Weather pushes back local action
Apparently, whoever controls the weather did not like the initial dates for the 2017 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Baseball Tournament.
For the second time in two rounds, the state tournament had to be bumped a day because of bad weather Thursday.
The second round was supposed to begin Thursday, but, because of persistent morning rain, will be played Friday.
That is not a huge problem for most. Yet, even with Memorial Day weekend beginning, some schools do have their proms or off Friday, so a few game times have fluctuated.
In the Central Jersey Group III Tournament, 14th-seeded Neptune (812) will now visit sixthseeded Northern Burlington (12-9) at 1 p.m. Friday. The other two games involving local teams in that bracket, fifth-seeded Nottingham (21-7) at fourth-seeded Allentown (21-2) and seventh-seeded Jackson Liberty (16-9) at second-seeded Steinert (22-5), are set for 4 p.m. starts.
In South Jersey Group II, the game between fifth-seeded Bordentown (16-8) at fourth-seeded Manasquan (11-10) will begin at 2 p.m., while eighth-seeded Cedar Creek (8-13) and top seed Delran (21-4) are still a 4 p.m. first pitch.
In Central Jersey Group I, 13th-seeded Florence (7-11) will travel to 12thseeded Keansburg (8-13) for a 3:45 p.m. secondround game.
In Non-Public A South, sixth-seeded Notre Dame (16-8) will host 11thseeded Camden Catholic (4-16) at 4 p.m.
In South Jersey Group IV, 12th-seeded Cherokee (13-11) will meet fourthseeded Rancocas Valley (17-4) at the Red Devils’ Eastampton Sports Complex at 4 p.m.
If games cannot be played Friday, teams will need to try again Saturday since the third round is slated for Tuesday, May 30 (weather permitting).