tropiano is hoping slugging outfielder Dan Sieracki can return to the lineup in mid-May as a designated hitter. Sieracki, who slammed 11 homers last year, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a pickup boys'-girls' basketball game at Eustace in January.

"He's working real hard in therapy," Tropiano said. "We miss his leadership - and his bat."

Sieracki is leaning toward attending Widener, which has stayed in close contact with him despite the injury.

"My hat goes off to them," Tropiano said. "They've stuck with him."

Lenape surging. Since a 2-1 loss to Timber Creek on April 3, Lenape (7-1) has won six straight and has vaulted to No. 4 in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings. The Indians have scored in double figures in six of their seven wins.

Vineland cracks ratings. For the first time this season, Vineland has entered the top 10.

The eighth-ranked Fighting Clan (7-1) has won seven straight since a 2-0 loss to Egg Harbor Township. Vineland has allowed two runs or fewer in four of its eight games.

Difficult schedule. Cherokee's next four games will be against ranked teams. The Chiefs will play at No. 3 Washington Township on Wednesday and at No. 3 Lenape on Friday in key Olympic American contests.

The following week, Cherokee plays host to No. 1 Shawnee on April 28, and visits No. 10 Cherry Hill East on April 30.

Cherokee (6-3) has won four of its last five since an 8-3 loss to Sacred Heart, which is now ranked No. 2.

Pitching-rich. Unbeaten Shawnee has allowed just 1.75 runs in its four games.

The Renegades will be tested this week with road games against Millville (today), Winslow Township (Wednesday) and Triton (Friday).

Homer happy. Winslow Township's Jason Gladden, a senior first baseman/pitcher who has 97 career hits, and Penns Grove's Don Haines lead South Jersey with six homers this season.

The single-season South Jersey record is 16 homers by Buena's Angelo Santiago in 1989 and Audubon's Andrew Noe in 2001.

Must be the warm weather. Eastern is 3-0 in games played in Florida and 1-6 in South Jersey.

Ugly game of the week. Holy Spirit 36, Bridgeton 3.

Enough said.

or scarchidi@phillynews.com.