S. Jersey Boys: Four South Jersey teams lose in state semifinal games

Central Jersey teams made a clean sweep of their four games against the South Jersey public baseball group champions in the NJSIAA state semifinals yesterday.

Coming off its first sectional title,

Buena

failed to reach the state finals for the first time, dropping a 4-2 state Group 2 semifinal matchup to

Allentown

at New Egypt.

The Chiefs (18-10) jumped ahead early, scoring twice in the first inning. Kenny Miles walked, Marco Carolla and Miles were safe on a fielder's choice, and pitcher Mike Ney reached base on a catcher's interference call.

With two outs, Tyler Callahan came through with a two-run single, but that was all the offense Buena managed against Ethan Perro.

Trailing by 2-1 in the seventh, Allentown (26-3) got a game-tying home run by Thomas Koontz, and Logan Gallagher lined a two-out, two-run game-winning double.

Allentown 001 000 3 - 4 8 3

Buena 200 000 0 - 2 5 0

WP: Ethan Perro. LP: Mike Ney. 2B: A-Ethan Perro, Logan Gallagher. HR: A-Thomas Koontz.

State Group 3.

Junior pitcher Jim Schramm (7-2) allowed just one earned run, but suffered his second loss as Central Jersey champ

Wall Township

blanked

Timber Creek

, 3-0, in the state semifinals at the College of New Jersey.

A throwing error led to two second-inning runs, and winning pitcher Anthony Cinelli made the runs stand up, allowing just two Chargers (15-7) base hits, including John Garozzo's double.

Timber Creek 000 000 0 - 0 2 3

Wall Township 020 001 x - 3 5 0

WP: Cinelli. LP: Jim Schramm. 2B: WT-McArdle. TC-John Garozzo.

State Group 1.

With 14 hits against three

Maple Shade

pitchers in five innings,

Robbinsville

cruised past the Wildcats, 15-5, in the state semifinals at Rider University.

Mark Magariello collected three hits and scored three runs, and Robbinsville (16-9) jumped out to a 5-0 first-inning advantage.

The Ravens will face Park Ridge in the state finals this weekend.

Robbinsville 512 43 - 15 14 0

Maple Shade 012 20 - 5 8 0

WP: Brian Greubel. LP: Chris Szymczak.

State Group 4.

South Jersey champ

Toms River North

struggled in the state semifinals as

Hunterdon Central

captured a 5-1 victory at Raritan.