The NJ Dawgs will ride their ninth straight win to the ABA Elite Wood American championship series August 18th following a 7-4 victory in the semifinals against the Newark Astros at Free Union Field. The semifinal game was a rematch from July when the Dawgs tied the Astros 7-7 and won 10-0 in a double header in Newark. The Dawgs took an early lead when Bert Tice singled home Tyler Branham for the first run of the game. The Dawgs extended their lead to 4-0 scoring one run in the second inning and two more in the fourth. The Astros got on the board in the fifth on and RBI single. Following a three-run seventh inning by the Dawgs, the Astros scored one run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to make the score 7-4 before Bert Tice closed out the game.

The Dawgs collected 12 hits as a teams led by three singles by Branham. Branham and Tice each had multiple RBI for the Dawgs. Dylan Harlos started the game and struckout nine and walked seven on six hits while giving up one earned run over five innings. Tyler Coltelli and Tice came in in relief and combined for two strikeouts, three walks, seven hits and two earned runs over the final four frames.

The Dawgs will host the Perth Amboy Rebels for the first two games of the best-of-three championship series in Great Meadows Sunday.