What: North 1, Group 3 sectional final

Who: No. 1 Pascack Valley (21-4) vs. No. 7 Morris Hills (17-14)

When: Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Location: Pascack Valley High School

Pascack Valley Perspective:

It is not every day that teams can do something that has only been done once before.  On Friday, Pascack Valley will have the chance to do just that, as it will try for its first sectional title since 1966, when it captured the North 1, Group 2 crown.  For the Indians, who have dominated their competition with a 21-4 record on the year, the formula to victory will be very similar to what they have done all season. Valley will lean on a high powered offense (20 total home runs) with a deep lineup that can hit from top to bottom, in order to score runs. As a team, Valley hit .335 this year, including 4 players hitting .400 or better. The offense will be led by seniors Jack Devanna, Frank Cascio, and Carson Weis and expect this trio to come through with runners in scoring position. They will also look to get offensive contributions from Justin Martin, Alex Criscuolo, Alex DeRosa, and Austin Piorkowski. Jordan Issackedes (8-1) will get the ball for PV, and will look to continue his run of excellence that has lasted all year. He has been pitching like an ace all season, and even threw a no-hitter against Demarest. Valley will look to get into the late innings with a lead, so that they can turn the ball over to their strong bullpen and closer Nick Verost, who has saved 8 games. PV will look to play solid fundamental baseball and to limit their mistakes in the field, at the plate, and on the basepaths.

How They Got Here:

So far in this tournament PV is 3-0 and with a win Friday, the Indians would capture the sectional title. In the first round, the No.1 seeded Indians faced No. 16 seed Nutley, took care of business, blowing them out 8-0. Riley Weis threw a one hit, complete game shutout and PV easily advanced on to the quarterfinals. Valley then faced the No. 9 seed, Northern Highlands, and defeated them 5-1. In that game, Issackedes threw 6 strong frames, allowing just one run, and Verost threw a scoreless 7th to seal the win. The semifinal game was Tuesday at home against No. 5 seeded Roxbury and PV escaped with a hard fought 3-2 win. Weis pitched well once again, allowing 2 runs in six innings. He contributed at the plate, as well, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs.

Morris Hills Perspective:

On the offensive side, the Knights will try to score runs off Issackedes and will lean heavily on Christian Morales, Alex Russo and Chris Suleski to do so. These 3 are the best hitters on the Knights, and the teams is expecting this triumvirate to lead the way, even against a tough pitcher. Morris Hills named Morales the starting pitcher, who had a 2-3 record this season. Ace pitcher David Heeren (6-3 0.45 ERA), is ineligible to pitch in the game, but the Knights are hopeful that Morales can replicate his production. Morris Hills hopes it can have the lead in the late innings, as well, and can hand the ball over to its top reliever, Tommy Haynes. The senior southpaw is 4-3 on the year. The Knights will look to limit their mistakes in the field against a strong PV lineup and will rely on CF Daymon Fleming, SS Rob Vento, and 2B Andre Trujillo. Suleski, the catcher, will look to take away the PV running game, as he has thrown out 63% of runners trying to steal this year.

How They Got Here:

Morris Hills is also 3-0 in the tournament and have its sights set on a sectional title as well. They beat No. 10 Wayne Hills in their first game 3-2 and advanced to the semifinals. They then upset No. 2 River Dell in a high scoring game, 11-7. In that game Haynes had 3 hits and Russo had 5 RBIs. After that, the Knights beat Montville, the N0. 3 seed, by a score of 5-1. Russo drove in 2 more runs and Morris Hills advanced to the final to play PV.

Here is the complete NJSIAA North 1 Group 3 Tournament Bracket.