Steinert, R’ville begin title defenses with wins

The Steinert and Robbinsville softball teams successfully opened the defense of their Central Jersey championships with victories Monday afternoon.

Steinert (18-4) will take on Robbinsville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Ewing’s Arm- strong Park in the Mercer County Tournament championship game and then host Brick Township Wednesday in states.

Lawrence (6-14) 000 000 0 — 0 1 0 Steinert (18-4) 200 020 x — 4 6 0 WP-Whittaker. LP-Seals. 2B-Backlund (S).

WALL 1, WEST WINDSOR NORTH 0 PLAINSBORO » The Knights were bounced in the first round when Wall got a triple and scored on a throwing error in the top of the sixth inning.

North had five hits, but couldn’t cash in. McKenna Carpenter threw very well in defeat with 10 strikeouts and yielded just two hits. West Windsor North is now 14-5. Wall advanced to a game at Ewing Wednesday.

Wall0000010—121 WW-P North (14-5) 000 000 0 — 0 5 3 WP-Mahoney. LP-Carpenter.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP 10, HAMILTON 2 BURLINGTON TWP. » Sophomore Bailey Enock struck out 10 and scattered six hits as top-seeded Township (181) advanced to a home game on Wednesday against Nottingham.

Mackenzie Fitzpatrick swung the big stick for the Falcons with a double and triple. Enoch and Mattison Palentchar also had two hits for the winners. Ham- ilton got two hits from Ju- lia Martine and Elizabeth Kelly. One of Martine’s hits was a double.

Hamilton 000 002 0 — 2 6 3 Burl Twp. (18-1) 204 004 x — 10 11 1 WP-Enoch. LP-Palyok. 2B-Martine (H), Fitzpatrick (BT). 3B-Fitzpatrick.

would have been a nice upset win when the home team pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh after South had tied it with a run in the top of the inning on an RBI by Priyanka Kaul.

Taylor Britt pitched great in defeat with a four-hitter and four strikeouts. Peyton Schnackenberg struck out nine for Montgomery. South was playing without standout shortstop Sam Hastings. who suffered a knee injury earlier this month.

West Windsor South will play for the Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division title when it travels to Notre Dame Tuesday.

WW-P South 000 000 1 — 1 3 3 Montgomery 000 101 1 — 2 4 2

Rams nearly pulled off an upset if you go by the seeding, but couldn’t overcome an early 3-0 hole. Allie Bridgman struck out nine for Hightstown. The Rams got two hits apiece by Kristin Oberg, Morgan Fleisher and Izzy Hulme.

Hightstown (12-9) 100 010 0 — 2 9 1 Old Bridge (14-9) 300 000 x — 3 6 2