Monday,
May 23, 2016
By The Super Computer
NJS.com Proprietary Technology
The Super Computer is NorthJerseySports.com's proprietary technology that predicts playoff outcomes to within .01 percent accuracy. What is says here is what will happen in the state sectional softball tournaments getting underway in earnest on this beautiful Monday.
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Saddle Brook's Taryn DiGiacomo |
North 1, Group 1
Seeds: 1. Saddle Brook 2. Butler 3. Hasbrouck Heights 4. Cedar Grove 5. Midland Park 6. New Milford 7. North Warren 8. Emerson 9. Hawthorne 10. Waldwick 11. Verona 12. Becton 13. Bogota 14. Park Ridge 15. Cresskill 16. Wood-Ridge
Player to Watch:
Taryn DiGiacomo, Saddle Brook
DiGiacomo is the most versatile player in the section and can be a huge factor in beating an opponent in a bunch of ways. Not only is she a crafty left-handed pitcher, but she can also hit to all fields and create havoc on the basepaths.
Pitcher to Watch:
Larissa Spellman, Butler
Spellman has been the lynchpin in taking the Butler softball program to heights never reached before in school history. The hard-throwing four-year starter is coming off a shutout in the Morris County Tournament championship game and will look to lead Butler to another section title.
Dark Horse:
New Milford
Alexis Monroy is one of North Jersey’s top three-sport athletes and consistently throws strikes for the Lady Knights. New Milford nearly knocked off this year’s Bergen County finalist Indian Hills, losing 1-0 in the Round of 16 in the Bergen County Tournament. If speedy Justine Ricciardelli can get on base and give Monroy some run support, the Knights will be a tough out.
Biggest First-Round Upset:
Waldwick over North Warren
North Warren has had some state tournament success in recent years that includes reaching a section final last year in North 1, Group 2. Waldwick is an exciting team that can hit and will play with a nothing-to-lose attitude. Hallie Donofrio and Ashley Buschgans are big bats in the middle of the lineup that will need to come through if the Warriors are to pull the upset.
First-Round Winners:
Saddle Brook, Butler, Hasbrouck Heights, Cedar Grove, Midland Park, New Milford, Waldwick, Hawthorne
Final:
Saddle Brook vs. Butler
Winner:
Butler
While the Super Computer was hesitant to make this pick due to Mark Aug’s often-declared love for the Morris County team, it is a chance for this ballyhooed Butler senior class to come full circle after losing at Saddle Brook in the first round of the state tournament as freshmen.
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Dumont's Jen Sweeney |
North 1, Group 2
Seeds: 1. Jefferson 2. Demarest 3. Ramsey 4. Mahwah 5. Dumont 6. Westwood 7. Kittatinny 8. Pequannock 9. River Dell 10. Kinnelon 11. Lenape Valley 12. Glen Rock 13. Walkill Valley 14. Newton. 15. Pompton Lakes 16. Lakeland
Player to Watch:
Jen Sweeney, Dumont
One of the top two-way players in this section, Sweeney is the biggest power threat both in the circle with her blazing fastball or at the plate where she has 13 HRs this season. Her supporting cast has grown by leaps and bounds this season, but make no mistake: if Sweeney gets hot, the Huskies could ride her to a title.
Pitcher to Watch:
Mackenzie McGrath, Demarest
McGrath and her Norsewomen hit a bit of a rough patch after ripping off 20 straight wins to start the season. The sophomore right-hander has shown, however, that she can be as dominant as any pitcher in North Jersey when she’s on. If her secondary pitches are working, the Norsewomen will be a favorite to win this section.
Biggest First-Round Upset:
None
First-Round Winners:
Jefferson, Demarest, Ramsey, Mahwah, Dumont, Westwood, Kittatinny, Pequannock
Final:
Jefferson vs. Demarest
Winner:
Demarest
After the hangover from suffering an upset loss to Dumont in the Bergen County Tournament, will want to right the ship and end the season with some hardware. Victoria and Veronica Corcoran are nightmares to get out at the top of the lineup with Ellen Hamlin and McGrath being big run-producers. Watch out for catcher Haley Pontillo, who will be a factor at some point late in the section tournament.
North 1, Group 3
Seeds: 1. West Essex 2. West Milford 3. Sparta 4. Indian Hills 5. Northern Highlands 6. Old Tappan 7. Paramus 8. Wayne Valley 9. Pascack Valley 10. Roxbury 11. Passaic Valley 12. Vernon 13. Teaneck 14. Montville 15. Garfield 16. Morris Hills
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Indian Hills' Sarah Stocker |
Player to Watch:
Sarah Stocker, Indian Hills
Not many freshmen crack the varsity lineup let alone burst onto the scene at Indian Hills. Stocker did that and more by ripping the ball all season and becoming one of Bergen County’s most clutch players. After a tough two games in the Bergen county semifinals and finals, how will she bounce back in her first go-round in the state tournament? The answer to that question will play a big part in how the Braves navigate through a loaded field.
Pitcher to Watch:
Paige Masiello, West Milford
Masiello has been a solid pitcher all year for the Highlanders. Getting ahead in the count and keeping hitters off-balance is where she excels. After falling to DePaul (2-0) in the Passaic County final, Masiello will fight that much harder and she’ll need to in order to shut down stacked lineups throughout this section.
Biggest First-Round Upset:
Pascack Valley over Wayne Valley
Just a hunch.
(Editor’s Note: The first round game between Wayne Valley and Pascack Valley has already been played and there was no upset. Could have saved Richie B…I mean The Super Computer…some embarrassment by deleting that pick, but that just ain’t our style.)
First-Round Winners:
West Essex, West Milford, Sparta, Indian Hills, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Paramus, Pascack Valley
Final:
West Essex vs. Sparta
Winner:
West Essex
West Essex has been as hot at the plate as any team in the state. They put up nine runs in a win over Indian Hills last week and went double-digits on Montclair to win the program’s first Essex County title since 2007.
North 1, Group 4
Seeds: 1. Ridgewood 2. Kearny 3. North Bergen 4. Fair Lawn 5. Morris Knolls 6. Belleville 7. Livingston 8. Mount Olive 9. Hackensack 10. Passaic County Tech 11. Morristown 12. Union City 13. Bergen Tech 14. Randolph 15. Bloomfield 16. Clifton
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Ridgewood's Lisa Higgins |
Player to Watch:
Sydney Pace, Kearny
Pace has a big part of the resurgence in Kearny. Last weekend, she led the Kardinals to their first Hudson County title by allowing just one unearned run in the HCT final win over Hoboken. The junior, who is also a soccer standout, is batting .400 on the season to boot.
Pitcher to Watch:
Lisa Higgins, Ridgewood
Just two short weeks ago Ridgewood was the No. 1 ranked team in New Jersey and Higgins was a big reason why. After a shocking loss to Northern Highlands in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals, Higgins is chomping at the bit to get another shot at making a run towards a title.
Biggest First-Round Upset:
PCT over Livingston
Passaic County Tech is in NorthJerseySports.com’s coverage area and Livingston is not, no-brainer.
First-Round Winners:
Ridgewood, Kearny, North Bergen, Fair Lawn, Morris Knolls, Belleville, PCT, Hackensack
Final:
Ridgewood vs. North Bergen
Winner:
Ridgewood
This is a tricky section as one could make a case that the top four of five teams in the section are in the top half of the draw. Bottom line, this is Ridgewood’s section to lose. Playing with a chip on their collective shoulders, the Maroons will win this section and have the potential to do so with relative ease. |