Here we go into the final week of the 2017 baseball season. There are a lot of key games remaining, a lot of spots in the upcoming Super 8 tournament still up for grabs. We've highlighted the teams we feel are still in the hunt for one of those eight slots come Memorial Day, looking at their remaining schedule and a general overview.
TEAM: ST. JOHN'S PREP
NICKNAME: EAGLES
HEAD COACH: Dan Letarte
RECORD: 12-5
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 6-4
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 St. Peter-Marian (4), 5/23 at St. Mary's (7), 5/26 at St. John's (4), 5/28 at Marblehead (12)
OVERVIEW: Eagles have been a little inconsistent since Mike Yarin went down with an injury, but picked up a monster home win against Newton North Friday. The combination of a second-place finish in the Catholic Conference coupled with a decent record against a top-5 schedule in the state, should put the Eagles in the Super 8 field.
TEAM: CENTRAL CATHOLIC
NICKNAME: RAIDERS
HEAD COACH: Marc Pelletier
RECORD: 13-4
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 6-2
REMAINING GAMES: 5/26 at New Bedford (4), 5/27 Lawrence (12), 5/28 at Catholic Memorial (2)
OVERVIEW: Raiders looked golden after the big win over Methuen last Tuesday, but back-to-back shutout losses to Andover and Lawrence give some cause for concern. Two potentially dangerous tests lurk in Lawrence and Catholic Memorial. Barring an epic collapse, Central Catholic should be making its first Super 8 appearance.
TEAM: ANDOVER
NICKNAME: GOLDEN WARRIORS
HEAD COACH: Dan Grams
RECORD: 11-5
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 4-3
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 at Chelmsford (4), 5/25 at Bishop Guertin (4), 5-27 facing host Peabody (6:30) in the opening round of the James Geanoulis Tournament, 5/28 at Geanoulis Tournament, TBA
OVERVIEW: Andover would really be looking good if it didn't lose to Lowell early last week. Golden Warriors have beaten four teams in the latest Herald Top 25, but tough closing schedule will make it tough to get into the Super 8 field.
TEAM: NEWTON NORTH
NICKNAME: TIGERS
HEAD COACH: Joe Siciliano
RECORD: 12-6
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 1-3
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 vs. Walpole (4), 5/24 Needham (4), 5/25 at BC High (4), 5/26 at Waltham (4)
OVERVIEW: Have to believe the Tigers will be doing some serious scoreboard watching over the next few days as they are going to need help to make it into the Super 8 for a fourth straight year. Remaining schedule is tough, but Newton North could open some eyes by defeating Walpole and BC High. The Needham game won't be an easy one as it is sandwiched between Walpole and BC High.
TEAM: METHUEN
NICKNAME: RANGERS
HEAD COACH: Bill Blackwell
RECORD: 14-4
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 2-3
REMAINING GAMES: 5-22 at Dracut (3:45), 5/23 Everett, 5/26 Nashoba (7) at the Haverhill Tournament along with Danvers and North Andover. 5/27 Consolation game at 1, championship game at 7.
OVERVIEW: Rangers were on a roll, but two losses in their last three games puts them squarely on the Super 8 bubble. Methuen might need at least two and possibly three wins, not an easy thing given the remaining opponents, to get into the Super 8.
TEAM: LOWELL
NICKNAME: RED RAIDERS
HEAD COACH: Dan Graham
RECORD: 12-6
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 3-4
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 Lawrence (7:30) in the Spinner's Cup along with Billerica and North Andover, 5/23 consolation at 4:30, championship game at 7:30, 5-26 Catholic Memorial (7)
OVERVIEW: With six losses on the docket, the Red Raiders need to win out (which won't be easy) and hope for a lot of help. I do think if Lowell somehow got into the Super 8, it has enough talent to make some noise.
TEAM: READING
NICKNAME: ROCKETS
HEAD COACH: Dave Blanchard
RECORD: 13-2
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 2-2
REMAINING GAMES: 5/21 Wilmington (2), 5/22 Wakefield (3:45), 5/23 Winchester (3:45), 5/25 at Belmont (3:45), 5/28 at Lynnfield (1)
OVERVIEW: The big win over Lynn Classical put the Rockets in a prime position to become the second Division 2 team to qualify for the Super 8. The remaining road is not easy as Reading has five games in seven days, three of them against very dangerous opponents in ML Freedom champion Wilmington, Belmont and a one-loss Lynnfield team.
TEAM: LYNN CLASSICAL
NICKNAME: RAMS
HEAD COACH: Mike Zukowski
RECORD: 15-1
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 2-1
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 Marblehead (4), 5/24 Everett (7), 5/26 vs. North Reading (4) in the Clancy Tournament along with Lynn English and St. Mary's, 5/27 Consolation game at 12, championship game at 3.
OVERVIEW: Rams saw their dreams of an unbeaten season come to end against a very good Reading team. Still think they are in pretty good shape for a Super 8 berth, but can't afford a second loss. Marblehead and North Reading will not pushovers, however, so Lynn Classical is going to have to work for it.
TEAM: DANVERS
NICKNAME: FALCONS
HEAD COACH: Roger Day
RECORD: 14-2
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 0-1
REMAINING GAMES: 5/21 Bishop Fenwick (6:30), 5/24 Revere (6:30), 5/26 North Andover (4) at the Haverhill Tournament along with Nashoba and Methuen. 5/27 Consolation game at 1, championship game at 7.
OVERVIEW: Few coaches get more out of their talent than Roger Day. That being said, the Falcons appear to need some serious help to get into the Super 8 as the resume doesn't appear to be as impressive as some of the others.
TEAM: BRAINTREE
NICKNAME: WAMPS
HEAD COACH: Bill O'Connell
RECORD: 12-5
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 3-1
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 at Milton (3:45), 5/24 Weymouth at Brockton Rox Stadium (7:30), 5/26 Hingham (4)
OVERVIEW: Whenever you discuss the Wamps, you are always reminded of the classic phrase uttered by Michael Corleone in Godfather 3, “just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in”. This is a dangerous team to overlook, regardless of the circumstances, and it looks very much like Bill O'Connell will be leading his team into a fourth straight Super 8 tournament.
TEAM: BC HIGH
NICKNAME: EAGLES
HEAD COACH: Norm Walsh
RECORD: 10-6
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 5-3
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 at Silver Lake (4), 5/23 St. John's Shrewsbury (4), 5/25 Newton North (4), 5/27 Acton-Boxboro (11)
OVERVIEW: Catholic Conference certainly don't have an road this week with possible Super 8 top-seed St. John's (Shrewsbury) and Newton North headlining the schedule. I have to think two wins clearly puts the Eagles in the field, anything less could make for some finger-biting moments on Memorial Day.
TEAM: WALPOLE
NICKNAME: REBELS
HEAD COACH: Chris Costello
RECORD: 12-5
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 1-2
REMAINING GAMES: 5/22 at Newton North (3:45), 5/24 at Norwood (7), 5/26 Mansfield (3:45)
OVERVIEW: Rebels are going to need some outside help to get into the Super 8 tournament. Needless to say, the Newton North is a must-win, then they still have to deal with archrival Norwood under the lights at the Balch and a good Mansfield nine.
TEAM: ST. JOHN'S SHREWSBURY
NICKNAME: Pioneers
HEAD COACH: Charlie Eppinger
RECORD: 16-2
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 3-1
REMAINING GAMES: 5/23 at BC High (4), 5/24 at New Bedford (4), 5/26 St. John's Prep (4), 5/27 at Leominster (11)
OVERVIEW: Have to believe St. John's is one of a handful of teams who are going to be in the Super 8 field. The remaining schedule is not an easy one with a pair of Catholic Conference teams and a dangerous Leominster squad on the docket.
TEAM: TACONIC
NICKNAME: Braves
HEAD COACH: Kevin Stanard
RECORD: 16-0
RECORD VS. BOSTON HERALD TOP 25: 0-0
REMAINING GAMES: 5/23 vs. Monument Mountain (4:30), 5/24 at Drury (4:30), 5/25 at Pope Francis (4:30), 5/27 at Pittsfield (2)
OVERVIEW: The fact that Taconic is 16-0 this late in the season is more than enough to open some eyes. There are some who have questioned the strength of schedule and others are reticent to put another Western Mass. team in the field after Pope Francis struggled through a pair of six-run losses. That being said, have to believe that a 3-1 finish would likely put the Braves in the field.
