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After collecting its fifth state title in 2A baseball in 2010, the Cavs have started off 2011…winning. East Rutherford is out to an 8-0 record so far, led by “Mr. Clutch,” Derek Deaton with Blake Myers adding assistance.
Chase has started strong too. They are now 6-1, opening the season with six straight wins before falling to North Henderson. The Trojans’ Cam Wilkins and Mitchell Parris maybe the best duo of pitchers on a Rutherford County baseball team this season
R-S Central baseball is winless so far, but they have lost all seven games by four runs or less this season. So, R-S pitchers, Dylan Hipp and J.M. Spangler are doing everything they can on the mound to keep the Hilltoppers in games. Once Central notches that first win, the tide will probably turn for them.
After Thomas Jefferson baseball started the season 0-4, they have won three in a row coming into this past Tuesday’s game with Madison.
Area softball is going to be another heated battle this season in the South Mountain Athletic Conference. Chase, East Rutherford and R-S Central are all good clubs and even throughout. Chase maybe the most dangerous, while East has a comradery about them ever since the deep playoff run of 2010. Central is a formidable and competitive club, but they haven’t their stride yet.
Thomas Jefferson girls soccer team (6-0-1 overall, 2-0 in conference) continues to roll along this season. In the six wins they have, all of them have been shutouts.
The Lady Gryphons most outstanding player from a year ago, Anna Dedmon has scored 22 goals and five assists already this season.
On the NASCAR scene, the biggest surprise so far in the early season has become Paul Menard. Menard has one top five and two top tens so far this season, currently placing him fifth in the Sprint Cup point standings.
Menard hasn’t finished any worse than 17th so far in 2011 and grabbed attention this past weekend with a fifth place run at Bristol. Last year, Menard started off strong, but now under the Richard Childress Racing banner, I don’t think we will see his performances dwindle as the year goes along.
Who says the Atlantic Coast Conference is a weak basketball league?
From what I see, there are just two Big East teams and three ACC teams left in the NCAA Tourney.
Think about this! The ACC gets four overall bids and 75% make the Sweet 16 and the Big East received 11 bids and now two teams or roughly 18 percent remain!
Duke survived a scare from Michigan over the weekend, but a recovered Kyrie Irving made the game-winner late to push the Blue Devils into the Sweet 16.
North Carolina’s season was saved on an inbounds deflection by John Henson to seal a win over Washington and into the round of 16.
And lastly, Florida State embarrassed Notre Dame with its defense in a 71-57 rout on Sunday night. The Seminoles best player, Chris Singleton, played just 10 minutes and didn’t even score making Notre Dame’s loss and the Big East overall, look even worse.
However, it doesn’t get any easier for Florida State as they play a very scary Virginia Commonwealth team, who just knocked off No. 3 seeded Purdue. The Seminoles tip-off at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
North Carolina will go for the Elite 8 against Marquette at 7p.m. on Friday, while Duke takes on Arizona at 9:45 p.m. Thursday.
