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Softball
R-S Central has been on a surge lately, beating East Rutherford 5-0 last week and have won nine of their last 10 games. Brooke Moore had 2 RBI in the win against East Rutherford, while Haley White, Katie McEntire and Makayla Crawford each had two hits. White picked up the win, tossing an exceptional one-hitter.
Now, it's on to the post season. R-S Central (16-4, 13-3) hosted round one on Wednesday and if they won will host round two at home on Friday (5/15).
The defending 2A state champs from East Rutherford (14-7, 12-4) have been heading in the wrong direction as of late. They have lost three of their last six games. The Lady Cavs did down Chase 14-1 last week to sort of rebound, but this season, they will have to be on the road for likely all of their playoff games as a high wild card. I do like their pitching and defense, but the problem all year continues to be the same. Can they manufacture enough run support?
Chase (10-11, 6-10) has won two of their last six games, but made the playoffs as a wildcard. If there is any good news, they did learn about not quitting last week. They were down by four runs to East Burke going into the final inning, but walked off 14-13 winners as a result of five runs in the bottom of the seventh. No matter what, the Lady Trojans will be on the road this postseason. Although they are young, they are good enough to upset somebody if they play to their potential.
Baseball
East Rutherford (16-7, 11-5) will go for title No.6 in 2A and will likely play the first couple rounds at home. Just like their softball team, East struggles at times from the plate, but they do pretty well playing the field and pitching.
There is an exception though in which Chase mildly upset East 12-10 last week at East. Before that East had won 5 of their last six games. Randleman looks like the team to beat in 2A, but I wouldn't be surprised if East Rutherford makes some noise.
Chase (13-9, 7-9) might be the most dangerous 2A wildcard team of them all. The Trojans have won four of their last five contests and has scored 12 runs or in their current three game win streak. Unfortunately, the likelihood of gaining a playoff game at home are slim this postseason.
R-S Central (9-12, 7-9) made the playoffs, but they will be on the road all postseason. Then again, it was a year ago that the Hilltoppers upset Hendersonville in the first round.
Thomas Jefferson (6-11, 3-9) was on the fence of making the 1A playoffs, but if they did, it would be against one of the top 1A teams in the west.
NASCAR
There has got to be some sympathy for Martin Truex Jr. after Saturday night's race at Kansas Speedway. Truex obviously had the car to beat as he was catching Kevin Harvick for the lead until the final caution. Truex, who led 95 laps of the event had pit issues all night. The last one cost him the win. He pitted with seven to go and a call for just gas only put him sixth on the restart. He was caught up behind cars who did not pit and then shuffled back to tenth in the final rundown because of cars who received fresher tires on that last stop.
Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Greg Ives are finally getting some sort of chemistry. Junior won at Talladega and just finished third at Kansas. Next up is Charlotte and he has yet to win the 600 in his career.
Who would have thought coming into the year that Stephen Curry would become the NBA MVP? Curry, the Davidson graduate continues to raise his game level every season. Although, just a little over six-feet tall (small in regards to the NBA), Curry continues to make shots and do things that a lot of NBA players wish they could do as well. While James Harden was a favored candidate for MVP to some throughout much of the year, Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the best record in the NBA this season. He was consistent in nearly every category and can dribble out of more trouble than most who find it. I believe Curry deserved it over Harden this season.
