sagejr

03:27 pm - Buzz in Herald Square

SIDE DISH

Gregory’s Coffee is adding to the list of reasons that this city never sleeps.

The coffee chain is opening its fifth store, in Herald Square. The 2,000-square-foot, two-floor shop is slated to open next month.

Gregory’s is also negotiating leases in Gramercy Park and Midtown East. The first store opened in 2006 at 327 Park Avenue South.

***

Italy is taking over Spain — at least on Mercer Street.

Lizarran, a Spanish restaurant at 45 Mercer St., moved to a larger 4,000-square-foot space in Midtown’s Jewel Hotel at 11 W. 51st St.

Joseph Robinson, vice president at BOND New York, represented both sides of the deal. He also found a new restaurant for the Mercer Street space.

Galli will offer Italian American comfort food when it opens this summer.

***

WE HEAR . . . that DashLocker is opening a flagship 24/7 locker-based garment care service at 1566 Second Ave., between 81st and 82nd streets. Clients can drop off and pick up their dry cleaning, laundry and shoe shine service at their convenience, via lockers with PIN codes. More Upper East Side locations are planned for this year. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Jay Gilbert repped both sides.

In Long Island City, Blend, a popular Latin Fusion Restaurant, is relocating to double its space in of one of TF Cornerstone’s newly constructed waterfront residential towers.

***

SIGHTING: Liza Minnelli and French producer/director Lionel Casseroux at Flex Mussels 13th Street.

jkeil@nypost.com

St.Joseph Robinson, Herald Square, Gramercy Park, Jewel Hotel, Midtown East, BOND New York, Spanish restaurant

Nypost.com

03:21 am - Doctors: Comeback this season unlikely for Yankees' Rivera

Mariano Rivera plans on pitching next season after suffering a torn ACL and a tear in the meniscus of his right knee shagging a fly ball in Kansas City Thursday, and a pair of orthopedic surgeons believes he should be able to. But they believe a return this season is doubtful.

“To come back this season is very unlikely,” said Dr. David Geier, Director of Sports Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. “Spring training or a little before is probably the best-case scenario.”

Repairing an ACL typically requires taking tissue from the patella or hamstring to form a new ligament. The graft itself could take five months to heal and recovery time is often eight to 12 months, but there are instances when it doesn’t take that long.

But Geier said he thinks if Rivera’s rehab goes well, he could play again— though he may not be the same.

“There’s an excellent chance he could come back, but there are going to be reservations about whether he’ll be at the same elite level,” Geier said Friday.

Though Rivera is 42, Dr. James Gladstone, Co-Chief of Sports Medicine and Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, is confident age won’t be an issue.

“It shouldn’t matter if someone is in their 40s or 20s,” Gladstone said. “It is a long, tedious rehab. But he’s going to go through the same rehab even if he doesn’t continue playing. And the fact that he is such a disciplined athlete portends well for a successful recovery.”

Still, there will be considerable unknowns going forward.

“You don’t see this injury with too many pitchers,” Geier said. “People might say, ‘Why was he shagging fly balls?’ But non-contact ACL tears are freak things.”

dan.martin@nypost.com

Mariano Rivera, David Geier, Medical University of South Carolina, James Gladstone, Sports Medicine

Nypost.com

07:18 am - Disney, ‘Avengers’ $hoot for boffo box-office take

“The Avengers,” from Disney’s Marvel Studios, looks set to blow the doors of the traditional start of the summer movie season.

The superhero extravaganza has the buzz and advance sale to ring up the biggest opening weekend in North American movie history, with a box office of $170 million, according to a Boxoffice.com projection

Other estimates have its weekend take at $150 million.

THE POST'S 'AVENGERS' REVIEW

'AVENGERS' ADVANCE TICKET SALES SOARING

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” released last year, currently holds the record at $169.2 million.

AP

That’s Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) blasting the competition to kingdom come. Early reports suggest that Disney’s “The Avengers” will celebrate the best money-making weekend in US history.

Directed by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon, “The Avengers,” with a budget of about $200 million, opened on some screens at midnight last night.

“This is going to make Disney’s Marvel purchase look so smart and make people quickly forget about ‘John Carter,’ ” said RBC Capital media analyst David Bank, referring to Disney’s big flop under now departed Disney studio boss, Rich Ross.

Ross resigned under pressure last month.

Sources speculate that Disney didn’t want Ross sharing the positive halo of “The Avengers.”

“This is what a Disney franchise should be. It’s got great consumer products and ancillary revenue potential,” said Bank.

The movie features a host of Marvel characters including “Iron Man,” “Captain America,” “The Hulk” and “Black Widow.”

Hollywood Stock Exchange is predicting the movie will bring in $400 million domestically.

Boxoffice.com’s Phil Contrino told The Post, “Disney has been very aggressive in its marketing on Facebook and Twitter and in TV spots.”

catkinson@nypost.com

Marvel Studios, Scarlett Johansson, The Avengers, Disney studio, North American movie, Joss Whedon

Nypost.com

11:18 am - Monticello Results

FIRST-mile; trot; $2000; cond

OFF: 12:53 TIME: 2:03.0

4

La Grange (J Juckas)

53.00

25.00

5.30

6

Toe Socks (K Switzer Jr)

5.60

3.20

2

Engamer Benns Best (J TaggartJr)

2.50

* Perfecta (4-6) $218.50 * Trifecta (4-6-2) $904.00

SECOND-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:16 TIME: 2:03.1

1

ExcellentVcton(RHrp)

5.10

3.60

2.60

6

Bet I Win It (K Devaux)

4.60

3.80

7

Mighty Arm (A Schwartz)

6.70

* Perfecta (1-6) $26.20 * Trifecta (1-6-7) $244.00 * Double (4-1) $135.50

Winner picked by Little

THIRD-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 1:35 TIME: 1:58.2

4

WnkndNod(WPrkerJr)

4.40

2.80

2.10

1

Kc Sunshine (M Zuccarello)

4.60

2.80

6

Quiet Hero (J Marohn Jr)

3.30

* Perfecta (4-1) $14.60 * Trifecta (4-1-6) $59.50

FOURTH-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 1:56 TIME: 2:01.1

3

DgtalPhoto(JTggrtJr)

20.40

11.60

5.00

5

Fair Lady J (M Forte)

12.40

5.70

2

Millbrook Millie (G Merton)

3.00

* Perfecta (3-5) $187.50 * Trifecta (3-5-2) $627.00

FIFTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 2:16 TIME: 2:00.0

5

Ouzo (J Devaux)

12.40

6.20

3.70

6

ComeHomeHony(JMrohnJr)

4.80

3.20

1

Just Sit N Wait (J Taggart Jr)

3.10

* Perfecta (5-6) $55.50 * Trifecta (5-6-1) $243.00

SIXTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 2:35 TIME: 1:58.2

6

Not Thinking(MForte)

4.20

3.20

2.40

4

Bettorthncecrem(GMerton)

6.80

3.60

7

My Spring Fling (S Mcaleese)

24.60

* Perfecta (6-4) $33.80 * Trifecta (6-4-7) $986.00 * Double (5-6) $35.40

SEVENTH-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

OFF: 2:56 TIME: 1:58.1

5

SunMoonLk(MMrton)

4.30

4.20

2.80

4

GenerlMxmusN(KSwtzerJr)

10.80

6.90

8

Optimist N (M Forte)

6.90

Scr: Civilized Hanover.

* Perfecta (5-4) $53.00 * Trifecta (5-4-8) $344.00

EIGHTH-mile; trot; $2700; cond

OFF: 3:18 TIME: 2:04.4

1

TlbtcrkExcl(GMssngr)

3.40

2.40

2.30

7

SecretEnergy(CWshngton)

3.40

3.00

4

Halls A Sizzlin (R Harp)

3.30

* Perfecta (1-7) $11.00 * Trifecta (1-7-4) $33.00

Winner picked by Little

NINTH-mile; pace; $2800; cond

OFF: 3:36 TIME: 1:58.3

5

Bettrthnlynx(GMrton)

3.80

3.30

2.10

1

Now It Begins (W Parker Jr)

6.50

3.80

3

Election Day (M Forte)

2.90

* Perfecta (5-1) $27.00 * Trifecta (5-1-3) $79.00 * Double (1-5) $7.30

TENTH-mile; trot; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:57 TIME: 2:02.3

3

BatuKhan(WParkerJr)

10.80

5.10

4.40

4

Lts Captain (M Forte)

7.40

7.80

5

Highest Hill (J Taggart Jr)

8.30

* Perfecta (3-4) $88.00 * Trifecta (3-4-5) $256.50

ELEVENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 4:17 TIME: 1:57.1

5

GenunStrN(CStrtton)

5.60

3.90

3.00

4

Hopeful Artist (J TaggartJr)

5.60

3.80

3

Huntoon (M Forte)

3.90

* Perfecta (5-4) $19.60 * Trifecta (5-4-3) $95.50

TWELFTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 4:39 TIME: 1:57.0

5

RlntlssDrmr(JTggrtJr)

4.10

2.90

2.50

1

Wright Road (J Devaux)

3.80

3.50

2

Sams Fortune (J Marohn Jr)

4.40

* Perfecta (5-1) $15.80 * Trifecta (5-1-2) $97.50

Winner picked by Little

HANDLE $593,856.

Trifecta, J Marohn Jr, J Taggart Jr, J Taggart Jr, J Devaux, M Zuccarello

Nypost.com

11:18 am - Former Edison standout Baker achieves goal, commits to FAU

Cavon Baker was determined to play Division I basketball.

It didn’t matter that he didn’t have any interest during his career at Thomas Edison, that he didn’t have any scholarship offers for much of last spring and summer on the AAU circuit or even that when Bryant came into the picture late and did present him with an opportunity it didn’t work out because he failed to meet the school’s heightened academic standards.

Baker, a qualifier out of Edison, went to New Hope Academy in Maryland to make his dream a reality. After a stellar season in which he helped the prep school go 30-4, the Cambria Heights product finally realized his dream. Baker verbally committed to Florida Atlantic and former St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis on Wednesday, picking the Sun Belt Conference school over Iona and Hartford.

“I’m excited, anxious all in one,” the 6-foot-1 combo guard said. “I feel accomplished, I feel good. My hard work paid off, a year of prep paid off. It was my goal to play Division I basketball. I stuck with my dream of playing Division I.”

Baker developed a bond with Jarvis and his son, assistant Mike Jarvis II, who was his lead recruiter. Mike Jarvis, who nearly guided St. John’s to the Final Four in 1999, has coached at the Division I level for 21 years and has taken three schools to the NCAA Tournament, put in a lot of time with Baker, and when he wasn’t checking in, his son was.

“It’s always cool when the head coach calls you and expresses how much he wants you,” Baker said. “Overall, it came down to me being comfortable with Coach Jarvis. My relationship with Coach Jarvis made me pick FAU. He’s a straight-forward guy and the whole time he was recruiting me, he contacted me the most within the guidelines he could. We had real conversations.”

Baker was frustrated with his lack of Division I interest last year, but used it at motivation. He enjoyed a solid AAU season with the Raising Champions, putting in solid performances in the iS8 Nike/Spring League, Hoop Group End of Summer Classic, among others.

“He took off from there,” Raising Champions coach Hasani Stewart said.

Bryant was ready to take him, Stewart said, but he was one class short. Instead, Baker headed for prep school and continued to evolve as a player and as a person. At New Hope Academy, Baker was on his own for the first time.

“My father called it pre-college, I had to grow up fast and be responsible,” he said. “I was out there for a reason, to play basketball and get better overall. It was a great experience. It opened up the opportunity to play Division I basketball.”

An opportunity he made the most of.

zbraziller@nypost.com

Mike Jarvis, Thomas Edison, Cavon Baker, New Hope Academy, New Hope Academy, Coach Jarvis, Hasani Stewart, Baker

Nypost.com

03:15 pm - New East Coast college basketball league possible

Butler isn’t Syracuse or Pittsburgh or Missouri, but the Bulldogs have proven they can play with the big boys in college basketball. Now they will get a chance to prove it on a more regular basis.

As reported in The Post two weeks ago, the Atlantic 10 announced Wednesday it is adding Butler in 2013. The Bulldogs replace Temple, which is leaving for the Big East.

But what comes next could drastically change the look and direction of college athletics on the Eastern seaboard. The creation of a new conference, featuring programs poised to upgrade from FCS to FBS status, is being seriously explored by many institutions.

Most of those programs are in the Colonial Athletic Association but there are others in the America East Conference that could be in play. The timetable could be decided somewhat by the decisions made by George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth, two NCAA Tournament-proven programs.

Both CAA schools could join the A-10 as soon as this month.

“At this point and time, we’re excited, we’re celebrating Butler joining the league,” A-10 commissioner Bernadette McGlade said yesterday. “As far as future membership decisions, right now, all of that is really fluid right now. It would be premature to be able to say definitively today that there will be no more membership decisions.”

One source said it was a done deal George Mason and VCU were headed to the A-10. The only obstacle preventing those programs from leaving now is the CAA’s policy forbidding a school that is leaving the league from playing in its conference tournament, thus making an NCAA berth extremely difficult to achieve.

Another source said the CAA office has been working furiously to convince those programs to stay. At the end of the day, of course, money probably will be the deciding factor.

If those two schools leave for the A-10, the major restructuring could be expedited. Schools such as Delaware, New Hampshire and Richmond along with other CAA members, could look for additional partners to form the new league.

One source said the amount of conversation between those schools and other perspective partners has been intense.

“People have been burning up the lines,’’ the source said. “Or cell minutes these days.’’

lenn.robbins@nypost.com

George Mason, Colonial Athletic Association, CAA, Bulldogs, America East Conference, college basketball online

Nypost.com

03:15 pm - Pitching Form

(Game time)

2012

'11 vs OPP

CAREER

LAST 3 STARTS

LINE

W-L

ERA

*REC

W-L

ERA

vs OPP

W-L

IP

ERA

*AHW

Orioles

Arrieta (R)

(7:05pm)

1-2

4.45

2-3

0-1

4.24

2-1

0-2

16.2

5.94

12.4

Yankees

Nova (R)

8 1/2-10

3-0

5.18

4-0

2-0

3.72

3-0

2-0

17.1

6.23

16.1

Mets

Schwinden (R)

(2:05pm)

0-0

11.25

0-1

—

—

0-0

0-0

4.0

11.25

18.0

Astros

Rodriguez (L)

6-7

2-2

1.72

2-3

1-0

1.29

3-2

2-1

20.0

1.35

8.6

Dodgers

Kershaw (L)

7 1/2-8 1/2

2-0

1.78

5-0

1-1

5.30

6-4

2-0

20.1

2.21

8.9

Rockies

Pomeranz (L)

(3:10pm)

0-1

5.40

1-2

—

—

0-0

0-1

13.1

5.40

16.2

Brewers

Gallardo (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

1-2

6.07

2-3

1-0

3.00

2-1

0-1

16.0

6.19

14.1

Padres

Suppan (R)

(6:35pm)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

D'Backs

Saunders (L)

(7:05pm)

2-1

0.90

2-2

1-1

2.77

2-2

2-1

23.0

1.17

7.8

Nationals

Jackson (R)

5 1/2-6 1/2

1-1

3.16

1-3

0-1

5.40

1-2

1-1

20.2

2.61

8.3

Cubs

Smardzija (R)

(7:10pm)

2-1

4.13

3-1

0-0

2.79

0-0

1-1

15.1

5.87

17.6

Reds

Arroyo (R)

7-8

1-0

2.70

3-1

0-1

3.66

9-8

1-0

20.1

1.77

8.4

Phillies

Halladay (R)

Even-6

3-2

1.95

3-2

0-1

3.00

4-1

1-2

22.0

2.86

11.0

Braves

Hanson (R)

(7:10pm)

3-2

3.00

3-2

0-0

1.29

1-2

2-1

20.0

3.15

9.9

Pirates

Burnett (R)

(8:15pm)

1-1

1.38

1-1

—

—

5-3

1-1

13.0

1.38

9.7

Cardinals

Lynn (R)

8-9

4-0

1.33

4-0

0-0

4.50

1-0

3-0

20.1

1.33

8.4

Marlins

Zambrano (R)

(10:15pm)

0-2

3.24

0-4

0-0

0.00

5-1

0-2

19.0

2.37

11.4

Giants

Zito (L)

5 1/2-6 1/2

1-0

1.67

3-1

—

—

5-1

0-0

18.0

2.50

10.5

Rangers

Harrison (L)

(12:37pm)

3-1

3.37

3-1

0-1

10.24

0-1

2-1

20.2

4.35

13.1

Blue Jays

Romero (L)

Pick

3-0

3.18

4-1

—

—

2-1

2-0

20.2

3.05

10.9

Royals

Sanchez (L)

(1:05pm)

1-1

6.75

1-3

—

—

0-1

0-1

12.1

8.03

20.4

Tigers

Verlander (R)

11-13

2-1

2.41

3-2

3-0

1.59

14-2

2-0

21.0

2.57

9.9

Athletics

McCarthy (R)

(7:10pm)

1-3

3.23

2-4

—

—

1-3

1-2

21.0

3.86

13.7

Red Sox

Bard (R)

8 1/2-10

2-2

3.72

1-2

0-0

0.00

0-0

1-2

18.2

3.86

13.0

Mariners

Beavan (R)

(7:10pm)

1-2

3.60

2-2

—

—

0-0

1-1

18.2

4.34

10.1

Rays

Shields (R)

10-12

4-0

3.31

5-0

0-1

11.12

3-4

3-0

22.1

2.01

9.7

Indians

Tomlin (R)

(8:10pm)

1-2

5.48

1-2

—

—

0-1

1-2

17.2

4.58

11.7

White Sox

Humber (R)

6-7

1-1

4.66

1-2

0-1

7.42

0-1

1-1

19.1

4.66

9.3

Twins

Hendriks (R)

(10:05pm)

0-1

6.89

1-2

—

—

0-0

0-1

15.2

6.89

14.4

Angels

Weaver (R)

11-13

3-0

2.02

3-2

1-0

3.86

5-2

2-0

21.2

1.25

9.1

* REC: Won-lost record of pitcher's team in games he has started.

* AHW: Average total of hits and walks yielded per nine innings.
Nypost.com

07:12 pm - Monticello Results

WEATHER Clear TRACK Fast

FIRST-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 12:53 TIME: 1:58.1

1

Jadestone(KSwtzerJr)

8.00

2.30

2.10

3

Imposter A (W Parker Jr)

2.10

2.10

4

Gateway Jet (M Merton)

3.00

Scr: Eusebio.

* Perfecta (1-3) $10.80 * Trifecta (1-3-4) $34.40

SECOND-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2000)

OFF: 1:12 TIME: 1:58.4

1

KystnSwgr(ASchwrtz)

5.00

3.10

3.10

3

Amazida (J Marohn)

9.80

5.60

4

Mizuno (W Parker Jr)

3.40

Scr: P H Hotshot.

* Perfecta (1-3) $37.60 * Trifecta (1-3-4) $110.50 * Daily double (1-1) $25.80 * Superfecta (1-3-4-5) $438.50

Winner picked by Little

THIRD-mile; pace; $4000; cond

OFF: 1:35 TIME: 1:57.4

3

DomtnHnvr(JTggrtJr)

3.90

2.70

2.30

2

Happyending (M Merton)

4.80

3.40

4

M D Bee Bee (J Marohn)

3.70

* Perfecta (3-2) $15.20 * Trifecta (3-2-4) $55.00 * Pick 3 (1-1-3) $67.50; Pick 3: 1-7-3 $67.50 * Superfecta (3-2-4-7) $248.00

Winner picked by Little

FOURTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 1:55 TIME: 1:58.0

3

My Edward(GMerton)

12.00

6.00

4.30

4

Jezal Theory A (J MarohnJr)

3.40

2.70

2

Badlands and Art (J Taggart Jr)

3.60

* Perfecta (3-4) $35.80 * Trifecta (3-4-2) $145.50 * Pick 3 (1-3-3) $105.00 * Superfecta (3-4-2-8) $1,365.00

FIFTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 2:15 TIME: 2:00.2

2

EssentlSgns(JStrtton)

3.70

2.90

2.40

3

Smooth Eric N (K Devaux)

10.20

5.30

7

Big Game (M Forte)

5.00

Scr: Gota Go Bullville.

* Perfecta (2-3) $27.00 * Trifecta (2-3-7) $116.00 * Pick 3 (3-3-2) $38.60 * Superfecta (2-3-7-5) $342.50

Winner picked by Little

SIXTH-mile; pace; $4000; cond

OFF: 2:36 TIME: 1:58.1

8

Paragon (G Merton)

10.60

8.00

5.90

5

Bobs Alibi (J Stratton)

10.00

5.00

1

Rare Display (J Taggart Jr)

3.10

* Perfecta (8-5) $84.50 * Trifecta (8-5-1) $292.00 * Daily double (2-8) $25.00 * Pick 3 (3-2-8) $191.00 * Superfecta (8-5-1-3) $1,737.00

SEVENTH-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

OFF: 2:53 TIME: 2:00.0

3

PHRockstr(JMrohnJr)

14.00

8.20

3.40

2

Kamwood Jasper N (RHarp)

6.00

5.90

5

Bull Rush (M Forte)

11.20

Scr: Real Navigator.

* Perfecta (3-2) $82.50 * Trifecta (3-2-5) $595.00 * Pick 3 (2-8-3) $280.00 * Superfecta (3-2-5-6) $2,237.00

EIGHTH-mile; pace; $4300; cond

OFF: 3:12 TIME: 1:57.1

6

BreakDncer(JTggrtJr)

6.50

4.00

2.60

1

Duncans Western (M Forte)

4.10

2.90

2

All Tricked Out (M Merton)

2.90

* Perfecta (6-1) $18.40 * Trifecta (6-1-2) $47.80 * Pick 3 (8-3-6) $458.00 * Superfecta (6-1-2-3) $113.50

NINTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 3:31 TIME: 1:59.2

8

JonsBdBoy(JMrohnJr)

56.00

18.60

10.00

5

Art Glass (K Switzer Jr)

4.30

2.60

1

Roo Roo Rusty (K DI Benedetto)

2.50

* Perfecta (8-5) $324.00 * Trifecta (8-5-1) $1,290.00 * Daily double (6-8) $115.50 * Pick 3 (3-6-8) $899.00 * Superfecta (8-5-1-3) $3,270.00

TENTH-mile; pace; $2000; cond

OFF: 3:48 TIME: 2:00.4

4

TigersDestny(MForte)

8.00

3.90

2.60

3

Big Reuben (J Marohn Jr)

4.30

2.50

7

In The Mix (G Merton)

2.10

Scr: Top Flight.

* Perfecta (4-3) $30.60 * Trifecta (4-3-7) $92.50 * Pick 3 (6-8-4) $1,136.00 * Superfecta (4-3-7-2) $254.00 Winner picked by Little

ELEVENTH-mile; pace; $2700; cond

OFF: 4:04 TIME: 1:58.1

5

CocknyHnovr(GMrtn)

4.70

2.90

2.20

1

FoxVlleyRoper(KDIBendtto)

2.90

2.60

7

Camcracker Dynasty (M Forte)

4.50

* Perfecta (5-1) $12.40 * Trifecta (5-1-7) $66.00 * Pick 3 (8-4-5) $836.00 * Superfecta (5-1-7-3) $425.50

TWELFTH-mile; pace; $3400; cond

OFF: 4:23 TIME: 1:58.0

1

TmWhskrs(KSwtzrJr)

15.20

6.60

3.80

3

Star Power (W Parker Jr)

2.90

2.10

7

Wilson Jay N (G Merton)

6.50

* Perfecta (1-3) $51.00 * Trifecta (1-3-7) $340.50 * Pick 3 (4-5-1) $160.50 * Superfecta (1-3-7-5) $756.00 *

ATTENDANCE N/A.

HANDLE $709,243.

J Marohn, M Merton, M Merton, W Parker Jr, Trifecta, J Taggart Jr, pace, pace, Superfecta, J Marohn Jr

Nypost.com

07:12 pm - LeBron loves to Garden

MIAMI — Compile a list of opponents who have scored 50 or more points in a game at Madison Square Garden and you could count all the entries on your fingers, assuming you don’t play with circular saws. There would be seven.

Reduce it to active players and the list shrinks to three. Then seek active opponents who have done it twice and you are down to a grand total of one: LeBron James.

And guess who’s coming to town Thursday night? Suffice to say James is looking forward to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Knicks at the Garden, where the Heat seek a suffocating 3-0 lead.

“Absolutely, it’s the Mecca of basketball,” said James, who as a member of the Cavaliers put up 50 points on March 5, 2008, and then went for 52 on Feb. 4, 2009, just two nights after Kobe Bryant scored 61 at MSG. “Now it’s the postseason, so it will raise it even higher. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to Game 3. So do some studies, watch Game 1, Game 2, and then wait for Game 3.”

James, who joins Bryant and the Bulls’ Rip Hamilton (51 while with the Pistons) as the only active opposing 50-point Garden scorers, will be teamed with a couple buddies also capable of monster nights in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They are just as pumped to help the Heat take total control.

“It’s no secret other than AmericanAirlines Arena, it’s my favorite place to play,” said Wade, who has scored 44 total points in the Heat’s two opening wins. “There’s something about the Garden, which is a lot of guys’ favorite place to play. So I look forward to how this team is going to respond in a very hostile environment, with the lights as bright as they can be, to go in there and take care of business in Game 3.

“It’s going to be a tough game. We’re going to have to play 48 minutes or plus all the way through. This team is going to play well with a lot of energy, so I’m looking forward to it.”

The Garden, hostile? Nah. Knicks fans allow opponents to leave with their vital organs. Maybe not wallets and clothes, but definitely vital organs. It’s part of the charm.

“I never played in a playoff game in the Garden. It’s just one of those places that has a lot of history,” Bosh said. “You can feel the history when you walk in there. I’ve been going there since high school. It’s a really exciting place to play. Being out there in New York right next to Broadway is something else. The Knicks are going to be excited. We are not at our home, so we have to have a road-warrior mentality and take the challenge.”

fred.kerber@nypost.com

Madison Square Garden, Knicks, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Eastern Conference, the Heat, Rip Hamilton

Nypost.com

11:12 pm - PSAL softball roundup: Sarcone, Wagner down MSIT

Taylor Sarcone continues to excel with her bat and her arm.

The senior ace went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and allowed just three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in seven innings to lead Susan Wagner to an 8-4 win over McKee/Staten Island Tech in CHSAA Staten Island A softball Monday at Great Kills Little League.

Kristine Ciurcina went 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored and Dayna Williams and Jennifer Greenberg each drove in a run apiece for Wagner (11-1 Staten Island A). MSIT is 8-3.

Construction 24, Richmond Hill 1: Daniela Isabella went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and a run scored and Emily Perez went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and four runs scored for Construction (10-1 Queens A-II). Britney Rodriguez gave up one run on no hits with six strikeouts in four innings. Richmond Hill is 3-8.

Madison 12, Midwood 1: Victoria Slavik went 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored and Gina Gerone went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Madison (9-2 Brooklyn A). Slavik gave up no earned runs on one hit with 13 strikeouts in five innings. Midwood is 4-8.

Telecom 7, Fort Hamilton 4: Cristina Morales gave up two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings for Telecom (11-1 Brooklyn A). Fort Hamilton is 4-7.

Clinton 18, Riverdale/Kingsbridge 5: Erma Villa went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored and Kimberly Martinez and Maguette Fofana each had three RBIs apiece for Clinton (8-4 Bronx A). RKA is 2-10.

Forest Hills 15, Lane 1: Lisa Wiggins went 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored and Kayla Artiz gave up one run on one hit with seven strikeouts in five innings for Forest Hills (8-2 Queens A-II). Lane is 6-5.

InTech 14, Walton 13: Janique Rivera went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Giselle Herrera Lopez and Heidy Cabral each had two RBIs apiece for InTech (8-4 Bronx A). Walton is 6-6.

Stevenson 8, Bronx Science 6: Gianny Jimenez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored and Maria Colon had two hits for Stevenson (7-5 Bronx A). Science is 5-7.

American Studies @ Lehman 11, Lehman 6: Sarah Paisner went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored and Rebekah Santiago went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for American Studies (3-9 Bronx A). Lehman is 5-7.

Van Buren 20, Jamaica 10: Klarissa Ramirez went 3-for-3 with five RBIs and five runs scored and Samantha Lugo went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Van Buren (6-5 Queens A-I). Jamaica is 0-12.

Curtis 17, Port Richmond 7: Abby Perlmutter, Jessica Rosalbo, Sarah Walsh Lopes and Shawn Reilly all had two RBIs apiece for Curtis (2-9 Staten Island A). Port Richmond is 3-8.

PSAL CLASS B

Lab Museum United 21, Washington Irving 1: Sarah McKeon went 5-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored and Jenny Chen and Talia Greenberg each had three RBIs apiece for Lab Museum United (11-0 Manhattan B-II). Washington Irving is 6-6.

Sinatra 13, Queens Metropolitan 3: April Uhl, Breanna Taphouse and Gianna Caponera each had three RBIs apiece for Sinatra (12-0 Queens B-I). Queens Metropolitan is 6-5.

Eleanor Roosevelt 21, Baruch College Campus 6: Stephanie Phillips went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored and Carly Gainsburg had three RBIs and three runs for Eleanor Roosevelt (6-5 Manhattan B-I). Baruch is 7-5.

FDA 16, School of the Future 4: Eliyah McKayle went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored and Brandi McGrier and Dominique Bynoe-Sullivan each had two RBIs apiece for FDA (9-1 Manhattan B-III). School of the Future is 8-3.

South Shore 19, Canarsie 1: Dayja Richardson went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored and Kyanna Henry went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored for South Shore (4-6 Brooklyn B-I). Canarsie is 1-9.

Scholars Academy 16, Goddard 6: Emma Michaels went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored and Lauren Hegel went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Scholars (9-2 Queens B-II). Goddard is 9-3.

FDR 21, Sheepshead Bay 6: Amina Markisic went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored and Sabrina Escoto and Shakira Hernandez each had three RBIs apiece for FDR (7-3 Brooklyn B-I). Sheepshead Bay is 4-7.

Beach Channel 16, Springfield Gardens 15: Kayleigh Hurley went 1-for-1 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Bridgette Nolan went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored for Beach Channel (8-4 Queens B-II). Springfield Gardens is 2-9.

OTHER SCORES

CSI/McCown 6, Petrides 4

Evander Childs 19, John F. Kennedy 10

Health Professions 20, Brandeis 5

Columbus 8, Bronx Leadership 7

mraimondi@nypost.com
Nypost.com