Morris Catholic softball wins sectional title, ending Immaculate Conception's final season
DENVILLE – On one side there were cheers for the start of a dynasty.
On the other there were tears for the end of an era.
Senior Hannah Streicher drove in three runs and dominated in the circle to help Morris Catholic roll past Immaculate Conception, 10-0, on Friday in the Non-Public B North final at Sullivan Field. The game ended after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Players on the Crusaders held up three fingers after receiving the trophy to commemorate their third straight sectional title.
The mood was much different for the Blue Wolves and their band of 11 players. This was the final chapter for a softball power that plans to close up shop at the end of the school year.
"The legend carries with them," Blue Wolves coach Sarah Piening said. "IC softball has always been a family and will always be a family. Just because the school is closing doesn't mean the memories die."
The Blue Wolves' rivalry with Morris Catholic has taken centerstage in small-school parochial softball. One of them has won a state title for nine straight seasons starting with the Blue Wolves' record run of seven straight. Morris Catholic has battled the Lodi school in the last five postseasons.
"They were the program that set the standard," Morris Catholic coach Nick DeGennaro said. "It's a loss for softball."
Top-seeded Morris Catholic scored early and often in the latest showdown in Denville. The Crusaders scored four runs in the first inning with Jess Brown, Sofia Reissinger and Carly Mockenhaupt all reaching base to start the bottom half.
That was more than enough help for the right-handed Streicher, who scattered three hits (all singles) and struck out six. Streicher finished it off with a 1-2-3 inning and got Ava Fredette looking to end the game.
"The kid works herself out of every tough situation she's in," DeGennaro said. "She's just a gamer. The tougher the situation, the bigger she is. She's the most accomplished pitcher that I've ever had."
What it means
Morris Catholic (24-6) has a chance to win its third straight state championship next Friday against St. Joseph-Hammonton. The final is set for 6:30 p.m. at Kean University.
DeGennaro said the turning point for his program came when this senior class committed back in eighth grade. His roster is bigger than ever now with 22 players and a big incoming class on the way.
"We have 10 percent of the female population on our team," DeGennaro said. "That's a lot."
The legacy of Immaculate Conception (19-6) will continue to be felt for years to come.
The Blue Wolves only have one senior on the roster and Piening expects most of the others will stay together next year at St. Mary in Rutherford. The former Blue Wolves ace praised her team for getting closer in tough times rather than splitting apart.
"I think we have the greatest group of girls and we wouldn't want to go through something like this with anybody else," Piening said. "They were such a great squad to coach."
By the numbers
►The Crusaders scored four runs in the second inning with catcher Kate Heslin (2-for-3) bringing in a pair on a double.
►Mockenhaupt went 2-for-3 with two RBI in her last home game before heading to East Stroudsburg.
Last words
"All my pitches were working," Streicher said. "I was trying to use my spin and keep them off-balance. Fortunately, I was able to do that."
"We have one more game left," Mockenhaupt said. "I'm ready to win it all."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris Catholic NJ softball beats Lodi Immaculate for section crown
