The Rancocas Valley Regional High School baseball team celebrates during the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals against Cherokee at Cherokee High School in Evesham, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Colin Garcia for D2 Sports Network
EVESHAM (N.J.) - The Rancocas Valley Regional High School baseball team defeated Olympic Conference American Division rival Cherokee, 6-4, in the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals on Tuesday. The Red Devils reached their first sectional final since 2014.
Rancocas Valley defeated the defending S.J. Group 4 champions three times this season.
Eastern University commit Graham Adams earned the win on the mound after he pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 10 hits, four earned runs and one walk. Adams also fanned five batters. Matt Hewitt earned the four-out save after he allowed zero baserunners and struck out one in 1.1 innings of relief.
Brady Bartletta collected two hits and three runs batted in for Rancocas Valley. Gavin Gilmore scored a pair of runs and notched a pair of hits, and Connor Whitall drove in two runs on a single. Jake Barletta singled twice and scored a run. Angel Rodriguez and Joey Dinneen also scored for the Red Devils.
Navy commit Evan Brown powered top-seeded Cherokee with a two-run home run. Catcher Jason Schooley added a pair of singles and a run batted in. Leo Bluestein and Brandon Prince each scored a run and collected two hits. Jordan Henriquez, Cameron Della Vecchia and Brett Chiesa charted singles for the Chiefs.
Brody Minder received the loss on the mound after he allowed six hits, six runs, three earned runs, two walks and struck out six in 4.1 innings pitched. Cherokee concluded its season with a 21-7 record.
The Red Devils (16-11 record) will host 11th-seeded Eastern in the South Jersey Group 4 final on Friday at 3 pm. Rancocas Valley defeated the Vikings twice during the regular season. Eastern defeated the Red Devils, 5-1, when the two programs met in the South Jersey Group 4 final in 2014.