By: Chris Iseman / Record Sports Department
NEWARK — Immaculate Conception took another step toward history.
And in the process, the Blue Wolves continued a remarkable run of success.
“It’s a tradition we believe in,” coach Jeff Horohonich said. “This is our main focus this time of year that we win the section and contend for a state championship.”
Top-seeded Immaculate Conception scored eight runs in the third inning and went on to defeat No. 3 Morristown-Beard, 11-0, in five innings in the North Non-Public B final Thursday at Ivy Hill Park.
It was the Blue Wolves’ sixth consecutive sectional title. Now they’re one win away from becoming the first team to win five straight state championships.
And they’ve done this with a young team that has three freshman in the starting lineup (Angela Lignelli, Faith Camilleri and Jaden Farhat), as well as a sophomore pitcher in Caylee English.
So although the Blue Wolves are young, the potential was always there.
“A lot of people I’m sure thought Sarah [Piening’s] gone, Andee [Lupica’s] gone, Helyna [Bissell’s] gone. They were very good,” Horohonich said. “Seeing the freshmen, I knew we were going to be a good team. How good was going to depend on how fast they mature and how well Caylee did.”
Those freshmen matured quickly and English has been stellar.
And the Blue Wolves’ seniors have made sure to keep the tradition going.
Senior shortstop Gabby Fredette started the third with a double. After Lignelli reached on an error, Ali Moran put her team up with an RBI single.
Brianna Ramos hit a run-scoring single and Lignelli hit a two-run single. Morristown-Beard also walked in a run during the inning, and the Blue Wolves also scored three runs on errors.
Lignelli and Moran each had and RBI doubles in the fifth, which began with a double from Jaszmyn Mosley.
English yielded just three hits across five scoreless innings.
“From the beginning of our first practice we wanted the states,” Fredette said. “We had to get the five-peat. We made a motto: One for the thumb. So from then, we had to get it. ”
