IN THE NEWS: Mount St. Dominic Defends Sectional Softball Title

Jun 3, 2019, published in The Progress

For the second straight year, the Mount St. Dominic Academy softball team captured the North Jersey, Non-Public A sectional championship.

The Lions, who were the second seed and finished with a 28-5 record, defeated top-seeded Immaculate Heart Academy, 6-0, in the sectional final Friday, May 31 at Montclair State University.

“It was a great team effort,” co-head coach Rob Stern said, referring to the victory over IHA. “Freshman Sophia Kiseloski threw a one-hitter and dominated the IHA lineup.

“Our team was focused from the start. It reminded us of the way we played in the county final. It was a special night to keep the trophy and win back-to-back sectional titles.”

Kiseloski struck out 12 and had a perfect game going into the seventh inning. After IHA’s lone hit, she struck out the next three batters to end the game.

Kiseloski and Ali Winters led the team offensively.

“Sophia was 2-for-3 with three RBI and Ali was 2-for-3 with two RBI,” Stern said. “Both players came up with timely hitting.”

The Mount then faced Donovan Catholic in the Non-Public A title game, but lost, 11-1, on Saturday, June 1.

Alexa Raphael drove in the Lions’ only run. Dianna Yturbe got the team’s first hit in the third inning. Dani Dabroski> and Alexandra Cruz also had a hit each.

Successful Season

The sectional championship capped off a very successful season for the Lions, who also captured the Essex County Tournament championship and won the Super Essex Conference American Division title.

“This team had put team goals in front of individual goals all season and in the end won a league, county, and sectional title,” Stern said.

The Mount defeated sixth-seeded Pope John, 12-0, in the semifinals of the state tournament. The game was started Wednesday, May 29, then postponed because of weather until the next day.

Dabroski had a triple with four RBI. Johanna Rivera hit two singles, had two RBI and scored once; Kaylee D’Argenio had two hits with a double, two RBI and a run scored; and Cruz added a two-run single and scored twice.

Kiseloski allowed no hits in three innings with four strikeouts. Winters pitched the final two innings, allowing Pope John’s only hit, and struck out three.

The Lions defeated 10th-seeded Hudson Catholic, 18-0, in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 22.

Winters struck out 11 in five innings and drove in two runs. Kasey Sekula hit a home run and had four RBI.

The county title is the eighth overall and fourth in the past six seasons for the Mount.

The Lions defeated top-seeded Cedar Grove in the championship game Saturday, May 18, a year after Cedar Grove defeated the Mount, 1-0, in the championship game.

The Lions also continued their success in the American Division of the Super Essex Conference

“We have won or shared the title seven straight seasons in what we think is the best division in New Jersey,” Stern said.