Roxbury softball captures second state title, advances to Tournament of Champions
NEWARK – Roxbury ace Hailey Errichiello laughed at the idea she has a bionic arm.
Her bat isn't too bad, either.
The sophomore right-hander drove in the winning run and threw another complete game to lift the Gaels past Steinert, 6-4, in the Group 3 softball final on Saturday at Ivy Hill Park. It's the second state title in program history and the first since 1992.
Errichiello struck out 15 batters including the final two to continue this storybook run.
Cleanup hitter Maddy Svenningsen came up with the big swing with a two-run bomb over the 210 sign in center.
"We've been playing together since we were little," Svenningsen said. "This was always something we dreamed of and dreamed of doing it together. The fact that we put in the work and we're all here is such a cool moment."
Errichiello (0.61 ERA) has shouldered the load all season for Roxbury and went the extra mile in the semifinal when she tossed all 13 innings in a game split over two days.
Roxbury coach Paul Critelli had no doubt who would get the ball on Saturday even after a short turnaround. Errichiello scattered four runs (three earned) and helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
"I like the pressure," Errichiello said. "I get more adrenaline. I get more pumped up and I can throw harder."
What it means
Roxbury (24-4) has booked a spot in the last Tournament of Champions. The quarterfinals start Tuesday with games hosted by the better seeds.
Whatever happens there won't change the fact that this is one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Gaels won a sectional title last season but had not appeared in a group final in three decades.
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"That's the kind of program we want to be," Critelli said. "It's good to win a sectional title but to come back and win another and take the next step further is what you want to become. You want to be consistent and put yourself in a games like this."
The big moments
It didn't take long for Roxbury to take control against the Mercer County champions. The Gaels scored two in the second and three in the third with all the scoring from the heart of the order.
Svenningsen led off the second with a walk and Jayden Pennella (3-for-3) followed with an RBI double into the gap in right.
"To get to this spot, you need your 3-4-5 hitters to do their job," Critelli said. "We're no different. If you pitch well and play good defense, you need your best hitters to hit. Our best hitters showed up today."
The big bats came through an inning later with a two-out rally against Steinert righty Izzy Bonacci.
Catcher Kendall Fehsal got on base with a single and Svenningsen connected for her team-leading 11th home run of the season.
"I didn't think it was going out," Svenningsen said. "I could not believe it."
A few batters later, Errichiello drove in a run for the second straight inning with a hot shot that caromed off the third baseman's glove. It put Roxbury up 5-0 and turned out to be the difference in the game.
Steinert rallied for four runs in the sixth inning with the help of some defensive miscues, but Errichiello slammed the door with a 1-2-3 seventh.
"She's got like a bionic arm," Svenningsen said. "I don't know how she does it, but she's insane. She works hard. She's like the hardest-working pitcher I know so I have so much confidence in her."
Sean Farrell 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 inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: farrells@northjersey.com
Twitter: @seanfarrell92
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Roxbury softball captures second state title, advances to TOC
