Rams, Ravens, Spartans all advance

It was a strong day for Mercer County softball in the state tournament Monday as defending state champions Robbinsville and Steinert both advanced along with Hightstown to Thursday’s sectional semifinals.

ROBBINSVILLE 9, GOV. LIVINGSTON 3 ROBBINSVILLE >> Shooting for a third straight Group II state title, the Ravens rolled behind the three hits each of Chelsea Manto and Shea Walsh and Devon Witt at the top of the order. Manto now has 199 career hits.

Chipping in with two hits apiece were Olivia Moser, Allie Taylor and Brynn Hopkins. Witt smacked two doubles and led the team with five RBIs. Shea Krebs got the win with a three-hitter and three strikeouts.

Robbinsville will now host South Plainfield in the next round after it beat No. 2 seed Raritan, 1-0.

STEINERT 9, JACKSON LIBERTY 0

HAMILTON >> The word was Liberty was a good-hitting team, but Kaylee Whittaker was having none of it and shut down the Shore Conference club with a three-hitter and 12 strikeouts.

Bella Truelove was the batting star with a double and her 12th home run of the year. Nicole Cerasi, Alex Haley and Whittaker also had two hits. Truelove finished with four RBIs in all.

A winner of Central Jersey Group III three years in a row, Steinert will play at Burlington Township Thursday in a rematch of last year’s semifinals. Jackson Liberty (18-7) 000 000 0 - 0 3 2 Steinert (24-2) 020 025 x - 9 11 1 WP-Whittaker. LP-DiDonato. 2B-Truelove (S). HR-Truelove.

HIGHTSTOWN 1, MONROE 0 HIGHTSTOWN >> The Rams advanced in the Central Jersey Group IV bracket behind the dominating pitching of Allie Bridgman, who fired a fivehitter with 10 strikeouts. The lone run came in the bottom of the seventh when Gina Zappola singled home Bridgman.

Hightstown returns to tourney action against the winner of the game between Freehold Boro and Howell.

Monroe (13-6) 000 000 0 - 0 5 0 Hightstown (20-3) 000 000 1 - 1 4 2 WP-Bridgman. LP-Lawless. 2B-Fopeano (M).

NOTRE DAME 13, WW-PN 3 LAWRENCEVILLE >> Rachel Zingerman and Jordyn Wacker hit back-to-back home runs for the fourth time this season. Gillian Roberts got the win, and Emily Reinstein and Rachel Doan doubled. Notre Dame will host Paul VI in the state tourney Thursday after it beat Bishop Eustace, 16-7. WW-PN 102 00 - 3

Notre Dame 141 7x - 13 WP-Roberts. LP-Sumanthiran. 2B-Reinstein (ND), Doan (ND). HR-Zingerman (ND), Wacker (ND).

OCEAN TWP. 10, HOPEWELL VALLEY 0 LYNDHURST >> Sarah Angle doubled, but that about the only highlight for the Valley Girls (6-17).

Hopewell 000 00 - 0 2 0

Ocean Twp. 001 107 x- 10 6 0 WP-Degiorolamo. LP-Orlando.