Staff Report
If the weather cooperates, this year’s Hammonton Invitational has a chance to be pretty exciting, as teams from four counties will do battle in what has become a one-day tournament format.
There will be a pair of games at 9 a.m. at Hammonton High, followed by two more at 11 a.m. The semifinals follow at 1 p.m., with the championship game scheduled for 3 p.m. This is the 42nd year of the tournament, and it should be a good one.
Host Hammonton has the most wins (13) in the Cape-Atlantic League, along with Holy Spirit, and the Blue Devils will be matched up in the opening round against Gloucester, the defending Group 2 state champion. On that same side of the bracket, Haddon Township takes on Northern Burlington.
The other side of the bracket features Rancocas Valley taking on Donovan Catholic — the No. 1 team in the state that is 14-0 and hasn’t lost since last season’s Non-Public A state semifinals. Also on that side of the bracket is Southern Regional, the second-place team in the Shore Conference A South division behind Donovan Catholic, going up against Paul VI, which is leading the Olympic National race.
Of the tournament’s eight teams, five are leading their respective divisions and every team is at least .500.
Here’s a quick look at the schedule:
9am
Field 1: Gloucester vs. Hammonton
Field 2: Haddon Township vs. Northern Burlington
11am
Field 1: Rancocas Valley vs. Donovan Catholic
Field 2: Paul VI vs. Southern Regional
1pm
Field 1: Gloucester/Hammonton winner vs. Haddon Township/Northern Burlington winner
Field 2: RV/Donovan Catholic winner vs. Paul VI/Southern Regional winner.
3pm
Field 1: Championship game
