VIDEO: Despite mustering just two hits for game, Middle rallies in seventh to earn wild state playoff victory

Posted: May 26th 2026

The members of the Middle Township High School softball team are all smiles after rallying for four runs in the final inning to win a first-round state playoff game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – When the state playoffs arrive, style points count for nothing.

All that matters is that you find a way to survive and advance.

The Middle Township High School softball team did just that Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Panthers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning without the benefit of a hit and erased a three-run deficit to stun Oakcrest, 8-7, in an opening-round game in the South Jersey Group II Tournament.

Middle (15-7), the eighth seed in the tournament, picked up the victory despite mustering just two hits for the entire game, the team capitalizing on 10 walks and a hit batter to fuel its offense.

Middle will move on to play at No. 1-seeded Gloucester, one of the top teams in the state, in the second round on Thursday. Gloucester was a 10-0 winner over Haddonfield in its tournament opener.

Julianna Sittineri opened the seventh for Middle by getting hit by a pitch, followed by a walk by Grace Hall, her fourth free pass of the game. A fielder’s choice by Sophia Brown loaded the bases, and Sittineri later scored on Dakota Laughlin’s RBI ground out. Walks to Tori Atwood, Katie Creamer, Payton DeVicchis tied the game before Kylie Dougherty raced home with the winning run on a wild pitch.

Laughlin had two RBI in the game, getting her first on a run-scoring single in the first inning. Sittineri had Middle’s other hit in the third inning.

Creamer was the winning pitcher. She gave up 12 hits, including five doubles, but did not walk a batter. She struck out eight.

The victory allowed Atwood, Brown, Hall, Charlotte Romberger and K.J. Schaffer – Middle’s five seniors – to win their final home game at the Boyd Street Field.