With Sectional Finals for softball coming up this Friday, JSZ brings you two high-quality quarterfinal matchups from both the East and West sides of the Garden State in the Central Jersey, Group 3 bracket.


Middletown South 4 Jackson Memorial 1 | Central Group 3 Quarterfinal

Riley Smith pitched a complete game 4-hitter with just one walk and 12 strikeouts to lead the Eagles to the section semifinals and a matchup with Shore rival Colts Neck.  Middletown South scored three runs in the fourth highlighted by a Ella Gardner two-run double.  Jackson Memorial won the Ocean County championship in its final season.  Jackson Memorial will combine with Jackson Liberty next year.

JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Middletown:

Jersey Sports Zone’s Shore Conference Game of the Week is brought to you by ACI Medical & Dental School.

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Middletown South is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.


Steinert 3 Matawan 0 | Central Group 3 Quarterfinal

Katie Simonka’s season of greatness just got even better. The Fairleigh Dickinson commit recorded 10 strikeouts, reaching a milestone 400 career K’s. With a 1.53 ERA and over 200 strikeouts this season, the senior has been a dominant force in leading Steinert (18-4) to yet another Central Jersey Group 3 semifinal appearance. Ellie Miller powered the Spartan offense with a game-high two RBI. Matawan (12-11) sees its season end at the hands of Steinert in the quarterfinals for the second straight year. The Spartans will now face Northern Burlington on Wednesday with a trip to the Sectional Finals on the line.

JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights from Hamilton Township: 

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Steinert is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.