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Mount St. Dominic's Gianna Stern is fired up after scoring her team's second run in first inning vs. Cedar Grove as the Lions' freshman right-hander Ava Kelshaw (9) was in control in the circle and players including Carlee Paez (23) enjoyed advancing on the base paths. The Mount's Jill Cianfrocca watches the flight of the ball after delivering one of her three hits while knocking in a pair of runs in Lions' 5-1 win. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold- jstiefbold.smugmug.com)
CALDWELL- Mount St. Dominic’s Jill Cianfrocca had looked at a called third strike in her first at bat vs. Cedar Grove’s ace Cayce Kavakich during Friday afternoon’s much-anticipated first meeting of the season between two of the top teams in the state in their first meeting since last May’s Essex County Tournament final where the Panthers rode Kavakich’s pitching and hitting to a 2-1 championship victory over the Lions. But the Mount sophomore transfer from Gill St. Bernard’s, who is batting over .600 in what is shaping up as a tremendous rookie season at the Caldwell Catholic school, had seen enough iin order to be more than ready to deliver in her next three at bats as she laced an RBI single in the third inning to help the Lions build a 3-0 lead, then singled home another run in the fourth inning before stroking a double in the sixth. Cianfrocca’s solid hitting backed the strong work in the circle of freshman pitcher Ava Kelshaw, who scattered six hits and struck out 10 while walking one as the Mount (9-1, 7-0) posted an impressive 5-1 victory over the Panthers (7-3, 4-3) to lock down the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ECT which seeds its field on Wednesday. “I’ve been adjusting pretty well to all types of pitchers,” said Cianfrocca, a rangy 5-foot-10 first baseman and No. 2 hitter in the young Mount lineup which includes five freshmen. “And, we face so many good pitchers that I think we’re just really well prepared on a daily basis and we hit pretty well against a good one today.” The Mount took a 2-0 first inning lead on a 2-run single delivered by its clean-up batter, freshman third baseman Bella Iannitelli, Cianfrocca’s RBI single in the second added to the lead, and then her two-out single brought home freshman Francesca Cutillo, who had walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, to make it 4-0 in the fourth inning. “It was great that we got such a big lead in the beginning of the game,” said Kelshaw, who has been an immediate impact pitcher in the county and beyond in her first season of high school softball this spring. “My teammates getting key hits and playing great defense behind me definitely gives me more confidence out there and I love the energy of this team on a daily basis.” The Lions added another insurance run in the fifth when junior Carlee Paez singled home senior Olivia Bibbo, who had drawn another of the seven walks issued by Kavakich, who struggled with her control in the early innings before settling down and striking out 9 on the day while relinquishing seven hits. While young hitters like Cianfrocca and Iannitelli help ignite an efficient offense and Kelshaw helps anchor a deep and effective pitching staff, it’s the Mount defense which may be its strongest suit including with the tremendous up-the-middle work of players such as freshman catcher Brooke Mundy, who frames pitches so well and has a rifle arm and threw out a baserunner attempting to steal second to end the first inning. “My catcher Brooke is fantastic,” added Kelshaw. “She might be a freshman but she plays like a veteran kid out there, that’s for sure!” Then there are the senior double play combination of Seton Hall University-bound shortstop Naya Martinez and Monmouth University-bound second baseman Gianna Stern who are virtually flawless in the field. “We don’t give up a lot runs,” said Mount coach Rob Stern, Gianna’s dad. “Gianna and Naya are two of the best middles in the state and we expect them to make plays. “We pride ourselves on defense and we work hard at it.” Cedar Grove, the defending Group 1 state champs, had a bit of a rough time the last few days which included a 12-6 loss at Caldwell on Wednesday (April 17) and now a setback against the Mount. Still, there is plenty of softball to be played and Kavakich, who is a terrific two-way player, is certain to get back on her path as a true ace in the circle despite some control issues at times lately. “It’s still early in the year and she is a very good player,” said Stern. “She is one tough out at the plate, and I think today we just had a good approach against her. “We’ve seen some really good pitching the last few weeks and even in the pre-season. With our schedule there really isn’t a good team we haven’t seen or won’t see this season.” Kavakich was terrific at the plate vs. the Mount going 3-for-3 with a run, including two solid singles up the middle and a hard-hit double to right-center field in the sixth inning before scoring on Gia Fernandez’ RBI single. There is plenty of softball to go and perhaps two more meetings between the Mount and Panthers to go this spring depending on how the ECT proceeds. The two teams are scheduled to meet in their second SEC-American Division contest on Friday, May 3, at Panther Park. “Definitely twice if not a 3-round with them,” said Stern. “They are a good team and we know that we have to be ready to play well every time we see them, that’s for sure!” NOTES- Cedar Grove’s clean-up batter, first baseman Marina Bryant, was 2-for-3 with a double and single…The Mount’s first-year players Cianroccia, Kelshaw and Iannitelli all joined Stern as members of the Lions’ basketball team during the winter season…Last year’s starting outfielder Anna Cacciacarne, elected to go out for the track and field team this spring in her senior year. She is one of the county’s top throwers and had already been a member of the Lions' winter indoor track squad…The Mount also edged Livingston, 4-3, this past Monday (April 15) to further help enhance its chances in quest for yet another SEC-American Division title this season…Among those in the crowd at the Mount on Friday afternoon was Essex County Chief of Staff Phil Alagia, who has had a longtime association with the Pride travel softball organization...the Mount's Cianfrocca was coming off an outstanding day vs. Montclair on Wednesday when she went 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs and 7 RBI in a 14-0 Lions victory over the Mounties. CEDAR GROVE (7-3, 4-3) 000 001 0 - 1 R 6 H 2 E Follow Steve Tober on 'X' (Twitter) @Chattermeister
Mount St. Dominic's Jill Cianfrocca (1) celebrates after the final out is recorded in Friday afternoon's 5-1 win over Cedar Grove as the Lions' Ava Kelshaw (9) scattered six hits and struck out 10. 'High 5's' could be enjoyed by all from the Mount, including coach Rob Stern, and even with a strong showing at the plate by the Panthers' Cayce Kavakich (21), who was 3-for-3 with a run, the Mount was ready to prevail with hitters such as Bella Iannitelli, seen in the bottom photo delivering 2-run single in first inning as Lions were on the way to key SEC-American Division victory. copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - to comment contact the webmaster
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