McDougall-Led Vianney Shines
In Roaring By Mount In 'A' Final

NEWARK- Madison McDougall has always had supreme confidence in her pitching prowess, a main ingredient in the fact she was New Jersey’s Gatorade Player of the Year this spring as she also solidified the strong likelihood that publications such as nj.com will name her their statewide POY.

However, in addition to the fact she is so difficult to solve for opposing hitters is that she also emerged as one of the state’s top hitters and both her production and her presence in the lineup were other key factors as St. John Vianney produced 15 hits as a team and roared to a 10-0 triumph over Mount St. Dominic in Wednesday night’s Non-Public A state final before a large crowd at Ivy Hill Park.

The Monmouth-University-bound senior hurler threw a 2-hitter with 2 walks and 10 strikeouts, while going 2-for-2 at the plate with a rally-starting single in a 2-run first inning, a solo home run in the third, and an intentional walk to precede Gabby Gonzalez’s grand slam home run in the fourth for a big 8-0 lead.

The Lancers (30-0) completed their first undefeated season in 12 years and added more ammunition to the assertion that this Vianney team just might be one of the best high school softball squads in state history.

“They are one of the best teams in New Jersey softball history,” said Mount coach Rob Stern, whose Lions concluded a fine 29-3 campaign. “They looked awesome swinging the bat, they’re on a roll, and they’ve been beating people like that and sometimes you get into a rhythm.

“Maddie is an awesome player, probably (the state) player of the year and is the Gatorade Player of the Year. I thought we had some good at bats, but games like this can take on a life of their own.”

McDougall, who had more than 300 strikeouts this season and went over the 1,000-mark for her career earlier this season, has also been one of the state’s top hitters with 17 home runs and 72 RBI this spring, and that area of her all-around game seemed to take off to a new level following an off-season surgery to help correct issues with two herniated discs in her back.

“I don’t know if it was because of the way I felt after my back surgery in December when I  had a micro discectomy to correct two herniated discs, but whatever the reasons, my hitting definitely picked up this year,” said the Vianney all-around standout. “But it’s not just me because 1-through-9 we are just an incredible-hitting team, and you saw what that can be like tonight.”

Along with the Florida International-bound Gonzalez and her grand slam home run, there were other contributors to the Lancers hitting parade Wednesday night such as junior Lehigh commit, third baseman and leadoff hitter Brynn Utter (2-for-5 with 2 RBI, including the game-ending RBI single in the sixth inning to invoke the 10-run mercy rule), cleanup batter and junior Boston University commit, the center fielder Mia Favato (4-for-4 with a run), No. 5 hitter, sophomore catcher Liv Lombardi (2-for-4 with a double and RBI), No. 6 hitter, freshman left fielder Liv Haslacher (3-for-4 with an RBI) and No. 8 hitter, freshman DP Maddie Richter (2-for-4 with an RBI).

When asked if this Vianney team could be the best ever in New Jersey high school softball, Madison’s mom, the Lancers’ coach Kim Lombardi-McDougall, would not commit to that possibility quite yet.

“We are definitely a talented team, but I’m not going to take away from anyone else’s team,” she responded. “I will say that we are really blessed with a deep lineup and contributions by kids in all four grades while all of them believe in everything we’ve been teaching.

“Many times it can be the bottom of the lineup that gets us going, which makes us very dangerous 1 through 9, plus we’ve always had the great pitching.

“It’s just been such an enjoyable team to coach each and every day, and I’m proud of the way they’ve performed from start to finish this season, which has been so great to see!”

NOTES- Wednesday night’s Non-Public A state final marked the end of a superb scholastic career for the Mount’s all-state senior first baseman and leadoff batter Jill Cianfrocca who is now headed to play at Villanova. She went 0-for-2 with a leadoff walk in the first inning when the Mount had its best chance to score as Cianfrocca advanced to second base on Bella Iannitelli’s sacrifice bunt. The scoring threat ended on freshman cleanup batter Hailey Root’s hard-hit, line drive out snared by Favato in center field. Root, the Lions right fielder and one of the bright, young prospects moving forward, went 0-for-3 but had three strong at bats vs. McDougall…The Mount has been to four straight state finals, winning last year’s title vs. Donovan Catholic to finish as the state’s No. 1 team, plus has won four straight state sectional titles, four Essex County Tournament crowns and three Super Essex Conference-American Division championships during that time..Among the seven underclassmen starters for Vianney is Madison's younger sister, freshman Peyton McDougall, who is the team's starting rightfielder and No. 9 hitter in the Lancers' ultra-deep lineup.

Non-Public A State Final, Wednesday, June 10, at Ivy Hill Park:

MOUNT ST. DOMINIC (29-3)            000   000    0 R 2 H 3 E
ST. JOHN VIANNEY (30-0)                201  502    10 R 15 H 0 E
2B- Vianney- Liv Lombardi, Maddie Richter HR- Madison McDougall (solo shot 3rd inning; Gabby Gonzalez, grand slam, 4th inning)
WP- Madison McDougall LP- Ava Kelshaw                

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