HS BASE: Crespi set for tournament semifinal tonight
FULLERTON -- Hmm, already starting to worry about making press deadline tonight, as Crespi has yet to begin warming up for its National Classic semifinal vs. St. Johns of Washington, D.C., because the other semifinal is running late.
If starts much later than the scheduled 8 p.m. first pitch, that's going to be pushing it.
At any rate, it should be a good game. Crespi is 8-3, not the greatest record in the world, but the Celts remain heavily respected and, with a win, will surely remain the Daily News\' No. 1 team entering Friday's finale. Submarine RHP Harry Grace gets the nod for Crespi, and he's fun to watch because his delivery is unorthodox. Kid has good stuff, too. Lots of spin, and he throws hard.
St. Johns, meanwhile, is 6-0, and no less than NINE players are D-I signees, including center fielder L.J. Hoes, who has signed with North Carolina -- but only if he's not a top-three-round draft prospect, as expected. The designated hitter, Scott Silverstein, has 13 RBIs; he has signed with Virginia. Mike Loeb gets the nod; he hasn't pitched often -- no decisions this year, 3-0 as a junior and 1-0 as a sophomore -- but he has never lost a HS game. He is going to Davidson in North Carolina.
Will update when appropriate ....
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com