EMERSON – Members of Emerson’s softball program were reminded by the banner in the gym and the sign at the field that the team had not won a sectional title since this year’s senior class was born.
There will be new addition to that banner and sign after the Cavos captured their first sectional title since 2003 with a 9-4 victory Saturday over Kinnelon in the North 1, Group 1 final.
“We’ve been looking at that banner in our gym all year,” junior shortstop Jamie Falotico said, “and we’ve been working hard every day – the whole team has been putting in work – and we really wanted this.”
For top-seeded Emerson, good things happened in threes: The Cavos scored three runs in the first inning for a 3-0 lead, three runs in the second for a 6-0 lead, and three runs in the fifth for the 9-4 final.
“We came out loaded for bear and put those runs up and I think that they were a little stunned,” Emerson coach Nancy Graf said. “And then when they put those four runs up, I think it was super important for us to answer back just to get the game back in our control.”
Third-seeded Kinnelon had four hits in the fourth to produce its four runs. Kaya Kaplan, Kristyn Carroll, Jenna Dermksian and Cat Bodner drove in runs, with Bodner’s single to left-center trimming the deficit to 6-4.
Kinnelon (13-11) was making its first sectional final appearance in more than a decade. And with every starter returning next season except graduating third baseman Renee Ritacco, the Colts could be back again real soon.
“It’s a bummer that it has to end,” Kinnelon coach Marissa Bariso said, “but there’s next year.”
What it means
Emerson (22-4) will face host Whippany Park (21-3) in Tuesday’s NJSIAA Group 1 semifinal at a time to be announced. The winner advances to the State final Friday or Saturday at Ivy Hill Park on the campus of Seton Hall University in South Orange.
Emerson last reached a state final in 2001, losing to Gloucester City, 11-4, at Toms River East, just a few hundred yards away and a few minutes after the Cavos’ baseball team repeated as Group 1 titlist with a 2-1 victory over Keyport.
Key inning(s)
Emerson scored three runs in the fifth for the 9-4 lead, and it came immediately after Kinnelon climbed back into the game by scoring four runs in the top of the inning to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Kelty Manning, the No. 9 hitter who was 3-for-3, drove in the first run with a double. Leadoff hitter Amanda Sallemi singled to center to drive in Manning, and fellow senior Bella DelValle doubled to right-center to drive in Sallemi and make it 9-4.
“We just wanted to keep it rolling,” said Falotico, who had two doubles in four at-bats. “Every inning, we just wanted to get more runs so that we weren’t thinking that one run was going to kill us.”
The second inning also was critical, because the three runs stretched Emerson’s lead to 6-0. That allowed the Cavos to keep their poise after Kinnelon scored those four runs in the fifth.
DelValle’s single up the middle drove in Manning, who had led off with a single to left, to make it 4-0. Graham’s single through the right side drove in DelValle and Falotico, who had doubled to right field, to make it 6-0.
“It definitely boosted my confidence,” said sophomore pitcher Natalie Graham, who threw a complete game. “To have those runs up there definitely helps me feel better about going into the next inning.”
They said it
“I’m just really happy for the kids – what a moment,” Graf said. “To be here with all these people, and the town coming out and supporting them, it’s very cool.”
“It’s an honor,” Graham said. “It’s been 18 years and, with this group of girls, it’s just amazing the team chemistry that we have. We all work together, and the hard work that we put in, and it just feels so good.”
Greg Mattura is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your phone, sign up for our newsletter and download our app. Email: mattura@northjersey.com Twitter: @gregmattura
