‘Last Dance’ brackets scheduled to be released today
The much anticipated pairings for the New Jersey “Last Dance” Baseball Tournament sanctioned by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) are set to be announced at noon on Tuesday online at jerseysportszone.com.
“Last Dance” is a high school summer tournament for players who were in grades 9-12 during the 2019-20 school year, not a travel tournament. Team rosters will resemble N.J. high school squads who missed out on a chance to play this spring because of the coronavirus outbreak, but this is not a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association event.
Tournament director Mike Murray Jr., the athletic director and varsity baseball coach at St. Joseph’s High in Metuchen, and the other organizers have been adjusting their plans over the last two months to make sure they comply with NJSIAA, New Jersey Department of Health and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) guidelines.
As word spread about the event, close to 240 (out of the state’s nearly 400) high school baseball teams expressed interest. As of last week, between 220-230 teams were still in consideration for the tournament, including at least 15 of the 25 teams from The Trentonian’s coverage area.
Approximately 54 sites around the state are expected to host pool play July 14-16. Four-to-six of those fields may be local.
There will be four-to-six teams per site. Keeping in mind COVID-19 concerns, the organizers are trying to limit travel to a half-anhour.
Teams will be guaranteed three games in pool play with extra hitters allowed and free defensive substitutions. Most sites figure to have two pool-play games per day (weather permitting).
The top finisher from each of those pool-play sites will advance to the single-elimination Round of 16 (for North and South Jersey) the following week (July 21). Midweek play will continue with Rounds of 8, 4 and 2 until North and South winners are determined. Those two will then meet in the “Last Dance” championship game July 30.
After pool play, the remaining rounds will be played at New Jersey’s minor league ballparks, including Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater and Skylands Stadium in Sussex County.
The North and South Jersey champions will receive trophies donated by MaryAnna Forman and All-Star Trophies in Toms River. The North Jersey trophy will be named the Ben Luderer Award to honor the 30-year-old Cliffside Park baseball coach who died from coronavirusrelated complications in March.
Teams which do participate will be expected to have their fans, players and coaches use social distancing. Masks are recommended to be worn when not on the playing field.
Athletic trainers will be at each site to take players’ and coaches’ temperatures before games. Anyone
whose temperature exceeds the allowed limit will be asked to leave.