Softball

Eppel's HR powers Morris Knolls in emotional MCT final

ROXBURY _ Skye Eppel paced the dugout in the bottom of the seventh inning, pondering what would happen if Morris Knolls got back to the top of the order. Eppel, a junior centerfielder and leadoff batter, took a few peeks at the action on the field and cheered at times as the Golden Eagles tried to recover from a one-run deficit. After Brielle Eike singled and Nicole Florey walked, Eppel, her stomach churning, was assured another at-bat. The pacing finally ceased when she was in the on-deck area. The anxiety soon turned to euphoria when Eppel hammered a first pitch…

May 12, 2019
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Mt. Olive, Knolls advance to final

ROXBURY _ As a freshman pinch runner, Bri Segnello used her speed and daring to score from first base on Annalee Smith's two-out RBI double in the eighth inning and send Mount Olive to a win over Randolph in a 2018 Morris County Tournament semifinal. On May 9, Segnello, now the starting center fielder, was once again a critical part of the game-winning run, belting a double to right-center field to snap a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the seventh inning and boost the sixth-seeded Marauders over seventh-seeded Parsippany, 3-2, in an MCT semi. Morris Knolls, the top seed,…

May 10, 2019
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Mendham's Gabby Donofrio gets set to make a throw after fielding a groundball in a game versus Parsippany in April of 2018.

Carfagna's double lifts Mendham

MADISON _ In a back-and-forth struggle, it was a spirited Mendham team that struck the final decisive blow. The Minutemen scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning to earn a 6-4 victory over Hanover Park in a Morris County Softball Tournament quarterfinal game at the Madison High School Recreation Complex on Monday, May 6. Mendham, which has won five straight games, moves on to the MCT semifinals on Wednesday night and will take on top-seeded Morris Knolls (18-3) at the Landing Softball Complex in Roxbury. The early MCT semifinal game has sixth-seeded Mount Olive (12-5) taking on…

May 7, 2019
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Published in Softball
Written by Ed Mills

Quigley gets in one more home run

MONTVILLE _ Elizabeth Quigley wanted to hit one more ball over the fence, to experience the adrenalin rush and have teammates waiting for her at home plate. Quigley, Morris Tech's catcher, achieved her goal by slugging a sixth-inning home run for the Blue Team at the 11th Annual Morris County Senior All-Star Game held on June 12 at Montville Municipal Fields. In her previous two at-bats, Quigley struck out so the two-run blast to right field, which came off a 2-2 pitch, was ultra meaningful. The homer was Quigley's last - in a Morris Tech uniform or any uniform -…

June 13, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Hanover Park coach Jamie Galioto shows the trophy to his team after it defeated Parsippany for the sectional title.

Hornets garner sectional crown

PARSIPPANY _ It was another joyous moment in the history of the Hanover Park softball program when it defeated Parsippany 12-5 for the North Jersey Section 2, Group II title. The Hornets had a subdued celebration then went to right field to discuss what previously had been prohibited: The fact that their Group II semifinal against Ramsey, slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 at Seton Hall University, would start at the same time as the prom. "We haven't mentioned it once because it would have been a distraction," Hanover Park coach Jamie Galioto said. "We knew when the…

May 30, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Annalee Smith, whose home run boosted Mount Olive over Ridgewood in state tournament action on Friday, May 25, revels in the win with Gabby Grillo and other teammates.

Homer sends Mt. Olive into final

MOUNT OLIVE _ Annalee Smith was seeking redemption for herself and Mount Olive. Last year's result against Ridgewood was still weighing heavily on the mind of Smith, the Marauders' catcher, when she stepped to the plate to open the bottom of the sixth inning with the score tied, 3-3, in a North Jersey Section 1, Group IV semifinal. All she wanted was to get on base. Smith looked over the first pitch, a ball, before homering over the fence in right field. The home run, Smith's first in 48 games, more than fulfilled her wish, sending the third-seeded Marauders to…

May 28, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Jessica Torch poses with balloons and flowers after getting her 100th hit in late April.

Torch went short in quest for 100 hits

MOUNTAIN LAKES _ The Mountain Lakes softball team was winless when Jessica Torch was a freshman in the spring of 2015. The Lakers posted two victories a year later and four during Torch's junior year. Through it all of Mountain Lakes' struggles, Torch kept hitting. On April 26 versus Villa Walsh, Torch, the senior shortstop who resides atop the Lakers' order, rapped out two hits, including the 100th of her career - a drag bunt - and scored the decisive run when Mountain Lakes recorded a 2-0 shutout in eight innings. "We needed baserunners. It was 0-0 in the top…

May 25, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Knolls falls to Ridgewood

DENVILLE _ The first four innings, all 1-2-3, were the best all season by Morris Knolls pitcher Kayla Turcios. Turcios, a sophomore right-hander, obviously, did not give up a hit for the majority of the North Jersey Section 1, Group IV quarterfinal. The Golden Eagles scored a first-inning run and, for awhile, it certainly seemed like it might just be enough. Ridgewood broke through for a single in the fifth inning and Turcios gave up a walk. Those runners were left on and Morris Knolls was able to cling to its slim lead. In the sixth inning, however, the Maroons…

May 24, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Katie Preston went the last two innings for Mountain Lakes when it played Boonton on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Zannelli's three RBIs key for Lakers

MOUNTAIN LAKES _ Nikki Zannelli has a hit in every game but one this season yet Mountain Lakes' junior second baseman considered herself in a slump going into the Lakers' game against Boonton. Zannelli felt something was amiss and that led to her being videotaped by Mountain Lakes coach Alison Preston. "Going into our game on Friday, Nikki said 'I don't know what's wrong. I can't hit,'" Preston recalled. The videotape revealed that Zannelli wasn't tracking the ball. Her head was in but her eyes weren't following the pitch. However, after the Lakers' 7-5 victory over Boonton on Monday, May…

May 15, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

The Hornets rush to pitcher Jessica Miller after she made the final out of the MCT final.

Hornets hang on, gain MCT title

ROXBURY _ Hanover Park pitcher Jessica Miller squeezed the popup in her mitt, exhaled and spiked the ball into the infield dirt. Finally, it was over. Miller's stomach turned many times in the top of the seventh inning when Mount Olive cut into the Hornets' once-substantial lead. Eleven batters took their turns at the plate. Five runs scored but fifth-seeded Hanover Park held on for a 9-7 victory over the sixth-seeded Marauders at Landing Park to garner their first Morris County Tournament title in 39 years. "All of the frustration and excitement just came out," said Miller of the celebratory…

May 10, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

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Jess Miller belted two home runs and singled for Hanover Park in its 21-1 win over Parsippany in MCT semifinal action on Saturday, May 5.

Miller leads Hornets into MCT final

ROXBURY _ It clearly wasn't Jenna Devens' night and that pained Hanover Park's senior ace Jess Miller. "I'd be terrified to be in this position as a freshman," Miller said of Devens, Parsippany's first-year pitcher who was making her debut in the Morris County Tournament semifinals. "It's a lot. I felt bad. I guess we all have our days." Although it wasn't Devens' day, the MCT semi was certainly one to remember for Miller, who had three hits, including two home runs, and fired a four-hitter to highlight Hanover Park's surprising 21-1 win over top-seeded and defending champion Parsippany on…

May 6, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

The Marauders celebrate Annalee Smith's game-winning hit. Mount Olive edged Randolph, 3-2, in eight innings in a MCT semifinal on May 5, 2018.

Smith, Mt. Olive jar Rams in semis

ROXBURY _ Annalee Smith, perturbed by her lack of hitting, decided, literally and figuratively, to take the gloves off. The phrase means to not hold anything back and that's exactly the approach that Smith, Mount Olive's catcher, decided she had to take with two outs, the score tied and a runner on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning. Smith, admittedly superstitious, gripped her bat with her bare hands and ripped a first-pitch offering down the third-base line to knock in pinch runner Brianna Segnello with the winning run when the sixth-seeded Marauders edged seventh-seeded Randolph 3-2 in…

May 5, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Parsippany catcher Alivia Mercuro tags out Kinnelon's Sierra Jacko in the sixth inning of an MCT quarterfinal-round game on Saturday, April 28.

MCT quarterfinals

PARSIPPANY _ Freshman Rachel Volarich is considered Parsippany's eighth or ninth best hitter. That sounds like a harsh assessment but it is not at all an insult. The Red Hawks' lineup is laden with consistent batters. There's no particular reason why Volarich is No. 9 in the order. On Saturday, April 28, Volarich had three hits, one of them a ground-rule double to left field that knocked in two runs in the five-run fifth inning, to help top-seeded and defending champion Parsippany to a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over ninth-seeded Kinnelon in Morris County Tournament quarterfinal-round action. "It's a compliment to…

April 28, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Tatum Mullins hits the double that snapped a 3-3 deadlock and lifted Morristown to a 4-3 MCT win over Whippany Park.

Mullins, Morristown advance in MCT

MORRISTOWN _ For the last week, Morristown center fielder Tatum Mullins has been in softball bliss. Mullins returned to the softball diamond this spring after undergoing what every athlete dreads - knee surgery - and has been working her way back into form. On Saturday, April 21, Mullins capped an exceptional week with a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning in Morris County Tournament preliminary-round action, lifting the 15th-seeded Colonials over No. 18 Whippany Park, 4-3, at Frelinghuysen Middle School. "There was a lot of pressure being at bat in that situation even though there were no…

April 22, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Lilianna Vidal nears home plate after hitting a home run versus Mendham on April 4.

Red Hawks are top seed for MCT softball

DOVER _ Parsippany has been unfazed by its Morris County Softball Tournament seedings in recent years. Whether the Red Hawks fell into the teens, the top 10 or were the seventh seed, like they were in 2017 when they claimed their first MCT title since 1986, they have the same intent. The objective is to play smart softball and battle through the bracket. On Tuesday, April 17, Parsippany, undefeated after seven games and eager to defend its championship, was voted the top seed for the 2018 MCT. Although coach Greg Cleary may have been elated, he held his emotions in.…

April 18, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Three HRs boost Parsippany

PARSIPPANY _ Greg Cleary isn't concerned very much about what Jenna Devens does in the batter's box. Cleary, of course, will take whatever offensive contributions he can get from Devens, Parsippany's freshman right-handed pitcher. Devens fired a three-hitter and struck out 12 when the Red Hawks defeated Mendham, hot off a victory over Chatham, 12-2, on Thursday, April 12. She also had a pair of home runs, one of them in the eight-run fourth inning, amd knocked in five runs. The win enabled Parsippany to remain undefeated after six games. A day later, the Red Hawks topped Butler 10-9 to…

April 13, 2018
0
Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Danica Lee, No. 11, is one of four seniors on the 2018 Morris Knolls squad.

Young MK blanked by Robbinsville

WASHINGTON TWP. (Bergen) _ A young Morris Knolls softball team went up against veteran, battle-tested Robbinsville on Saturday, April 7. Although coming out on the short end, the Golden Eagles are a work in progress and should make strides as the spring season advances on to late April and then tournament time in May. Robbinsville, the defending Group II state champion, earned an 11-0 six-inning decision over Morris Knolls at the Anthony LaRezza Invitational. The loss dropped Morris Knolls to 0-2 after a 6-4 loss to Roxbury on Friday. In other games at the tournament, Montgomery rallied from a 1-0…

April 13, 2018
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Published in Softball
Written by Ed Mills

Anna Lengner scattered five hits when Chatham edged Jefferson, 3-2, on April 4.

Chatham nips Falcons; Hine gets 100th hit

CHATHAM _ Sarah McCabe isn't known for burning up the basepaths. So, when Chatham needed to score to snap a deadlock late in a game against Jefferson, McCabe, a junior first baseman, relied on other extremely valuable attributes to score what proved to be the decisive run in a 3-2 victory over Jefferson on Wednesday, April 4. McCabe used a combination of determination and desire to score from third base on Kaitlin Pinaire's groundball in the bottom half of the sixth inning. "My coach told me I'd be going on any groundball except one to the pitcher," McCabe said. "I…

April 10, 2018
0
Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Morris All-Stars have one last chance to shine

MONTVILLE _ When Montville pitcher Jordan Strickland suffered a severe ankle sprain in the second game of the season, Kristie Monaco was called upon to take over in the circle and didn't object. As it turned out, Strickland never returned and Monaco, an outfielder, kept firing pitches. That's why Mustangs coach John Immediato considered Monaco, a four-year starter, the "backbone of the team." The adaptable and versatile Monaco made her exit from softball on Tuesday, June 13, the date of the Morris County Senior Softball All-Star Game. Monaco, headed to Seton Hall University, will not play in college so the all-star game…

June 14, 2017
0
Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Hornets, Falcons go distance, fall short

MADISON _ Hanover Park and Jefferson put in marathon efforts in bids to extend their seasons but fell short in sectional semifinals. The Hornets' season ended with a 5-2 setback to Hackettstown in 10 innings in the North Jersey Section 2, Group II final on Wednesday, May 31. The Falcons were edged 5-4 by Ramsey in nine innings in the North Jersey Section 1, Group II title game on Tuesday, May 30. "It was nice to go out like that," Hanover Park coach Jamie Galioto said. "It was a nice year. I don't mind losing a 10-inning game. We played hard.…

May 31, 2017
0
Published in Softball
Written by Sandy Seegers

Softball

Eppel's HR powers Morris Knolls in emotional MCT final

Mt. Olive, Knolls advance to final

Carfagna's double lifts Mendham

Quigley gets in one more home run

Hornets garner sectional crown

Homer sends Mt. Olive into final

Torch went short in quest for 100 hits

Knolls falls to Ridgewood

Zannelli's three RBIs key for Lakers

Hornets hang on, gain MCT title

More...

Miller leads Hornets into MCT final

Smith, Mt. Olive jar Rams in semis

MCT quarterfinals

Mullins, Morristown advance in MCT

Red Hawks are top seed for MCT softball

Three HRs boost Parsippany

Young MK blanked by Robbinsville

Chatham nips Falcons; Hine gets 100th hit

Morris All-Stars have one last chance to shine

Hornets, Falcons go distance, fall short

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