S. Jersey Girls: Williamstown wins spot in Group 4 softball final

Williamstown provided one of the bright spots for South Jersey teams in the NJSIAA softball playoffs yesterday, earning a berth in the state Group 4 final with a 2-1 victory over Hunterdon Central at Northern Burlington.

Katie Trotter pitched the Braves' win, scattering six hits and striking out seven Red Devils (29-3).

Amanda Martinez scored the runs for the Braves (22-2), crossing the plate in the first inning on Briana Molino's double, and ending the game by scoring on Molino's bases-loaded single to right field with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Hunterdon Central threatened in the sixth with runners at first and third with one out, but a pop-up on a suicide squeeze attempt was turned into a double play.

Williamstown will face Union for the state title this weekend at a site and time to be determined.

South Jersey Non-Public B. In a showdown of Cape-Atlantic League National Conference powers for the sectional title, St. Joseph subdued Sacred Heart, 3-0, at Buena.

After a rain/lightning delay of 1 hour, 45 minutes, the Wildcats got a first-inning run on an RBI single by Nicole Pagano.

Pagano also pitched a one-hitter with 10 striekouts, allowing only a fourth-inning single to Arielle Bruno and outdueling Lions ace Kylie Kristovich, who threw a four-hitter.

In the sixth inning, Pagano and Morgan Earling each walked and scored on a line drive by Jane Higgins that got past the centerfielder.

St. Joseph, which will play the winner of today's Immaculate Heart-Paramus Catholic game for the state title, split a pair of regular-season games with Sacred Heart.

State Group 3. Delsea's season ended a game short of the state final with a 9-0 loss to powerful Middletown South (25-3) at New Egypt.

Liz Kuhn pitched a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts, allowing only a pair of singles to Kait Weichmann, who reached base in the third and seventh innings.

Allison Pfrommer, who pitched the Crusaders (19-7) to the school's second sectional title, managed three strikeouts.

State Group 2. Overbrook also was shut out by an impressive pitching performance, dropping a 1-0 eight-inning semifinal to Cranford (20-3) in the semifinal at Rancocas Valley.

Jen Metzger pitched seven shutout innings with 14 strikeouts for the Rams (23-4), but Cranford, which managed only a single and a triple by Jenn Handy, pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

Lachelle Rouse's double was the lone hit Overbrook hit against Kelly Hardman (14 strikeouts).