Softball: All for One - Lakeland finally earns first county championship
RIVERDALE – Lakeland coaches changed third baseman Frankie Medici’s grip and the Lancers went and grabbed their first Passaic County softball title.
Led by a dominant performance by senior pitcher Natalie Rietema and a heads-up defensive play by Medici, the Lancers downed defending champion Passaic Valley, 4-0, at Independence Park Saturday afternoon.
Perennial contenders, Lakeland finally broke through with a county championship. The team was still dancing with the trophy 30 minutes after the game ended.
“It couldn’t have happened to a better group of girls,” said Lakeland coach Laura King-Junta. “They are all about the program and the team first. I have been preaching all year, if we do Lakeland softball, we are fine.”
What it means
Lakeland gets to put 2022 on the softball banner in the gym.
It also marks the fourth different champion in the last four events in Passaic County: Lakeland (2022), Passaic Valley (2021), Passaic Tech (2019) and DePaul (2018). The 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Lancers were seeded third this year and had to go 10 innings in the semifinals before beating Passaic Tech. It was the second time this season it beat Passaic Valley.
Rietema struck out 10 and didn’t allow a hit after the fourth inning. Lakeland catcher Emily Ricci had the key shot with a two-run double off the top of the fence in the fifth to make it 3-0.
Medici’s mechanics
It was 1-0 Lakeland and the game was very much in doubt when Hornets outfielder Sophia Guarante led off the fourth with a hard double. Sophia Payne then walked.
Passaic Valley did the smart thing and bunted, pushing a ball up the third base line. Medici (given name Francesca) fielded the ball, turned and threw it to Olivia McCormick covering third to cut down the lead run.
Just a week or so ago, any ball hit to Medici may have been cause for worry.
“The other day at practice, we kept looking at Frankie and were asking ‘how do you grip the ball?’” said King-Junta. “As soon as we saw it we said we see the trouble. She was just palming the ball.”
“I guess it was just a habit,” said Medici. “It was too buried in my palm, so when I threw it, it would be wild. Now I have it more in my fingertips, so I can snap my wrist more.”
Medici’s throw to McCormick was strong and true. She said she knew her teammate would be there.
“We talk before any plays happen,” Medici explained. “Just make sure to be there if a bunt happens.”
Cutting down the lead runner meant Passaic Valley couldn’t try a squeeze play or bunt again with one out.
Playmakers
Passaic Valley would smash the ball hard three times in the sixth inning, but right at Lancers. Paige Tojiera made a running catch for out No. 1 in the inning, first baseman Daniella Salle made a sweet grab of a hard smash and McCormick deftly picked a ground ball at short and fired to third for the final out. The whole inning was only six pitches.
Passaic Valley pitcher Mia Aquino had 10 strikeouts. The Hornets won back-to-back county titles in 1987-88.
The scene
This was the first Passaic County final played at Independence Park.
Lakeland did a victory lap with the trophy around the field and the players ran to the left field fence to celebrate with classmates.
The Lancers wear the No. 17 on their right sleeve for former standout Darlene Dondero who passed away in 1994.
Darren Cooper is a peachy-keen high school sports columnist 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: cooperd@northjersey.com
Twitter: @varsityaces
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Lakeland wins 2022 Passaic County softball title
