BY CHRIS ISEMAN
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
UNION – Sarah Piening threw her glove to the ground and leaped into the arms of her catcher, Ashley Callahan.
Their Immaculate Conception teammates swarmed them.
And together they celebrated another softball state championship. They celebrated history. They celebrated a dynasty that coach Jeff Horohonich and the Blue Wolves have built.
Fueled by a three-run fifth inning and another dominant performance from Piening – confident and composed in the circle as always – Immaculate Conception defeated Benedictine, 3-0, Friday in the Non-Public B state title game at Kean University.
The Blue Wolves (20-9) became just the third program to win four consecutive state championships.
And Piening became the first softball pitcher in state history to win four straight state titles.
“I couldn’t thank my coaches enough, [Horohonich], definitely my dad, to bring me to where I am today,” Piening said. “And Andee [Lupica], definitely Andee. She’s been by my side since about the fifth grade, and it’s sad now that it’s done, but I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate.”
This was also the 600th career win for Horohonich, who was at the helm of Immaculate Heart when the Blue Eagles won four straight state titles from 1993-96.
