The semifinal round of the Group 1 NJSIAA State Tournament wrapped up with plenty of excitement across all brackets. Each bracket featured two games, narrowing the field down to just two teams remaining in each. The semifinal round delivered its fair share of upsets, as lower-seeded teams rose to the occasion and knocked off favorites. There were also standout performances from both teams and individual players, setting the tone for what promises to be an intense and competitive tournament. The action picks back up later today with the Sectional Championship, as the remaining teams look to finish off a sucessful season. Today, we will be taking a look at the results from the group 1 semifinal games.

NORTH 1 BRACKET

+ In the North 1, four seeded Wallkill Valley upset top seeded Pequannock 4-3 thanks to a four run fifth inning. Though it resulted in a loss, Pequannock starting pitcher and Fairleigh Dickinson commit Nick Werner was dominant, tossing 6.2 innings, allowing no earned runs, four hits, and struck out 11. A tough break for the senior. On the other side, Midland Park beat Indian Hills 5-4. The bottom four hitters in the Midland lineup each had 2 hits accounting for eight of the teams 11 hits. 

NORTH 2 BRACKET

+ The North 2 bracket featured a upset as four seed Brearley beat Cedar Grove 7-5 after a six run first inning. Alex Skwarek got the win on the mound, striking out 12. Verona avoided an upset after taking down Hanover Park 4-2, advancing to the Sectional Championship.

CENTRAL BRACKET

+ The Central bracket featured two shutouts for the No. 1 & 2 seeds as Middlesex beat Shore 10-0. Chris Kozak tossed a complete game shutout, walking none, allowing two hits, and striking out eight. Point Pleasant Beach shutout Delaware Valley 5-0, Bennett Moberg got the win on the hill, in 6.2 innings of work he allowed two hits and struck out eight. 

SOUTH BRACKET

+ The top two seeds advance to the championship in the South bracket after Audubon beat Maple Shade 4-1 thanks to a three run first inning. Lance Furness was 3-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Starting pitcher Gabe McCracken tossed a complete game, allowing one run, three hits, and struck out seven. Schalick beat Woodstown 8-0 thanks to an outstanding pitching performance by Jamari Whitley, the sophomore pitched six innings allowing two hits and struck out 11. 

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