Colin Dowlen

With a pitch-count controversy hanging over the Group III championship game, Middletown North rode Colin Dowlen to the limit (and beyond) to win its first ever NJSIAA group title.

Colin Dowlen pitched another complete game and Middletown North's defense backed him up to earn a spot in the state final with a 6-1 win over one of New Jersey's hottest teams.

Ryan and Danny Frontera opened the scoring with back-to-back home runs and Danny added another one later as Middletown North outslugged Ocean, 11-8, to advance in the Central Group III Playoffs.

Colin Dowlen took a perfect game into the seventh inning and finished off a 15-strikeout no-hitter in Middletown North's win over rival Middletown South.

Middletown North was the breakout team of last summer and now, the Lions are looking to carry it into a full 2021 season.

Middletown North won only seven games with a young team in 2019 but the Lions are moving on in the Last Dance World Series after one of the state's best performances this past week.