Phil Anastasia: Eastern-Lenape, Round III

Olympic American rivals Eastern and Lenape -- who shared a third of the division title this season along with Washington Township -- will meet for the third time this season in the SJ Group 4 semifinals this afternoon at Eastern.

Eastern won the previous two meetings. The Vikings (21-7) won 7-6 on April 14 and 6-2 on May 2.

They are one of South Jersey's hottest teams, with 14 wins in their last 16 games.

Lenape (17-8) is hot, too. The Indians have won five of six, and kept their season alive in dramatic fashion as a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh produced a 7-5 victory over Cherry Hill East on Friday.

Can the Indians ride that momentum to the sectional final? Can the Vikings beat a good division rival three times in the same season?

I'm leaning toward Eastern, my pick to win the South Jersey title. I know it's tough to beat a good team three times but the Vikings have been playing good baseball for six weeks.

Lenape has been up and down. I think Eastern's consistency wins out.

-- Phil Anastasia