There was plenty of excitement around New Egypt High School in Plumsted on May 25 when the Warriors’ baseball and softball teams played in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I state sectional tournament semifinals.
For the 16-8 baseball team, it was the furthest advance into the state tournament in its nine years of varsity competition, and the opponent was a familiar one: Burlington County Scholastic League Freedom Division rival Riverside High School.
New Egypt won the division title last week, for the first time since 2004.
The teams were also scheduled to play a regular-season game on May 26 at Riverside. A New Egypt victory in that game would have clinched the Warriors’ first unbeaten season in division play and ease the pain of a second-round loss in the BCSL Tournament to Cinnaminson, 7-1.
“We’ve played well, even in our losses,” said coach Rich Carroll, referring to a 5-4 loss to Holy Cross last week as the only blot in the last seven games, including an 8-0 state tournament victory over Wildwood on May 21.
In that game, Taylor Steen (6-2) pitched a two-hitter and hit a two-run home run to center field in the third inning that opened the scoring. It was Steen’s fourth home run of the season. He finished with two hits and three RBIs, and struck out nine and walked two on the mound.
New Egypt broke away with its final four runs scored in the fifth inning, two coming on Rigo Morfin’s first home run of the season. Morfin finished with three hits and three RBIs.
Steen also led the way in New Egypt’s state tournament opener, a 10-3 victory over Arthur P. Schalick High School of Pittsgrove Township early last week in which he missed hitting for the cycle by a single when he collected three extra-base hits, including a home run, a triple and a double, and drove in three runs. He struck out 11 hitters.
Catcher Mike Fassl continues to hammer away at the plate with a .415 batting average, and Reid Anderson is hitting .377. Brian Hamilton follows with a .372 average coming into this week.
On May 19, New Egypt clinched the BCSL Freedom Division championship in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 victory over Maple Shade in 10 innings. Shane Weicberger began the winning rally with a single, and Anderson lined a double. After an intentional walk, Mike DeAnni hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to drive in the game-winning run. In the fourth inning, DeAnni belted a home run to right field.
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