Monday marked the final stop on the road to Rutgers with state semifinal action happening all over the Garden State. We’ve got five awesome matchups from a busy slate to open up the final week of the spring. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout night!
Ridgewood 8 Ridge 7 (8 inn.) | Group 4 State Semifinal
Ridgewood’s magical run continued in the most thrilling way possible on Monday as the Maroons defeated Ridge 8-7 in the Group 4 semifinal after a Hudson Feeney walk-off home run in the 8th inning. After trailing 3-1 in the third, the Maroons scored five unanswered runs to make it 6-3 after four. The Devils then answered back with three runs in the top of the 5th to knot things up, but Ridgewood went back ahead 7-6 in the bottom half off an Alex D’Angelo single.
In the potential last half inning, Ridge’s Toby Nicholson changed that with an RBI single to tie it up at 7. The game would eventually head to extra innings where Feeney drilled his solo shot leading off the bottom of the 8th.
The Maroons will now face No. 13 Kingsway in the Group 4 final at Rutgers on Sunday at 1:00.
JSZ’s Ryan Sudol has the highlights and reaction from Ridgewood:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ridge is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.
Kingsway 9 Hunterdon Central 1 | Group 4 State Semifinal
Nate Bott shined in just his third pitching appearance of his senior season. The Delaware commit tossed five innings, allowing only one run while striking out a career-high nine batters. Trey Garutti hit his first varsity home run to give Hunterdon Central (18-14) the lead in the top of the third inning, but it was all Kingsway from there. The Dragons scored nine unanswered runs to punch their ticket to Rutgers. Kingsway (24-5) will face Ridgewood on Sunday for the Group 4 state championship.
JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights from Sweedesboro:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Hunterdon Central is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.
Brick Memorial 2 Delsea 1 | Group 3 State Semifinal
The Mustangs were down to their final out, but found a way to break through for a pair of runs to walk it off and reach their first state title game. West Chester commit Brody Moore delivered the game-winning RBI single, while Rutgers commit Tyler Garbooshian tied things up in the victory. Zach Pirnik allowed one run while scattering five hits over seven strong innings for Brick Memorial (25-7). Camden County College commit Kyle Harrison left it all on the field as he racked up nine strikeouts over six-plus innings for Delsea (20-7). Brick Memorial will look to complete its historic postseason run on Sunday against Old Tappan in the Group 3 state final at Rutgers University.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Brick Township:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Brick Memorial is made possible by Community Medical Center in Toms River.
Old Tappan 2 Cranford 0 | Group 3 State Semifinal
Anthony Onnembo’s 2-run blast in the sixth inning accounted for all the runs in a great state semifinal matchup as Columbia commit Selden Kolkebeck pitched a 2-hitter striking out 10 to give the Golden Knights a spot in the Group 3 state championship game against Brick Memorial.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Old Tappan:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Cranford is made possible by JAG Physical Therapy.
Governor Livingston 15 Haddon Heights 5 | Group 2 State Semifinal
Michael Novotny delivered a monster performance in just his second game back in the Governor Livingston lineup. Novotny went 3-for-3 with two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored as the Highlanders rallied from an early deficit to defeat Haddon Heights 15-5 in six innings. Kevin Clark gave Haddon Heights a 2-0 lead with a first-inning home run and the Garnets led 5-2 in the third, but Governor Livingston answered with 13 unanswered runs to take control. The Highlanders will face Ramsey on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Rutgers University in the Group 2 state championship as they chase a third straight state title.
JSZ’s Nicholas Doll has the highlights + post-game reaction from Berkeley Heights:
