State playoffs get underway this afternoon

When the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Baseball Tournament gets underway Monday, 17 teams from The Trentonian’s coverage area will be trying to make it to a state final.

Hamilton (22-3) earned the highest seeding of all the locals, earning the top seed in Central Jersey Group III. Head coach Mike Moceri Jr.’s team hosts Red Bank Regional (7-15) at 4 p.m. Monday.

New Egypt (12-5) has the next highest seeding as a No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group I. Head coach Vince Caiazza’s squad hosts Keansburg (4-10) at 4 p.m. Monday.

Delran (17-4) and Trenton Catholic Academy (11-7) grabbed third seeds.

Head coach Jim Goodwin’s Bears host Oakcrest (8-15) at 4 p.m. Monday in South Jersey Group II action, while head coach Keith Naylor’s Iron Mikes host St. Rose (2-17) at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Non-Public B South play.

Despite its 22-1 record, Mercer County Tournament champion Notre Dame is only a fifth seed in Non-Public A South (because of power points), forcing head coach Joe Drulis’ squad to head to fourth-seeded Red Bank Catholic (19-4), tentatively set for 4 p.m. Friday.

After Monday’s first round for public schools, surviving teams are scheduled to play Thursday and then again Tuesday, May 28 should they keep on winning. Non-Public teams are listed for Tuesday and Friday games this week and next week.

Public school sectional final action will take place Friday, May 31 at the home sites of the higher-seeded team with public state semifinals scheduled for Tuesday, June 4 at neutral sites.

The state finals once again will be held at Bob DeMeo Field in Veterans Park. The difference this year is that the Non-Public State Finals will be held at 4 & 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, while the Public State Finals will be Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.