The South Jersey Group 2 Title Belongs To Sterling

By Jerome Michaels
SJSports Special Correspondent

It was a battle between two familiar opponents, only this time the winner would be labeled as the South Jersey Group 2 Champions. For Sterling and Haddonfield, the battle for the final positions in the Colonial Conference title was a distant thought. It's been two years since the last time Sterling had advance to the finals and they took full advantage in the title game. Starting pitcher Andy Meyers held Haddonfield in check long enough for the Knights to constantly build on their lead through the first 4 innings. The result was a 7-1 victory and a chance for the title celebration to occur on their home field.

The second seeded Knights from Sterling went right to work manufacturing runs during the bottom half of the first inning. It was only one run, but it was a big two out run. With a runner at second base, J.P. Larmore struck out with the pitch in the dirt that got away from the catcher. Eric Blann scored on the errant throw and Sterling scored a run with two outs. During the regular, that was the score, 1-0, when Sterling hosted Haddonfield late in April. In that game, Haddonfield scored that lone run to win the ballgame.

Adding onto their slim lead, the Knights’ bats came alive during the third inning score four more runs to build a 6-0 lead. Steve Andress highlighted the inning with a triple that scored one of those runs. Haddonfield would finally get on the scoreboard in the fourth. David Caulk provided the Bulldogs’ only run with a solo homerun.