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NORTH NON-PUBLIC GROUP A & B SOFTBALL STATE FINALS RECAP

“It felt really good and I did not realize it was a perfect game,” said Olivia Sprofera.

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NORTH NON-PUBLIC A FINAL

Immaculate Heart Academy starting pitcher Olivia Sprofera tossed seven perfect innings leading the Eagles to a 2-0 win over Pope John and North Non-Public A title at Montclair State University on Wednesday. Sprofera also struck out seven batters.

“It felt really good and I did not realize it was a perfect game,” said Olivia Sprofera. “Getting an early lead took the pressure off.”

In the bottom of the first, Reese Guevarra led off with a single followed by a Victoria Casey walk. Emilie Cieslak sac bunt moved Guevarra and Casey over to 2nd and 3rd base. Next stepped up Taylor Gallagher whose squeeze bunt trickled back to Pope John starting pitcher Izzy Hilling enabling Guevarra to sprint home for the first run of the game. With Regan Jones at bat, Casey attempted to swipe 3rd base and on the ensuing throw by catcher Jess Esso no one was covering the base as the ball skipped away allowing Casey to trot home making the score 2-0 Immaculate Heart.

“Olivia was calm, composed and relaxed plus she shut the door on Pope John,” said Immaculate Heart Academy Head Coach Anthony LaRezza. “I told the team base running and bunts win you games. This is a special accomplishment to win a sectional title.”

Pope John’s best chance for their first hit of the game in top of the 6th, when Adrianna Barone belted a pop up sky high into the air in the infield but as the Eagles infielders converged on the play the ball dropped with spin on it and rolled into foul territory along the first base line keeping Sprofera’s perfect game intact. In the top of the 7th, Sprofera got Hilling to ground out to second baseman Sonia Sharma ending the game.

NORTH NON-PUBLIC B FINAL

Lodi Immaculate continued its impressive run capturing their fifth sectional title in the past six seasons defeating the Hudson Catholic Hawks 5-1 at Montclair State University on Wednesday. Sarah Piening went the distance fanning 11 batters while giving up one run on to hits. The Hawks did not get their first off Piening until the bottom of the 4th. Piening struck out seven of the first nine batters to start the game.

“I was with my Dad in the gym until 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday working on my skills,” said Sarah Piening. “We came into this game feeling we were not going to lose and wanted to three-peat as sectional champions.”

Lodi Immaculate broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth on a bases loaded clearing double from Lea Georgatos. Gabby Slade’s sac fly to deep left field scored Georgatos making the score 5-1.

“I know the ball would be thrown inside so I just tried to turn on it and back away from the plate,” said Lea Georgegatos. “We wanted to get ahead as much as possible to have that security under our belt. We felt confident with Sarah on the mound because she is an amazing pitcher.”

The Blue Wolves got on the scoreboard first in the top of the 4th on a two-out single from Ali Moran to center field. Hudson Catholic answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a bizarre sequence of events. Dayanara Flores led off the inning by reaching on an infield single. Flores ended up wandering off first base and getting caught up in a rundown with Jillian Ward at bat. Somehow she managed to retreat safely back to first base. Lodi Immaculate Head Coach Jeff Horohonich came out to argue emphatically that Flores had stepped out of the base path.

Ward grounded out to first base allowing Flores to advance to second. While attempting to steal third, the throw from catcher Lea Georgegatos skipped past the base allowing Flores to score tying the game up at 1-1.

“Sarah pitched awesome today, had great movement on her ball and shutdown a real aggressive team,” said Lodi Immaculate Head Coach Jeff Horohonich. “Lea with the big when we needed it. We have built a tradition at the school and this is the most important time that we want to accomplish to get sectional and state championships”

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Sunil Sunder Raj

Since July of 2014 Sunil Sunder Raj has been with In The Zone. Sunil has experience covering minor league baseball, high school and college sports. A beat writer for the Rockland Boulders for six years, Ramapo College men’s basketball for four years, NJIT men’s basketball and Seton Hall women’s basketball. Now focusing on feature articles about athletes, coaches and sports media professionals. A graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism.
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