WEEHAWKEN – Savanna McHale gave out hugs in the seventh inning, and she also delivered a second sectional softball title for Weehawken.
McHale struck out seven, and catcher Envy Duran boomed a three-run homer in the first as the Indians beat Whippany Park, 3-0, to repeat as North 2, Group 1 champs Saturday.
The rise of Weehawken softball from afterthought to state power has been one of the best stories in New Jersey athletics the last two years. Saturday, the program completed its first Triple Crown, having won section, county and league titles the same season.
“It feels good to win all three,” Weehawken coach Raquel Roder said. “I don’t think the girls realize how special this all is yet.”
What it means
The win sets up a battle in the Group 1 semifinals between Weehawken (26-2) and Essex County champion Cedar Grove. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Weehawken. The host site rotates from North 1 to North 2 each year.
Last year, McHale threw a three-hitter in the sectional final against Cedar Grove in a 2-1 win.
“They are a very, very good program,” Roder said. “I respect them so much. I know they have a lot of speed. It will not be an easy game, but our goal is to come out and play hard, and try to get ahead early and stay up.”
The Hudson County title this year was the first county title for a girls program at Weehawken. Now, the team is also the school’s first to repeat as a sectional champion.
Duran does it big
After Savannah McHale retired the Wildcats 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Brianna McHale led off the bottom of the first with a triple down the left field line. Katherine Thompson put down a bunt – a squeeze attempt – and Brianna stayed at third as Thompson beat the throw to first base.
In stepped the Weehawken catcher, who cracked a long home run into the trees hanging over left-center field.
“It couldn’t have been timed better,” Roder said. “The top of our lineup is very strong but sometimes if they don’t hit right away our girls are the bottom get worried, even though the bottom of the line-up has been coming up huge lately, but in the first inning, three runs, it gave us a cushion.”
Bringing it home
Weehawken had only one other hit after the Duran homer, but Savanna McHale was sensational in the circle. She allowed three hits and didn’t walk anyone. Whippany Park (18-10) only advanced one runner into scoring position the whole game.
“I think she somehow gets better as games get tighter,” Roder said. “She doesn’t fall apart of fold under pressure. She is just incredible.”
Whippany Park catcher Samantha Vitale blooped a hit in the seventh, just past a diving Brianna McHale at shortstop, and the two sisters met in the circle for a second. Savanna gave her sister a hug as if to say, forget it. A few minutes later, all the hugs were in celebration of another Weehawken softball milestone.
