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As 2014 reaches close to May, it’s time for spring high school teams to clarify whether they will or won’t find the postseason. Spring break is here, which means that teams are in tourney this week or taking time to rest.
On the local baseball scene, East Rutherford did it again, beating top dog Burns for the second time this season to climb within a half game of the Bulldogs in the South Mountain Athletic Conference. Unfortunately, Shelby upset them to end the week and go are now a full game back of the Bulldogs. The Cavaliers still remain a game an a half ahead of Shelby and Draughn for the top 2A playoff spot in the SMAC with three conference games left to go.
Although Chase has lost to R-S Central twice this season, the Trojans have overtaken the Hilltoppers by a game for the fourth and final 2A playoff spot earned by the split conference at the moment. Chase had previously taken down Shelby and Crest before having the short win streak snapped. The Trojans will play at the Spring Break Tourney at Shelby all week.
R-S Central has lost four of its last six, but Connor Dailey threw a one hitter as they beat Chase to end last week. The Hilltoppers will join East Rutherford at a Spring Break Tourney this week in Wilmington.
Thomas Jefferson (4-9) is still struggling at the plate and their chances of making the postseason for the fourth consecutive year in a row are fading.
Softball
East Rutherford (15-2, 11-1) is one more win away from sowing up the SMAC softball title. A Kings Mountain loss would also give them the SMAC, but the No.1 2A playoff spot in the conference already belongs to them. East Rutherford could do it on April 29, when they host Draughn, who is becoming noticeable as of late.
However, the second spot in the 2A race is heating up. R-S Central, Chase and Draughn all have seven conference wins, but Central has one less loss momentarily. The Lady Hilltoppers lost twice last week while Chase won twice and Draughn is on a three game win streak. R-S Central has four tough conference games left, while Chase and Draughn don’t have it easy in their last three either. The next R-S Central home game is with East Burke on May 2 and Chase will host Kings Mountain on May 1.
Thomas Jefferson’s softball team has won the most games in one season in awhile, but their playoff chances are fading as well with just one conference win and three South Piedmont games remaining at the moment.
Girls Soccer
Unless they turn it around real fast, Thomas Jefferson’s (1-6-1) four year streak of making the playoffs will end. R-S Central (7-8, 7-5) may be the only bright spot for the moment as they will make the playoffs as they second best from the SMAC conference. Chase (4-10) is on the fence, but likely will make it as a wildcard. East Rutherford is winless this season, but they do have one tie and have lost four games by one goal this season.
NBA Playoffs
So, the Charlotte Bobcats looked as though they would play Indiana in the first round, but that isn’t how it ended up after the Heat and Pacers flip flopped first and second place in the East. The Bobcats are playing Miami and trying to stop the two time defending champs will be a tall task and I don’t think the Bobcats can do it. As a matter of fact, I like the Heat over the Bulls to win the East.
In the West, it’s a lot more complicated. I think anybody is capable of winning the West. Between Oklahoma City, Memphis, Golden State and the L.A. Clippers in the bottom half of the bracket, it takes one injury, one mistake or one person to catch fire from the field to pay a way into the Western Conference Finals. Right now, I am not even comfortable to say that OKC will make the Western Finals, but that is my prediction along with San Antonio. Give me the Spurs winning in five games though. In the finals, give me San Antonio in five against Miami as well to win the NBA title.
