Baseball – Frank Malta Talks Last Dance, Jackson Baseball

Jackson Memorial missed out on a chance to win a second NJSIAA Group IV championship under coach Frank Malta but head into Tuesday with a chance to win something that might be equally impressive - perhaps even more so.

The Jackson Jags are one of eight teams remaining in the Last Dance World Series, presented by RWJBarnabas Health, and one of only two teams left that are made up of players from a public-school program.

Last week, Jackson won elimination games against Middlesex, 4-0, and Washington Township, 5-3, behind two more stellar pitching performances and will take the field Tuesday at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood to take on St. Joseph of Metuchen's SJ Falcons at 7 p.m.

Malta chatted with Shore Sports Network Baseball Editor Matt Manley about the road to the tournament's final week and what he thinks of his team's chances to make it to Friday's overall state championship game.

Last Dance World Series Presented by RWJBarnabas Health

Tuesday, July 28

South Jersey Semifinals

At FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood (Both games are sold out)

Sader Baseball Club (Bishop Eustace) vs. Brooklawn (Gloucester Catholic), 3 p.m.

Jackson Jags (Jackson Mem.) vs. SJ Falcons (St. Joseph Metuchen), 7 p.m.

North Jersey Semifinals

At TD Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater

BC Crusaders (Bergen Catholic) vs. Tidal Wave (Delbarton), 10 a.m.

Diamondbacks (Don Bosco) vs. Cougars Baseball (Cranford), 1 p.m.