Baseball: South River punches ticket to sectional final

SOUTH RIVER - It's been five years since the South River High School baseball team advanced to a sectional final, and this time around the Rams are determined to take it one step further.

Top-seeded South River (18-7-1) defeated No. 4 Middlesex 1-0 in the NJSIAA Central Group I Tournament semifinals on Tuesday to punch its ticket to the sectional final.

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"We faced (Middlesex) in the state semis last year and they had a real good pitcher and we had Tyler (Higgins) on the mound last year and they kind of hit him a little bit," South River coach Mike Lepore said. "I think Dalton (Dougherty) is more successful against them, and he showed it today. We got one run, we held it and that was the difference."

Last season South River had its season cut short with a loss to Middlesex (14-12) in the sectional semifinals, and this year, after splitting the regular-season matchups, the Rams knew what it was going to take to get to the final. Despite playing a challenging schedule, South River was able to win its first division title in 30 years this season and has gained valuable experience that is coming in handy during the state tournament.

Dougherty pitched a complete game for South River, allowed hit hits through the first three innings, and then shut down the Blue Jays' bats the rest of the way. He struck out eight, walked three and hit a batter.

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The Rams scored their run in the bottom of the third. With one out Michael DeSantis reached on an error and moved to second when James Hart was hit by a pitch. DeSantis then stole third and scored on an error for a 1-0 lead. Middlesex pitcher Kyle Nepton then got the next two batters on fly outs to end the inning.

"First of all Dalton, his performance was what I expected out of him, getting ahead of batters, keeping them off balance, Matt Leviton called a great game, our defense was outstanding again, and we should have gotten more runs, we had opportunities," Lepore said. "I rolled the dice stealing third there and they ended up throwing it away, hopefully this is our year, we'll see what happens."

In the bottom of the fifth South River threatened. RJ Fischer led off with a single to right and Kyle French followed with a bunt single. With one out Hart walked to load the bases, and Brandon Szerszen singled back to the pitcher. Nepton went home with the throw and Middlesex catcher Mike Lavenia tagged Fischer. With the bases still loaded Nepton got Khaliyl Everett to fly out to right to end the inning.

"Our starting pitching has been outstanding, with Dalton and Tyler Higgins we're as tough as it gets, we've gotten timely hitting, we didn't get any today but their pitcher was outstanding," Lepore said. "We have to keep on playing defense and we're in good shape, we have Tyler Higgins going Friday, I think he's one of the best pitchers in the county so it's up to us right now."

Nepton also pitched a complete game, allowed one run on three hits, struck out two, walked two and hit a batter.

"He was great today, it was a game he should win, their guy was a little bit better. I think we played well but I think when we had to make a play we didn't and those guys over there they did when they had to, and that was the difference," Middlesex coach Justin Nastasi said. "I couldn't be prouder, I wish for the older guys that we could have got it done, but we're young and hopefully we'll be back here next year."

South River will face No. 2 Keyport in the sectional final on Friday. Keyport defeated No. 3 South Amboy 5-4.

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego