Nutley HS softball team drops heartbreaker to Middletown South in eight innings in North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament semifinals to finish terrific 23-7 season

NUTLEY – The Nutley High School varsity softball team showed much resiliency, but fell to Middletown South, 8-4, in eight innings in the semifinals of the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament on May 31 at Yanticaw Park.

The Raiders, who were the defending state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament champions, finished the season with a terrific 23-7 record.

Middletown South, seeded third, broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

But the second-seeded Raiders, down to their final six outs, rallied with four runs in the bottom of sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Senior shortstop Stefanie Ziemer had the go-ahead RBI single.

Middletown South, however, tied the game in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. Middletown South broke the tie with four runs in the top of the eighth.

Senior starting pitcher Emily Holden went the distance, striking out five. Holden also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Senior third baseman Breanna DeMaio went 2-for-4 with a double and senior center fielder Alanis Concepcion went 2-for-4 for the Raiders.

NHS head coach Luann Zullo earned her 400th career win when the Raiders beat Sayreville, 9-4, in the final regular-season game on May 20.

  Nutley High School softball