Hopewell Valley falls in CJ III quarterfinals
MIDDLETOWN » After posting its first post-season victory in five years earlier in the week, the Hopewell Valley softball team met the end of the line in the Central Jersey Group III Tournament Saturday when it lost at Middletown North, 9-2.
Each team had eight hits, but second-seeded Middletown was able to take advantage of seven walks and five Hopewell errors.
Hopewell got two hits apiece from pitcher Sam Shaw, Mea Allex and Izabella Cornish-DiDonato. Both of the hits by Allex were doubles.
Hopewell Valley is now 11-9 and may or may not play one more game against West Windsor United.
Hopewell Valley (11-9) 020 000 0 — 2 8 5 Middletown North (17-9) 011010 x — 9 5 1 WP-Shevlin. LP-Shaw. 2B-Allex (HV) 2, Yancey (HV), Zangrilli (HV),
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP III
BURLINGTON TWP. 5,
TIMBER CREEK 3 BURLINGTON TWP. » Rylee Reid pitched a three-hitter as the Falcons improved to 16-3 and advanced to a home game on Tuesday against Toms River South. Timber Creek (10-9) 002 000 1 — 3 3 1 Burlington Twp. (16-3) 201 020 x — 5 9 2
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP IV
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH 6, R ANCOCAS VALLEY 5 MIDDLETOWN » RV nearly pulled off a big upset against the top seed, but fell in 10 innings when the home team (22-0) rallied with two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Aubrey Jeffers led the Hollies with three hits, while Stephanie Kraska, Melanie Earley and Kennedy Kleszics each had two. Two of Jeffers’ hits were doubles.
Middletown South will host the winner of the South Brunswick-Freehold Township game in one of the semifinals and Northern Burlington will travel to Jackson Memorial in the other.
Rancocas Valley (9-11) 013 000 000 1 — 5 11 0
Middletown South (22-0) 001 100 020 2 — 6 8 2
WP-Mullane. LP-Doppler. 2-Jeffers (RV) 2, Kleszics (RV), Doyle (MS), Coneeny (MS), Iannone (MS).