Posted on Sat, May. 10, 2008
After missing his last scheduled start because of shoulder problems, Mainland's Charlie Law will return to the mound today and face heavy-hitting Winslow Township in a first-round game in the Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic.
The game will be played at Overbrook at noon.
Because of yesterday's heavy rains, the starting times of today's Diamond Classic games have been moved back to allow the fields more time to dry. The games will be played at four sites, at noon and 2:30 p.m. The order of games in the doubleheader at Maple Shade was flip-flopped (see the schedule below) to accommodate Millville's prom.
Law, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior righthander with a crackling fastball, has a baseball scholarship to Rutgers but could be selected in the early rounds of next month's first-year players draft. He has pitched in just four games this spring and is 3-0 with an ERA under 2.00.
Mainland coach Gary Hegh could have saved Law for one of the Mustangs' critical conference games next week, but he wants the righthander to face Winslow.
"He hasn't pitched in a week, and we need him to throw," the coach said, adding that he has confidence in Max Trotman (3-0) and Pete Monaghan (2-0) to pitch in other games next week.
Law will oppose Winslow's Tristan Keyser (4-0), a diminutive but hard-throwing righthander who has been offered a scholarship to Fairleigh Dickinson.
The 16 teams that are in the Diamond Classic attended a luncheon yesterday at Masso's in Glassboro; the luncheon, sponsored by the South Jersey Coaches Association, also honored numerous unsung heroes and scholar-athletes.
Hegh said he was proud to represent the Cape-Atlantic American Conference in the Diamond.
"I take it seriously; it's a showcase with the best of the best, and it's an honor to be playing in it," he said. "I've told the kids how important it is to have a good showing for the team and for the conference."
As for Law, Hegh believes the pitcher will be selected in the draft's first few rounds.
"He's 6-7, 225 and he's hit 92 [on the radar gun]," said Hegh, whose Mustangs are 10-6. "What will he throw when he's 250? Why give him to a college coach when your [pro] coaches can nourish him?"
Law will be facing a Winslow team that is 13-4, has scored in double figures in seven games, and has won five of its last six contests.
Here are today's matchups with the revised times:
At Maple Shade: Millville vs. Lenape, noon; West Deptford vs. Pennsville, 2:30 p.m.
At Deptford: Shawnee vs. Bishop Eustace, noon; Cherry Hill West vs. Maple Shade, 2:30 p.m.
At Overbrook: Winslow Township vs. Mainland, noon; Williamstown vs. Overbrook, 2:30 p.m.
At Washington Township: Vineland vs. Sacred Heart, noon; Washington Township vs. Northern Burlington, 2:30 p.m.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181
or scarchidi@phillynews.com.