14th-seeded North Hunterdon rode junior Jack Kennedy to a 3-1 victory over top-seeded Watchung Hills in the NJSIAA/Wilson Sporting Goods North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Sectional final on Friday.
Kennedy delivered on the mound with a complete-game performance and struck out five in the contest, including two in final inning as North Hunterdon kept an unbelievable postseason run alive
John Wilson scored the initial run for the Lions, coming in during the first inning when Jeff Guile hit a grounder to the right side with the bases loaded.
John Macce tacked on a run in the third inning by driving in Jack Peterson with a shot up the middle and then Matt Busher hit a sac fly in the fourth that brought around Matt Roskoski. The sequence that led to that third and final run started with a misplayed ball up the middle, continued with a sac bunt from Justin Johnson, developed further after a passed ball and came to end with Busher’s drive to the outfield — a series of events that just optimizes what this team has been about in 2016.
Matt Busher came up with the first jaw-dropping defensive play as he unleashed a laser from right field in the fourth inning to gun out a runner at third base to put the finishing touches on a 9-5 double play. Grant Sible produced another gem in the bottom of the fifth inning as he fully extended and caught a line drive that became the first out in a 1-2-3 frame.
The Lions will play Morristown in the Group 4 State Semifinals on Tuesday, June 7th – at Kean University 4pm.
North Hunterdon knocks off top-seeded Watchung Hills, wins North 2, Group 4 championship
14th-seeded North Hunterdon knocks off top-seeded Watchung Hills, wins North 2, Group 4 championship
Baseball: North Hunterdon upsets Watchung Hills in sectional final
WATCH: Jack Kennedy puts finishing touches on North 2, Group 4 title win
