Sports
Mater Dei Stuns Wall To Gain Finals For First Time; RBC Zips Midd. South
By Jim Hintelmann
WALL - There will be something different in this Saturday's Monmouth County Red Division Softball Tournament finals.
Red Bank Catholic reached the title game with a 3-0 shutout over Middletown South Saturday night, but the Caseys have been a tournament finalist many times. What was unexpected, though, was Mater Dei stunning second-seeded Wall, 1-0, earlier in the day to gain the finals for the first time in the school's history. The two schools will play for the championship at Wall High School. Game time will be 3 p.m.
For RBC, it was a case of junior pitcher Brittany O'Donnell throwing another gem as she extended her string of not allowing an earned run to 87 innings. Despite strong winds and damp, chilly weather, she allowed only two infield hits while striking out 13.
"The weather didn't affect me at all tonight," said O'Donnell. "I just tried to stay focused and get a good grip on the ball. The changeup was my best pitch tonight and I was able to keep everyone off balance along with my drop curve."
RBC scored the only runs it would need in the third inning, helped by a key South error Kristen Travers led off the third by bunting toward third and reaching second base when the ball was thrown away. Liz Black sacrificed her to third and catcher Jess Long followed with an RBI single to right.
O'Donnell was safe on a fielder's choice and Marie Flego walked. Sam Bowlsby's single scored courtesy runner Jackie Weaver with the second run.
"We made the one blunder early and let them get on board, and they scored after that," said South coach Tom Erbig. "So what can you do?"
RBC (14-1), which extended its win streak to 12, added its final run in the top of the seventh, helped by another South miscue.
Relief pitcher K.D. Rohlander, who was brilliant after relieving starter Lisa Kuhn in the fourth inning, struck out Travers leading off, but the ball got away from the catcher and Travers reached first. Black beat out and bunt and then O'Donnell helped her own cause with an RBI single.
"The weather was damp and cold," said RBC coach Tracey Lombardi, "but I told the girls that weather is not something you can control, so they should just go out and do their best."
With a one or two run lead, you have to be careful because South is a quick team with good batters," she said.
The Eagles had only five base-runners, and its best chance to score came in the second inning when Jess Fuentes beat out a two-out infield hit and Lauren Ciesmelewski walked, but O'Donnell retired Sam Marxen on a grounder back to the mound, ending the inning.
Although losing, Erbig, whose team saw a six-game winning streak snapped, was happy with his pitching.
"The pitching was great," said Erbig. "Lisa (Kuhn) had a sore shoulder and we didn't want to take any chances because of the weather. K.D. was fantastic and I had no problem using her.
"It's been a good season," he added, "but we've had our ups and down a little."
"Mater Dei has a good team with great bats," said Lombardi. "We're looking forward to playing them."
Mater Dei-Wall WALL - Mater Dei senior third baseman Tess Gagliano made her first home run of the season one to remember with her solo homer in the third inning accounting for the only run in the game.
"The pitch was outside and I was just looking to protect the plate," said Gagliano. "I only hit one home run last year, but its exciting to be in the finals."
"Gagliano's homer was great," said Mater Dei coach Jean Dickinson. "Sara (Cline) pitched one of her best games and my catcher, Erin Carroll, kept everything in front of the plate. Sara was awesome and kept them off balance the entire game."
"The drop curve was my best pitch today," said Cline, who struck out nine and allowed just three hits. "It's been working for me lately. It's amazing with the adrenalin rush.
"I pitched inside and out, up and inside," said Cline, a junior who transferred from Keyport a year ago. "Anything down the middle and they will rip you apart."
