IHC challenge - softball

Here's two of the first 4 games held in Randolph today. There were eight games total.

Come back Sunday and check www.MCHSS.net for updates and the week in review. The Chatham-Morristown game was an instant classic. We'll have that up on Sunday too!

For now it's all about softball:

The IHC Challenge – 1st set of games.

Year after year, the IHC Challenge seems to bring out the best. The opening first set of games in this softball extravaganza proved no different. Eight teams met in Randolph and each game was as exciting as the next. Three of the first four games were won in the final at bat, two in extra innings.



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.