Super snubs spur rivals
Billerica, L-S have a lot to prove in Div. 1 North
Redemption should be on the minds of Billerica and Lincoln-Sudbury as they prepare for the Division 1 North baseball tournament.
Both teams believe they should have been selected for the Super Eight tournament and now get a chance to show the world. The road won’t be an easy one, especially for the Indians who could be looking at a opening game with Malden Catholic.
Don’t be surprised if the Merrimack Valley Conference finds a way to make noise. Lawrence was very good over the second half of the season, Methuen will be dangerous because of ace Jacob Wallace and Lowell put together a 13-win season.
In the South, Norwood snapped a 72-year drought by winning the Div. 1 state title. Despite a couple of hiccups down the stretch, the Mustangs have proven to be solid postseason competitors.
Silver Lake figures to be the toughest challenge on paper, though there were reports coming out of the Super Eight meeting that ace Anthony Videtto might not be 100 percent. Bridge water-is out of the Super Eight for the first time, but the Trojans will be a factor along with Walpole.
Div. 2 North might be the deepest field of the eight in Eastern Mass. Look no further than Belmont and Beverly, a pair of teams good enough to win the sectional, winding up facing each other in the first round.
Wakefield was in the hunt for a Super Eight nomination until a one-sided loss to Austin Prep at the end of the season. The Warriors could use the tournament as a way to show everyone the setback was an exception rather than the norm.
Once again, Roger Day has Danvers rolling and the Falcons should have an extended stay. Just to add to the quality depth, Reading, Masconomet and North Andover were steady throughout the season and have the horses to do damage.
Div. 2 South opened up a bit with Plymouth North making the Super Eight field. Dighton-Rehoboth has been knocking on the door for a while and the Falcons have the players to kick it in this time around.
Hard to go against defending champion Middleboro and its uncanny ability to rise to the occasion in the playoffs. Whitman-Hanson turned things around nicely under first-year coach Pat Cronin, while Oliver Ames kicked it into high gear the second half of the season just to make the tournament.
Austin Prep was very close to a Super Eight berth and now sets its sight on a Div. 3 North title. The Cougars won’t find things easy as Swampscott and Lynnfield are on their side of the bracket. Defending state champion St. Mary’s and North Reading could face one another in a semifinal.
A pair of surprising teams, Dedham and Medway, sit atop the Div. 3 South seeds. As good as those two have been, we think the South Coast Conference will have a say here as Old Rochester and Fairhaven return players who advanced deep into the tournament a year ago.
There could be a rematch in Div. 4 South as St. John Paul and Mashpee appear to be the class of the section. But don’t expect a cakewalk for either one as Abington and Monomoy are fully capable of taking them out.
Cristo Rey and Lowell Catholic rate as the leading contenders in Div. 4 North. If you’re looking for a team with the ability to defeat either Catholic Central Small school, watch for Manchester Essex.