One of the reasons the Super 8 baseball tournament was established was to create some buzz.
They've gone above and beyond that this year.
The regular season is a mere 48 hours away and there are numerous questions yet to be answered. The way we see the field, it appears as though five slots are secured (St. John's Prep, St. John's, BC High, Central Catholic and Braintree), leaving three opening for as many as 10-12 teams.
Let's look at the some of the issues the Super 8 baseball committee will be looking at Monday night when they convene at the MIAA headquarters.
Bay State Conference love: There is no question the committee has shown some love to the BSC and they've earned it as evidenced by the fact all three prior champions hail from this league. Once again, Newton North finds itself on the bubble with little wiggle room. The Tigers could really make a case for themselves by knocking off BC High and Waltham to end the season.
Merrimack Valley Conference logjam: Going on our brilliant assumption (aren't they always) that Central Catholic is in the field, the committee will have to decide whether a second time from here is worthy. No question, the league has several good teams, including Andover, Methuen and North Andover. I asked three different sources up there and each of the three teams received love from the source. Andover is playing well down the stretch and if they win three games over the next 24 hours, the Golden Warriors will have earned a long hard look. Methuen and North Andover meet in the finals of the Haverhill tournament, so the loser will be out of the mix.
X marks the spot: No bubble team has generated more interest down the stretch than Xaverian. Gerry Lambert's team generally play well down the stretch and the Hawks have some good wins on their resume. A win over Bishop Hendricken is a must, putting more pressure on the committee to look at a red-hot 13-7 season.
Western Massachusetts: Given the nature of baseball, any team that heads into the Memorial Day weekend with an undefeated record deserves some serious consideration. Taconic is that very team, a veteran squad boasting an 18-0 record. That being said, there are two issues facing the committee, one fair and one unfair. Many have questioned the overall strength of schedule, while others are pointing to Pope Francis' quick two-and-out last year as reason not to consider the Braves.
Lynnfield: The Pioneers head into the weekend with a 17-1 mark and yes, their schedule is not as tough as some of the Division 1 team. But what happens if they knock off both Reading and Belmont, two Middlesex League teams who have generated Super 8 history (Super 8 director Don Fredericks was at the Reading-Belmont game the other day)?
Lynn Classical: The Rams were sailing along with an undefeated record with wins over Danvers, Peabody and Beverly before Reading handed them their first and only loss to date. Lynn Classical faces St. Mary's in the finals of the Clancy Tournament looking to finish off a 19-1 season. Is that enough?
