Morris Hills 2 – Montville 1 -- This seemed to be the match-up of the day and the game everyone was waiting for. Montville was just coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Essex-power Caldwell and Morris Hills freshly off a 4-0 victory over IHC foe Chatham. This one had all the makings of a classic softball match-up and the softball faithful at Brundage were given simply that. The Scarlet Knights pulled off a final-at-bat victory, edging the Mustangs 2-1. Coach Nieman gave the call to freshman Melissa O’Connor. The rookie gave the Mustangs all they could handle. Montville did manage seven hits, but could only muster one run in the first. O’Connor struck out five and was aided with a bit of strong defense through the game. Montville struck first I the top of the first. Lead batter, Kristin D'Arienzo drove a rocket into centerfield and advanced to third on an error. A two out double by senior catcher Stephanie Malgeri gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Morris Hills pressured in the bottom of the first, but the Mustangs worked their way of a one-out, bases loaded jam. Montville had to hold off the Knights again in the bottom of the second. Samantha Boccolini, who singled to lead off the 2nd, was at third with bases load and two outs. Mustang’s pitcher Candace Harrison fielded a ground ball and got the force at home, ending the Scarlet Knight’s threat.Montville mounted a two-out rally in the 3rd, only to have O’Connor record her third strikeout of the game, second of the inning. The Mustangs received a two-out single from Amanda Meytrott and Malgeri, only to be stranded at third. Senior Pitcher Candace Harrison lead off the 6th with a triple, but O’Conner continued to masterfully force ground balls and allow the Morris Hills’ defense chances to keep the runner at third. Morris Hills tied the game at one in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Shortstop Taryn Fernicola reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored the Scarlet’s Knights’ 1st run. Fernicola belted a one out triple in the 7th and later scored on a single by 1st baseman Michelle Bauer. The Scarlet Knights could only muster 5 hits on the day, but the two in the bottom of the seventh were the most damaging.
Randolph 9 – Dover 8 (8 innings) -- Randolph opened the day against Dover on the same field that hosts the MCT. The Tigers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Junior catcher Casey Boyle led off with a single. Shortstop Nicole Suaza blasted a triple scoring Boyle. Leftfielder Nicole Trowbridge reached base and later scored. The Rams took one back in the bottom of the second as sophomore Stephanie Crook reached on a walk, then scored as teammate Holly Piascik received a bases-loaded walk.
The Rams left the bases loaded in the first and second innings, and runners at 2nd, 3rd & 7th, as well as on 2nd & 3rd in the third inning. Randolph took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Rams went up 4-3 as Brittany Kerwick, Megan Donlon and Holly Piascik all scored. Kerwick lead off the inning with a walk. Donlon singled. Piascik doubled scoring two. Sophomore Rachel Klauber singled home Piascik.
Dover came right back. With one out, Caitlin Lally walked. A single by Elina Rallo set up Casey Boyle two-RBI triple. The Rams executed the long relay to near perfection and caught Rallo at home, spoiling the long-ball homerun. This play, amongst many, proved to be very decisive in the Rams victory.
The Tigers looked to put the game in the top of the 7th exploding for three more runs. Kristen Wollny led of the inning with a single. O’Connell’s home run with no outs increased Dover’s lead to 7-4. Casey Boyle followed with a two out Home run to give Dover an 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.
Randolph began the late heroics with singles by Samantha Agostinelli and Crook. Dana Zweibel and Donlon walked. All four Rams scored in the bottom of the 7th to tie it up at eight.
Zweibel would then reach in the bottom of the 8th with a one out walk. Holly Piascik hit a bomb scoring Zweibel and is credited with a single and the game winning RBI.
Morristown 2 – Chatham 1 (10 innings) – If you would have told a passer by that this was a MCT game, he would have definitely believed you. This 10 inning marathon had all the makings of a winner-take-all affair.
Morristown improved to 4-1 after an eventful 10th inning capped an evenly fought softball gem. Chatham only managed to send two batters to the plate in the top of the 10th. You may be asking yourself … Two batters? How? The Cougars began with a runner on 2nd-base to begin the top of the 10th. High School Softball uses an international tie-breaker that send the last batted out in the previous inning to second base. Chatham’s leadoff batter of the 10th reached on an error. She then stole second on the next pitch, putting the Cougars in great shape with runners at 2nd and 3rd and no outs. The next batter lined back to pitcher Blair Stittmann, which look more like a line drive out as apposed to a trapped ball. Stittmann, threw to 1st base for the out. An alert Sally Camelotto threw to 2ndbase for the second out of the series. Shortstop Alycia Ryan reacted quickly, tagging the runner moving back to second and firing the ball home for the tag out which completed the 1-3-6-2 triple play! Senior catcher Nicole Spiotta made the final tag at the plate.
Morristown responded quickly in the bottom of the tenth. Alycia Ryan started off at second base as per the international tie-breaker rule. Rebecca Satz sacrificed Ryan to third. Ryan then scored on a long shot by Camelotto scored Ryan ending an exciting 10-inning instant classic.
Blair Stittman picked up the victory, throwing from the 7th inning on. Stittmann relieved Junior Brittany Perri, who allowed only one run and three hits in the 1st six innings. Senior Cougar Amanda Costa went all 10 innings allowing just 7 hits and 2 runs. Freshman Alex St. Romain singled in the 6th and scored Chatham’s only run tying the game.
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