Well, we had it all planned to cover the showdown between Notre Dame and Amity Monday, but Mother Nature had other ideas, so the game was pushed to Tuesday.
(For what happened in that game, check www.twitter.com/currenscc or www.currenscc.blogspot.com)
But the little break in the action gives us a chance to see where we are in the 2010 SCC season. Believe it or not, Wednesday marks the halfway point of the regular season, and in four weeks we'll be watching the SCC Tournament. And we now have enough information to talk intelligently (well, semi-intelligently) about all the teams.
So that's what I'll try to do. Again, I'll repeat that these power rankings are just an opinion of how good the teams are, and have been proven wrong more times than I'd like to count.
But we're just trying to have some fun here. It's safe to say that this could be a banner year for the SCC, and a look at the teams will show you why:
1) Amity (8-0)
It's not surprising that Amity is undefeated (although as we've said about Amity many times in the past that winning as much as they do in baseball is much tougher than it looks), but what takes you back a little is the Spartans' offense. Take out a 3 (in a 3-2 win over Branford), and you get 10, 6, 7, 9, 7, 15, and 8. And they're not playing chumps, either.
2) Notre Dame (8-0)
Got a report that their pitching had been hit around in the scrimmages, but the Green Knights have allowed more than three runs just once this season, and this was in "garbage time" in a lopsided victory. They have enough experience to win the close games, and they are legit.
3) Shelton (6-2)
The Gaels had a tough loss to Guilford, and then nearly beat Notre Dame, which dropped them at the time to 3-2. But they've reeled off three straight wins, and just have the look of a team that will be heard from in June. I don't think their lineup has completely clicked yet.
4) Cheshire (6-2)
The Rams saw how difficult life could be in the SCC with losses to Amity and Shelton last week. There are questions about their pitching, but there are few questions about their offense, having scored 72 runs in eight games. They have some winnable games, but inconsistent pitching may give them a few more losses before all is said and done.
5) Sheehan (5-3)
The third straight Housatonic Division team in the countdown, and fourth overall (poor Lyman Hall). The Titans probably should have knocked off Amity last week, and certainly don't face the non-division schedule that the teams above them do. But nothing is that easy in the SCC.
6) Foran (5-3)
The Lions started the season No. 1 in the rankings, but their pitching has not materialized the way we thought it was, even giving up eight runs to Guilford last Friday (in a 13-8 win). Still, their record is not alarming, and they have some time to get it together to make a run at both the SCC and Class M crowns.
7) Jonathan Law (5-3)
If you had to give an MVP for the young season, it would probably be Brett Michael Doran (who was originally at ND by the way as a freshman). Doran is not only crushing the ball, but outdueling stud pitchers like Foran's Brian Ward, which helped the Lawmen navigate a tough early-season schedule, and put them in a position to maybe defend their SCC crown.
8) Xavier (5-3)
The Falcons will finish up their road schedule this week, meaning a long, long homestand and a chance to do some damage. They have scored a total of one run in their three losses, so they'll have to find a way to hit good pitching if they want to make the SCC Tournament, though.
9) North Haven (4-4)
I understand that I might catch some grief from the Hamden people here, but the Indians have that impressive win over Foran last week, and appear to have at least gotten their pitching somewhat in order (although a disappointing 7-6 loss to Branford to end the week). This week will be big to see if they deserve the spot here.
10) Hamden (5-3)
The Dragons haven't racked up the quality points for wins, but they should be in the state tournament, which is a marked improvement over last year, and they could make a run in a relatively soft Quinnipiac Division. Consistent pitching will be the key.
11) Fairfield Prep (5-4)
The Jesuits had a chance to get higher, but three straight losses last week bounced them down. Nick Vig has pitched well, but they gave up 10 runs in back-to-back losses to Xavier and Hamden and stand at 0-3 in the division.
12) Branford (3-5)
The Hornets seem to have turned the corner after a 1-5 start, the fifth loss coming 6-2 against then 0-5 East Haven. They do face Notre Dame and Amity in back-to-back games this week, and can probably forget about the SCC Tournament, but have a good chance to get to eight wins, and won't be someone people want to draw in Class L.
13) East Haven (3-5)
The hottest team in the SCC? Entirely possible as of Monday, the Yellowjackets had won three straight, and while none of them had winning records, it's a start. Their pitching has been good of late, after giving up double figures in all of their first five games.
14) Guilford (3-5)
The Indians also appear to have their act together of late, but their schedule is quite vicious. They - like many others - are having trouble with their pitching depth, which showed prominently in a 13-8 loss to Foran last Friday. But they have the talent to go on a run in the second half.
15) Hand (2-6)
It's been a tough ride for the Tigers in the early season, and (stop me if you've heard this before) it starts with the pitching. Other than a tough 2-0 loss to Branford, Hand has allowed 10 or more runs in all five of their other losses. Seems like it's going to be tough to get to eight wins.
16) West Haven (1-7)
You knew it was going to tough for the Westies this year, and they've been close in a couple of contests, but their only win is over Platt Tech. Still, you think they'll beat some teams at some point, maybe in the division this week.
17) Career (1-6)
The Panthers had a couple of tough battles early on, but have slumped of late, particularly on the mound, where they've given up 65 runs in their last four losses. Some home games await, and that may be a chance to do some damage.
18) Wilbur Cross (3-5)
Yea, they have two wins over O'Brien Tech and Hillhouse, but consider the Governors were down 20-0 after their first three innings of the season (to Hamden). That's quite a turnaround, and the team deserves plenty of credit for it.
19) Lyman Hall (2-6)
The Trojans began the season with a couple of wins, giving hope that this was the turnaround season, but things have fallen off pretty quickly. With the Housatonic Division soaring around them, they'll have to regroup and pick up a few wins where they're not supposed to to make a state tournament run.
20) Hillhouse (0-7)
The Academics have allowed less than 10 runs in their last three games, which is certainly progress. They've also been good for at least one upset in the last couple of seasons, so we'll see if they can pull it off again this time around.
AROUND THE HORN: Monday's rainouts were among the first of the season, and it looked like most of those games were going to get played on Tuesday, meaning a pretty calm season as far as makeups go. It also means that pitching staffs can be shortened, although it hasn't seem to have helped this season with plenty of runs being scored ... If you're reading it here for the first time, you need to get out of your cave, but former Amity star Brian Kownacki made the national media rounds at Fordham by jumping over the catcher, touching home plate with his hands, then completing the somersault past the bewildered catcher. I was trying to figure out if such a play was legal under high school rules, but there was not a conclusive answer. Kownacki's former teammate, Jason Esposito, is also starring at Vanderbilt, who should be NCAA Tournament bound in a few weeks ... Thankfully we did get a Notre Dame-Amity game this season, and an Amity-Foran tilt, but Notre Dame does not play Foran, although they did play Shelton, obviously. No Cheshire or Jonathan Law, though. I guess we can hope to see some of those games in the SCC Tournament.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Zahornasky, Shelton - After the sophomore nearly beat Notre Dame the week before, he threw a gem in the Gaels' 3-1 win over Xavier last Friday. Zahornasky also bats in the middle of the powerful Shelton lineup, and - needless to say - has a very bright future in this league.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Sheehan at Foran, Friday, 3:45 p.m. - This is a big game for two teams that seem to have hopes to upset the top two (Notre Dame and Amity) in the SCC. But they have to get to the SCC Tournament first, and a win in this game would make things much easier.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10
Number of teams with records between 5-3 and 3-5 in the SCC thus far this season. Yes, it's a league of parity, just as everyone wants.
POWER RANKINGS (see above)
1) Amity (8-0; Last Week 1) – .
2) Notre Dame (8-0; LW 3) – .
3) Shelton (6-2; LW 5) – .
4) Cheshire (6-2; LW 2) – .
5) Sheehan (5-3; LW 6) – .
6) Foran (5-3; LW 4) – .
7) Jonathan Law (5-3; LW 7) – .
8) Xavier (5-3; LW 10) – .
9) North Haven (4-4; LW 12) – .
10) Hamden (5-3; LW 11) – .
11) Fairfield Prep (5-4; LW 9) – .
12) Branford (3-5; LW 8) – .
13) East Haven (3-5; LW 18) – .
14) Guilford (3-5; LW 14) – .
15) Hand (2-6; LW 13) – .
16) West Haven (1-7; LW 16) – .
17) Career (1-6; LW 17) – .
18) Wilbur Cross (3-5; LW 19) – .
19) Lyman Hall (2-6; LW 15) – .
20) Hillhouse (0-7; LW 20) – .
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