Sports
SPF American Legion Baseball Plays for State Tournament Berth Wednesday
The team, comprised of local high schoolers, will face Union at 3 p.m. at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains.
Editor's Note: Due to inclement weather Tuesday, the game was postponed from Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon.
The Scotch Plains Senior American Legion baseball team is one win away from clinching third place in Union County and qualifying for the state tournament. The fifth-seeded team in Union County, it defeated fourth-seed Watchung Hills on Monday 3-2.
Wednesday at 3 p.m., Scotch Plains will face Union, the tournament's sixth seed. If Scotch Plains wins, it will be the township's fourth trip to the tournament since 2004.
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Right hander James D'Angelo (3-1), a rising sophomore at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, will pitch for Scotch Plains. He defeated Union 1-0 when the teams last played each other July 1.
In the game against Watchung Hills on Monday, Scotch Plains earned runs from second baseman Frank Degnan, a rising junior, and relief pitcher Marcus Rivera, a rising senior. Rivera also earned a save: With Scotch Plains leading Watchung Hills by only one run, he pitched the final one and two-thirds innings of the game and held the team's lead.
Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Right-handed pitcher John Howarth, a rising senior, started the game for Scotch Plains. He earned the win for the game, allowing one run in five innings. With the win, his record improved to four wins and two losses.
The state tournament starts Saturday. It is double-elimination, meaning teams will be knocked out of the tournament after suffering two losses.
Games will be played at four district sites, with two teams advancing from each district. District 1 is at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park, District 2 is at Union's Teener League Field, District 3 is at East Brunswick High School and District 4 is at Toms River East High School in Toms River. The winner of the Scotch Plains-Union game will be told the district in which it will compete only after the conclusion of the game Wednesday.
The state finals will take place July 24 at West Windsor Fields.
More information about the state tournament and directions to the fields can be found at here. The 2010 NJ State Tournament Brackets and Results can be found by clicking the black box on the left side of the home page.
