A year ago, while I was off put by the fact that there were three Newburyport players and four North Reading players in a conference that had five different champions, BUT I lauded the Cape Ann League coaches for the courage to name a 13-player all-league team, one that actually had meaning.
I compared it to the MVC, a 10-team league that for some reason cowardly named an 18-player team.
Well, my rant obviously fell on deaf ears. The MVC coaches again couldn’t make it count, and the CAL boys figured why not join the fun.
An eighteen player all CAL team came across Longo’s desk last night. Wow.
I feel bad for the kids like large school MVP Jordan Silva and North Andover’s dynamic southpaw duo of Ryan Sifferlen and Mike Weisman. They are truly top 12 kind of guys. It’s too bad the coaches chose not to truly make that honor special.
Funny thing, though. Whoever printed up the team clearly feels the same way as I do.
The team list is clearly tiered. Pitchers, catchers, infielders, outfielders, dh, going 12 deep.
Then all of a sudden, it looks like the final six guys are add-ons, a little of this, a little of that, a guy here, a guy there, almost like they had a six-way tie for the 13th and final spot.
Fellas, that’s what league all-stars are for.
Sorry, I just can’t embrace the politically correct road here.
18 is way too many.
Good news, bad news for Andover.
The bad first, Shawn Carlson rolled his ankle shagging flies at Tuesday night’s MVC all-star game and was on crutches for the Warrior opener with Boston English.
The good, the Warriors opened with 11 in the first, and starter John Farrell basically threw a bullpen, going three scoreless innings before exiting.
If I’m Ken Maglio, with an 11-0 lead Farrell would have gone only one inning, maybe only one batter, but he’s got 252 career wins and I have 0, so I’ll yield to his judgment.
Farrell will surely be ready to go Saturday night against Lawrence, if Farrell can’t.
Speaking of bad luck in a blowout, Swampscott put up 23-spot on Lowell Catholic, meaning BC-bound Hunter Gordon was held out for the upcoming first-rounder with Whittier Tech … Ouch.
Before any more of the action is played, here are my picks in each section. Sorry, I’m late.
Division 1 North
I’m taking St. John’s Prep over Central Catholic.
Why?
Sorry, I like Central’s draw. Yes, they play L-S, but that’s the L-S No. 2 vs. Central’s Nos. 1 and 2, considering the Raiders get a freebie in the opener with Brook Farm. That and the fact that the Quinn kid is questionable, I like the Raiders.
As for the Prep, they are the Prep, with monsters at every position and a deep, deep mound corps.
Chris Carmain is money. Yaz is a top 15 round draft pick (according to at least one scout I just spoke to) and the Castoldi kid hits everything.
SJP wll have to earn it, though. The opener with Lynn English is no walk, especially with English tossing Jonathan Surette and his nasty deuce at them.
Dates with MC and Westford loom, and that’s before a potential sectional final with my, er the Raiders. (Note: that last line was put in to antagonize all the folks who say I favor Central).
My sectional sleeper (I should trademark that line by the way) is of course Lawrence. The only thing holding the Lancers back is that once in the state tourney, you have depleted pitching and have to win a slugfest. Can Lawrence do that? If they do, we might be talking history here.
Division 2 North
I said it in March, then April, now May and I will in June … North Andover is a clear-cut choice to win D2.
Who in the division can match Weisman, Brunette and Walsh on the hill?
Nobody.
And I can’t say for certain, because I don’t know every team’s personnel, but if I was doing a fantasy draft, Ryan Sifferlen would be my first non-pitcher taken in the sectional. I’m pretty sure of that.
The Knights KO Belmont in the North title game.
Sectional sleeper? Sorry, it’s not really a sleeper. Masco’s third time against NA is the charm. If the Chieftains can beat the Knights, they repeat as North champs.
Division 3 North
I like St. Mary’s of Lynn over Arlington Catholic.
Sorry, but the Spartans gain is Whittier’s loss as St. Mary gets Swampscott without Gordon on the hill and capitalizes.
Sectional sleeper: How can you not like North Reading? Take a look at the draw and factor in the program’s tradition.
A no-brainer to reach the semis, with a shot to knock off AC.
