Mother Nature helped the Scotch Plains-Fanwood softball team more than a triple play ever could Friday night as the Raiders were rained out against Cranford in a Union County Tournament quarterfinal at Linden's Memorial Field.
Cranford was leading Scotch Plains 8-0 in the top of the second when the game was stopped at 6:25 p.m. by the home plate umpire because of thunder and lightning.
The game started five minutes ahead of its scheduled 6 p.m. time.
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Once the game is halted because of thunder and lightning it can't resume for another 30 minutes according to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) rule.
About 10 minutes after the Cranford-Scotch Plains and Union-Rahway quarterfinals were halted, the sky opened and it rained heavily for a good 15 minutes.
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Tournament Director and Linden Athletic Director Stephen Yesinko then made the decision to move all four quarterfinals to Saturday at the Memorial Field Complex, with two at 4 p.m. and two at 6 p.m.
The Cranford-Scotch Plains and Union-Rahway games will be replayed from the beginning at 4 p.m. and then at 6 p.m. New Providence will take on Johnson and Union Catholic will face Governor Livingston.
The semifinals have been re-scheduled for Sunday at the Memorial Field Complex, both at 3 p.m. and on different fields.
Union scored two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead before its game against Rahway was stopped in the top of the fourth.
Cranford scored eight runs in the bottom of the first for its 8-0 lead over Scotch Plains. The Raiders had a runner on second – Aysia Peterson, who was hit by a pitch – in the top of the second when their game was halted.
Since both of those games will be played again from the very beginning, those stats may not end up counting.
Defending champion Union is seeking to repeat as champions for the first time since winning a record six crowns in a row from 1991-1996.
Cranford is seeking to get back to the final after winning three straight championships from 2006-2008. The Cougars lost to Linden in last year's semifinals.
GL is seeking to reach the final for the first time since 2006 and win the title for the first time since 2001.
NOTES: According to Cranford's schedule on www.highschoolsports.net, the second-seeded Cougars will host 15th-seeded Scotch Plains Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Adams Avenue Field in Cranford in a North 2, Group 3 first round contest.
35th ANNUAL SOFTBALL
UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SEEDS: 1-Cranford. 2-Gov. Livingston. 3-Union. 4-Johnson. 5-Roselle Park. 6-Brearley. 7-Union Catholic. 8-Elizabeth. 9-Scotch Plains. 10-Westfield. 11-Rahway. 12-New Providence. 13-Linden. 14-Oak Knoll. 15-Dayton. 16-Kent Place. 17-Roselle Catholic. 18-Roselle. 19-Plainfield. 20-Hillside.
PRELIMINARY ROUND:
Wednesday, May 5
Linden 15, Hillside 0
Oak Knoll 16, Plainfield 3
Thursday, May 6
Dayton 11, Roselle 1
Roselle Catholic 6, Kent Place 3
FIRST ROUND:
Saturday, May 8
New Providence 8, Roselle Park 1
Johnson 9, Linden 0
Scotch Plains 10, Elizabeth 9 (9 inn.)
Cranford 9, Roselle Catholic 0
Union Catholic 4, Westfield 3
Rahway 7, Brearley 0
Monday, May 10
Union 10, Oak Knoll 0
Gov. Livingston 19, Dayton 1
QUARTERFINALS:
Saturday, May 15
At Linden's Memorial Field complex
TOP SIDE OF THE BRACKET:
9-Scotch Plains vs. 1-Cranford, 4 p.m.
12-New Providence vs. 4-Johnson, 6 p.m.
BOTTOM SIDE OF THE BRACKET:
11-Rahway vs. 3-Union, 4 p.m.
7-Union Catholic vs. 2-Gov. Livingston, 6 p.m.
SEMIFINALS:
Sunday, May 16
At Linden's Memorial Field
Both are 3 p.m. starts on different fields.
FINALS:
Saturday, May 22
At Kean University's
Cougar Field in Union
Junior varsity: noon
Varsity: 2 p.m.
UCT CHAMPIONS
2009: Union
2008: Cranford
2007: Cranford
2006: Cranford
2005: Brearley
2004: Roselle Park
2003: Roselle Park
2002: Cranford
2001: Governor Livingston
2000: Union
1999: Governor Livingston
1998: Westfield
1997: Governor Livingston
1996: Union
1995: Union
1994: Union
1993: Union
1992: Union
1991: Union
1990: Westfield
1989: Union Catholic
1988: Union
1987: Union
1986: Westfield
1985: Westfield
1984: Westfield
1983: Union
1982: Roselle Park
1981: Johnson Regional
1980: Linden
1979: Johnson Regional
1978: Westfield
1977: Scotch Plains
1976: Westfield
Championships: Union (11), Westfield (7),
Cranford (4), Roselle Park (3), Gov. Livingston (3),
Johnson Regional (2), Scotch Plains (1),
Linden (1), Union Catholic (1), Brearley (1).
