Morris Catholic softball holds on to defeat St. Joseph, repeat in Non-Public B
NEWARK — Jessica Brown knew there was something special about the Morris Catholic softball team the first day she stepped on campus.
The junior envisioned a future in which the Crusaders would eventually be playing in meaningful games and hoisting championship trophies.
Those visions fueled Brown's choice to attend the Denville parochial school.
Within a three-year span, Brown and her Morris Catholic teammates have fulfilled their potential.
On Friday, Morris Catholic captured its second straight Non-Public B title, defeating St. Joseph-Hammonton, 4-3, at Ivy Hill Park.
“I came to this school knowing the potential was there. I saw it with our seniors, upperclassmen and underclassmen, especially our class. We’re a very close team," Brown said. "I’ve known some of my teammates before we even got to high school as we’ve played club ball together for years. I’m extremely proud of this team and what we’ve accomplished. We’ve overcome adversity and we’ve all come together as a team. I think we can continue the success and keep it going.”
Morris Catholic (23-5) raced to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Carly Mockenhaupt laced a line-drive double down the right field line scoring Hannah Streicher from first base.
The Crusaders added another run in the third when Hailee Sobieski hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Mockenhaupt.
“After losing in the semifinals of the county tournament, we really worked on plate discipline and learning where strikes are and what umpires are calling. We’ve battled through adversity as we’ve lost players to injury, transfers and seniors. We worked hard to get to where we are today,” said Mockenhaupt, who was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.
“This team is a family and everything we do is family based. I always knew we had the potential to be in this position. We have a great bond.”
Streicher earned the win for the Crusaders, striking out eight while surrendering 10 hits, three runs and two walks.
St. Joseph (19-10) pulled within one in the fourth inning when Jenna Calchi hit a line drive RBI to right field scoring Bella Davis from second base.
But Morris Catholic added an insurance run in the fifth when Ella Mizeski knocked in Mockenhaupt on an infield blooper over third base.
The Wildcats made it interesting in the seventh when they scored two runs with two outs to pull within one at 4-3. But Streicher induced Angelina Bill to pop out to Mockenhaupt at first base to end the game.
St. Joseph outhit the Crusaders, 10-8.
What it means
The Crusaders are state champions for the second straight year and fourth time in program history. They advance to next week's Tournament of Champions for the second year in a row.
Morris Catholic also defeated St. Joseph, 2-0 in the Non-Public B final last spring.
The Crusaders have won Non-Public titles in 1982 (NPA), 1986 (NPB), and 2021 (NPB). They are 4-2 overall in state championship games.
Morris Catholic has won eight straight games and 13 of its last 14. During the Crusaders' win streak, they have outscored opponents, 74-16 with three shutouts.
In four postseason victories, Morris Catholic scored 29 runs against St. Dominic (10-0), Lodi Immaculate (4-2), and Gill St. Bernard’s (11-0).
“This win is meaningful because it shows we can come back and do it again. A lot of people didn’t know who Morris Catholic was a few years ago. We were 9-17 three years ago," Morris Catholic coach Nick DeGennaro said. "We've overcome adversity. We’ve lost one game all year with our full lineup. That was the Roxbury game. The other losses we weren’t at full capacity.
“The teams that win championships are the ones that overcome adversity and are resilient.”
Nick Gantaifis is a high school sports reporter for Dailyrecord.com and NJHerald.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis, subscribe today.
Email: gantaifis@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ngantaifis1
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ Softball: Morris Catholic defeats St. Joseph to repeat in Non-Public B
