Baseball, girls’ lacrosse shined this spring at Allentown

State sectional tournament championship banners for 2018 will be hung at Allentown High School to honor the baseball and girls’ lacrosse programs.

Allentown’s baseball and girls’ lacrosse teams celebrated state sectional championships in Central Jersey, Group 3.

Each won in the state sectional title game by an identical 6-5 score.

The baseball Redbirds beat Wall Township High School in the sectional final and the Allentown girls’ lacrosse team edged Notre Dame High School to win its sectional title.

The baseball team went on to reach the Group 3 state championship game, where the Redbirds were denied a second straight state title when they fell to Somerville High School, 3-2.

The girls’ lacrosse squad was eliminated in the Group 3 state semifinals by mighty Moorestown High School, 15-1. Moorestown went on to win the Tournament of Champions state title.

Allentown’s baseball season and bid to repeat as the Group 3 state champion may have ended that rainy June 10 against Somerville in Hamilton Township, but the Redbirds can reflect on a 22-7 showing this spring.

The robust lineup featured first baseman Brandon Gaul, who recorded 36 hits and 31 RBI; shortstop Justin Marcario, who collected 40 hits; sturdy catcher Chris Redder, who scored 32 runs; and third baseman Guisseppe Arcuri, who connected on 14 doubles, the second most hit this season in New Jersey. Matt Bethea and Zack Elwell spearheaded the pitching staff.

Allentown’s girls’ lacrosse team relied on a balanced effort to post a 15-5 record.

The Redbirds who starred this season on the lacrosse field were Alyssa Castellano, Marin Hartshorn, Morgan Vaccaro, Isabella Walker, Brianna Samules, Abby Howell and Kylie Reed.

A third state sectional banner almost made its way up the rafters at Allentown High.

Allentown’s girls’ track and field squad placed second in the Central Jersey, Group 3 state sectional championship meet that was held on May 26 at Jackson Liberty High School.

Allentown scored 75 points to finish as the runner-up to Colts Neck High School, which won the sectional title with 84 points.

Allentown boasted one of the premier athletes in the state sectional race in triple-winner Kassidy Mulryne. She won the high jump, long jump and the triple jump.

Also winning a state sectional track and field title that day for the Redbirds was Devon Hoernlein, who finished first in the 3,200-meter run.