MCT semis set for today at DeMeo Field
There was one more upset last week in the quarterfinal round of the 41st annual Mercer County Baseball Tournament. So, as the teams prepare for the MCT Semifinal round Tuesday at Bob DeMeo Field in Hamilton’s Veterans Park, the question which remains is will the seeds be able to hold heading into the MCT championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Trenton Thunder Ballpark?
West Windsor-Plainsboro High South may be the lowest seed remaining at No. 6, yet after smoking third-seeded Steinert High, 10-0 in six innings on the road last Wednesday, one has to wonder who the Pirates will match up with the secondseeded Hun School.
WW-P South (10-4-1) and Hun (18-2) open county semifinal play at DeMeo at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Head coach Justin Ely’s Pirates bring a five-game winning streak into the game after their Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division clash at Notre Dame’s Father John D’Onofrio
Field was postponed Monday.
Head coach Tom Monfiletto’s Raiders have only lost to Peddie (4-1 April 5) and Don Bosco Prep (1-0 May 1) this season and enter on a six-game winning streak after defeating St. Joseph’s of Metuchen, 8-2, at Trenton Thunder Ballpark Sunday.
Hun will be attempting to qualify for just its second MCT Final in tournament history. WW-P South has been in five MCT Finals and won three.
On the other side of the bracket, there is a more anticipated matchup as fourth-seeded Hamilton West (14-6) takes on top-seeded Notre Dame (15-2), scheduled for a 7 p.m. first pitch Tuesday at DeMeo Field.
Head coach Mike Moceri Jr.’s Hornets have won two in a row after their makeup home game with Robbinsville High was postponed Monday.
Head coach Joe Drulis’ Irish may have lost two of their last three games (5-4, in eight innings at Allentown May 9 & 3-1 at Northern Burlington May 13), but they are traditionally one of the most dangerous teams in the Mercer County Tournament.
ND has won the secondmost titles in tournament history with nine crowns, the last coming in 2019 when the tourney was last played. The Irish also have reached the secondmost MCT title games with 18 appearances.
Hamilton West, by comparison, has made it to eight MCT Finals and won two.
Steinert is tops in both cate- gories with 16 trophies from 22 MCT Final appearances, which is what made WW-P South’s quarterfinal win thoroughly impressive.
PREP A TOURNAMENT
The New Jersey Independent Schools Athletics Association Prep A Tournament pairings were announced over the weekend, which was good news for the area’s three participants.
The Hun School earned the top seed, followed by the Lawrenceville School and the Peddie School.
The early rounds of the tournament take place this week (the first game between fifth-seeded Blair Academy and the fourthseeded Pingry School will happen today), leading up to the semifinal round Saturday, May 21 at Lawrenceville. The final round will follow Sunday, May 22, also at Lawrenceville. Tuesday, May 17
Game 1: Blair Academy at Pingry, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18
Game 2: Peddie at Lawrenceville, 4 p.m. Game 3: Blair Academy/Pingry winner at Hun, 4:15 p.m.
Friday, May 20
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, TBA
Semifinal Round Saturday, May 21
(at the Lawrenceville School)
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Game 6 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 4 p.m.
AMERICAN LEGION TRYOUTS
The Lawrence American Legion Post 414 baseball team will hold its final tryout at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 22 at Mike Pezzicola Field in Lawrence’s Central Park on Eggerts Crossing Road. Boys ages 14-18 who live in Lawrence or attend Lawrence High, the Lawrenceville School or Notre Dame High are eligible. For more information, please contact manager Jason Zegarski at JZegarski12@verizon.net.
SOCCER REFEREES SOUGHT
First-time high school soccer referees, known as cadets, are being sought to join Mercer County’s 50-year-old organization. New members will need to attend a five-week soccer class, then complete a soccer game awareness overview. Interested candidates should contact Rich at (609) 647-2322.