Haddonfield Falls In Diamond Classic Final; Top Seed In Playoffs

The Haddonfield Memorial High School baseball team’s surprise run to the final of the 46th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic ended in defeat Wednesday night. Now, the Bulldawgs turn their focus to the state playoffs.

Haddonfield, the No. 8 seed in South Jersey’s unofficial championship tournament, fell to sixth-seeded Shawnee, 2-0, in the final at Eastern Regional High School, according to nj.com. Shawnee scored in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the sixth in the victory.

The following morning, Haddonfield learned it was the top seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 playoffs, according to nj.com. It was slated to host No. 16 Lower Cape May in the first round on May 20.

Haddon Township is the No. 10 seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 playoffs, and was set to visit No. 7 Overbrook in the first round on May 20, according to nj.com.

After winning the Diamond Classic, Shawnee is the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 playoffs, according to nj.com. Playoff matchups are unofficial until noon on Friday.

After Wednesday night’s game, Haddonfield is 16-3 this season, according to nj.com. Its other two losses came at home against Triton, 3-2, on April 27; and at Moorestown, 8-7, on May 10.

Saturday, May 11, proved to be a landmark day for the team, as it upset No. 1 Cherry Hill West, 7-0, and No. 5 Eastern, 8-5, in the 46th annual Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, at Deptford. Haddonfield beat Moorestown, 8-4, in the first round.

Shawnee (17-5) reached the final with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Bishop Eustace in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, the Renegades upset No. 3 St. Augustine, 4-3. Shawnee beat Highland, 3-2, in the first round.

Haddon Township (10-9) also competed in the Diamond Classic. As the No. 16 seed, the Hawks fell to No. 1 Cherry Hill West, 5-1, in the first round.