The seeding meeting was last night, and games begin tomorrow – they don’t waste any time. This will be the 40th Bergen County softball tournament and we will be putting out an all-time Tournament team in conjunction with the final on June 1st.
Um, just kidding about that. It is a good idea though. By the way, where is the final going to be this year?
Here are some historical notes etc. from my research:
This is the 40th Bergen County softball tournament. The tournament was first held in 1974 and won by Westwood. The tournament then had 8 teams.
At 39 teams this is by far the largest tournament in history, but that is a little deceiving because now sub .500 teams can get it.
The lowest seed to ever win a BCT game happened last year when 35th seed Leonia won a play-in game.
In fact, in 2012, in the play-in round, 3 of the lower seeds won: Teaneck (34), Leonia (35) and Wood-Ridge (33). This actually sparked a little discussion about whether teams should be re-seeded after the play-in rounds.
IHA has won the most championships with 8. Ramapo and Ramsey next on the list, tied with 5 apiece.
IHA Coach Anthony LaRezza has won 3 county titles and IHA has won 3 of the last 4. The coach with the most county titles is current IC Coach Jeff Horohonich who won 5 while at IHA.
This is IHA’s 12th time as the No. 1 seed. I’m not even gonna look, that has to be a BCT record.
The team with the most wins in BCT history is Paramus with 70. Next up on that list is IHA with 68.
Appearances…Ramsey and Paramus are each tied with the most appearances with 36 each. Rutherford has been in the BCT 35 times.
The longest drought now remains with Pal Park, who haven’t qualified or entered the BCT since 2001.
Englewood has also never appeared in the BCT.
Bogota hasn’t played in a BCT game since 2005.
Those are just some general facts and figures….
Moving on in the IC bracket….
Immaculate Conception is making just its 10th appearance in the BCT. The 3rd seed ties the lowest seed it has ever received. The Blue Wolves have never reached the semifinals, losing for the last 3 years in the quarterfinals at IHA, where H used to coach.
The 30 seed for Demarest is the lowest seed it has ever received. The Norsewomen haven’t won a BCT game since 2008.
Ridgefield is the 35th seed….The Royals have NEVER won a BCT game, and have only scored two runs in their entire BCT history.
Lyndhurst’s 14th seed is its highest seed since 1992 when it was the 7th seed. However, the Golden Bears lost that year in the first round and haven’t won a BCT game since 1988 when it beat Garfield. Lyndhurst also hasn’t SCORED in a BCT game since 1992.
Pascack Valley is the 19th seed, the lowest seed it has had since 1994. From my research, it looks like PV has never played Lyndhurst in a BCT game before.
Fair Lawn is the 6th seed….that is the highest seed it has ever received since 1976 when it was the No. 1 seed. That year they lost in the first round.
Bergenfield, the 27th seed, hasn’t won a game in the BCT since 2008 when it beat Rutherford, 5-0.
Lodi, seeded 38th, is back in the BCT for the first time since 2010. They last won a game in 2004 when they beat Holy Angels, 3-0.
Old Tappan is seeded 11th – it was 10th last year – the Golden Knights have never played Bergen Tech in the BCT before. OT did play in the highest scoring game in BCT history in 2011, when they lost to Park Ridge, 18 to 16 in the first round. OT hasn’t been to the semifinals since 2009.
Bergen Tech is seeded 22nd, this is only Bergen Tech’s 6th appearance in the BCT. In the event they are 1-5, with that sole victory coming last year over Lyndhurst.
Now the Indian Hills bracket.
Indian Hills is the 2nd seed for the 3rd time in history, they were the 2 seed in 2009 and 1977. The Lady Braves have been in the semifinals 6 times, but are just 1-4 in championship games.
Ramapo is the 7th seed, they were the 7th seed back in 2011. Here is the crazy thing about Ramapo. The Green Raiders have played IHA in the tournament in 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2005. That is 6 of the last 8 years. This year? They could only play in the final. By the way, in those six meetings, the two teams have split, IHA winning the last 3. The two teams to meet the most in the BCT? Ramapo and Paramus have played 10 times. In the BCT, Ramapo is 41 and 16 with a winning percentage of .719, which is 2nd best behind only? IHA.
Holy Angels is back in the BCT for the first time since 2008. They have not won a BCT game since 2000, when they beat Westwood 4-2.
At seed 39, Garfield has the highest seed of any team in BCT history. The Boilermakers have lost their last 7 BCT contests, last earning a victory in 1194 when they beat Becton. Garfield made it to the semifinals in 1982.
10th seeded Pascack Hills is making its 21st appearance in the BCT. They reached the semifinals once in 1996. The 10 seed is the best seed they have had since 2007 when they were 9th. The Cowgirls have been outscored in the BCT 134 to 105.
Hackensack is the 23rd seed, coming off their appearance in the Final 4 last year as the 21st seed – the first sub. 500 team to enter and reach the semifinals. This is Hackensack’s 18th time in the BCT. They have a winning record in the BCT, 19 and 17.
For 15th seed New Milford, this is also their 18th time in the BCT. They won the title in 1977. The 15th seed is their highest since 2007. New Milford has not been to the quarterfinals/Round of 8…um ever. Well, that’s not entirely true. They made it to the final eight in 77, 78 and 79, back when the tournament was just 8 teams. So, another way to put it, New Milford hasn’t won 2 BCT games in a season since, well, 1977.
Northern Highlands is in for the 23rd time, its first appearance was in 1980. It hasn’t made the quarterfinals since 2005.
Dumont is in the BCT for the 17th time. It hasn’t won a game since 2009. The 31 seed is the lowest/highest (whatever you want to call it) it has ever received. The Huskies also haven’t score in a BCT game since 2009, losing by a combined 21-0 its last 3 games.
Teaneck, the 34th seed, they were the 34th seed a year ago, and won their first BCT game since 1985 when they beat Cresskill 2-1. Teaneck has never, ever gotten out of the Round of 16. This is only their 10th appearance in the BCT.
So now, the Saddle Brook bracket…
And we start with the 12th seeded Spartans of Paramus. Paramus has reached the semifinals 19 times in BCT history, the most of any school. It has played in 10 title games (IHA has played in 12). The Spartans are 70-31 in BCT play, the most wins of any school. Now, this 12 seed, the last time Paramus was seeded this low was 1995 when they were the 22 seed. Also, Paramus has been in every BCT since 1979. That is a record.
No. 21 River Dell, ahh, the great Brenda Canal. Canal was the first coach to ever win 2 BCT titles, and she finished her career with 4, which is second behind H on the all-time list, I guess LaRezza can tie her this year. Heres an interesting line on River Dell, they are 11-2 in first round games in the BCT. The 21 seed is their lowest since 2002 however. The Hawks haven’t been to the quarterfinals since 2003.
Midland Park, the 5th seed, in my convo with JJ I said I didnt think Midland Park would be the 5, so color me surprised. Not that they weren’t deserving, but the 5th seed is the lowest seed for the Panthers since 1992. (And if I had more time, I would look to see if they are the lowest seeded Group 1 team – other than Saddle Brook – in a while). The Panthers have just 11 wins in the BCT and made the semis just once, in 1991 when they were the 2 seed. They have never been in the finals. They are 11-23 in BCT play overall.
Glen Rock is the 28th seed for the first time, and in fact, its the highest (or lowest whatever) seed the Rock has ever had in the BCT. This is Rock’s 22nd appearance in the BCT, they haven’t been out of the Round of 16 since 1987, and have never reached the BCT semifinals.
Now 37th seeded Wood-Ridge….
I always used to like doing this part for the Blue Devils, because it’s simply amazing. This is Wood-Ridge’s 23rd appearance in the BCT. In that time, they are 2-22. They won a play-in game last year, and a game in 1983. That is it. They have also been outscored 209-58 in the BCT.
No. 13 Mahwah, I remember when the T-Birds were pretty down. This is only their 13th appearance in the BCT. They actually went 11 years between appearances 2001 to 2012. They have not won a game in the BCT since 2001 when they beat Queen of Peace, 4-2. Mahwah has been in the semis twice, and never the final.
No. 20 Park Ridge. Whenever I think of Park Ridge, I look back at the 2006 bracket…they beat IHA and were within a catch of a sagging liner of maybe knocking off Ramapo (I’m sure Baldino remembers). Anyway, Park Ridge hasn’t made the quarterfinals since 2008, and they haven’t been seeded this low since 1997. This is Park Ridge’s 30th appearance in the BCT.
And now Saddle Brook, the Falcons are seeded 4th…looking for an omen? The Falcons were seeded 4th in 2008 when they made the championship game. This is the Falcons 26th trip to the BCT, want to know something fascinating? In the BCT, the Falcons record is 25 and 25.
Westwood…hey, I spent some time in Westwood yesterday with Alex Cimino. This is the Cardinals 20th trip to the BCT, like I said at the top, they won the 1st title, and since then….No. They have been in 3 final fours, the last coming in 1980. In fact, the Cardinals are on a pretty bad BCT losing streak. They haven’t won a BCT game since 1999, losing their last 7.
No. 36 is Elmwood Park. This is the Crusaders 10th trip to the BCT. This is the first time they have gone in in back-to-back years since 1991 and 1992. They have not won a game in the BCT since 1994 (in other words, Westwood or Elmwood Park is gonna stop a streak). Elmwood Park made the semis in 1989, which was their best showing.
Ok, now the IHA bracket.
We have already done enough stuff on IHA, I will only say, this is the Blue Eagles 25th appearance, and 25th in a row. In other words they have been in every tournament since 1989. They have been in 12 title games. The team to beat them the most times in the BCT? Ramapo.
No. 32 Emerson…there wouldn’t be a BCT without Emerson and former Coach Barbara Barlow, in fact, the winner of the BCT is supposed to get the “Barbara Barlow Trophy†but I dont know that they actually do. The 32 seed is the lowest Emerson has ever had. The Cavos have been in the quarterfinals once since 1990, that was in 2001, and they haven’t won a game in the BCT since 2006.
The 33 seed is Fort Lee, Grandpa Aughey (I just talked to him and he is a proud grandfather). This is only Fort Lee’s 5th ever appearance in the BCT, all of them coming since 2007. They have won 1 game in the BCT….against Emerson in 2009, so fascinating that they will meet again.
No. 16 Rutherford. As I said at the top, Rutherford has one of the more impressive BCT streaks, entering now for the 35th year. They have been in 5 semifinals and 1 final in 1997. Their record in the BCT is 22 and 34, those 34 losses are the most of any team in the 40-year history. The Bulldogs have not gotten out of the Round of 16 since 1999.
The No. 17 seed is Ridgewood. You have to go back to 2003 to find the last time Ridgewood was seeded this low (they were 27 that year). Ridgewood has been one of the most successful teams in the BCT with a record of 42 and 20. They have been in the semifinals 11 times, fourth most of any team and won 3 titles, the last coming in 2005.
Paramus Catholic is seeded 8th. It is the 13th year in a row, the Paladins have been a single-digit seed. This is their 32nd appearance in the BCT and they have an overall record of 34 and 31. They reached the semifinals in 2011 and have been in 4 finals, winning just once, in 2004.
Hasbrouck Heights is the 25th seed. This is only the Aviators 5th time in the BCT. They were actually seeded 24th in 2011. They have not won a game in the BCT since 1990, when they beat Ridgefield Park. They have never reached the semifinals.
Ramsey is the 9th seed, another team with a long, long BCT history. This is the Rams 36th appearance in the BCT. They have been in 12 semifinals, 3rd most in history. They were in the semis last year, but before that, they hadn’t made it since 1995. Ramsey has been the top seed 7 times. They have 57 wins in the tournament, 3rd most all time behind Paramus and IHA.
And last on my list, Mook and Ridgefield Park, the 24 seed. This is the Scarlet’s 16th appearance in the Big Show. They were actually the 24th seed last year. This is their 3rd straight year in the BCT. They have not won a game in the BCT since 2007, when they beat Pascack Valley 2-0.
Expect the announcement to come any day now that the final will be at Overpeck Park on Saturday, June 1st. I think it will be IHA and Indian Hills in the final. The other team who I kind of like is Paramus, I just kind of like their draw. Remember, I always tried to look at it like 4 mini-tournaments.