At the Sports Desk

High School Baseball

Chase, East Rutherford and R-S Central are all within a game of each other. Chase holds the lead in the conference race as they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Chase (10-1, 6-1) only had a trip up at R-S Central. However, they are outscoring the opposition by an 11-2 average. Chase has also sent seven different pitchers to the mound with Chipper McGinnis leading the way.

East Rutherford (10-1, 6-1) has won seven in a row. Is anybody really shocked? Since giving up 12 runs to Chase in a March 7th loss, they have allowed just 19 since. They go to Chase on April 5th for a chance to challenge for the league lead.

R-S Central (9-3, 5-2) is all alone in third despite being a game back from first. They have won 7 of the last 8 and scored 41 runs during a current five-game win streak.

High School Softball

Chase (9-1, 7-0) continues to roll as they have an 8-game win streak at the moment. They host East Rutherford on 4/4. They can hit and pitch, no question. The Lady Trojans sit atop the Southwestern 2A standings.

R-S Central (9-5, 6-1) has won two straight Southwestern 2A games and could make it four by the end of the week as they play South Point twice this week. Central will host T.C. Roberson on 4/9. The Lady Hilltoppers remain in second place in the league.

East Rutherford (5-4, 4-2) may not be playing as well as they would like right now, but they are still tied for third in the conference with Shelby. They also hold the tiebreaker over Shelby in head-to-head when it comes to gaining a playoff spot.

Final Four

Well, it's a shock! There will be no North Carolina or Duke in the Final Four on Saturday. Both fell in the Elite Eight. This is an odd group left for the exception of Michigan State.

Duke got lucky twice in the tourney from avoiding defeat, but Michigan State ended that run. UNC was waxed by Auburn in a epic surprise.

Virginia vs. Auburn

Both teams have played well defensively, but it's really Auburn's offense against Virginia's defense. Virginia is capable of winning it all and I hope they do. Tony Bennett deserves a championship. However, I have Auburn going to the finals in this one. Auburn has been shooting it better, but if Virginia controls the pace, then this prediction is wrong.

Michigan St. vs. Texas Tech

The Spartans might have upended Duke, but nobody has played better defense in this tourney than Texas Tech. If past tell us anything, I should pick UVA and Michigan St. in the finals, but I have an Auburn-Texas Tech projection with Texas Tech as the winner.

NASCAR Schedule 2020

I like the new changes the Series made in a schedule change for 2020. NASCAR released the schedule last week and it was definitely needed.

The first Martinsville race of the season will now be a Saturday night on Mother's Day weekend. It's second race is the next to last event of the year.

The second Daytona race is now at the end of the playoffs and the Brickyard 400 moves to July 4th weekend. Homestead is no longer the finale, it moves to March. Pocono has a double race weekend just as a trial run.

In the playoffs, there are now three short track races instead of one. Darlington starts the playoffs and Phoenix ends the season. I expect more changes in 2021, but until then, it all makes sense.