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Mount St. Dominic's sophomore Jill Cianfrocca, who had a huge week at the plate as the No. 8 ranked Lions won their share of softball battles in the course of a busy stretch of the season, is the Parisi Fairfield/Sideline Chatter AOW. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold-jstiefbold.smugmug.com & SC)
CALDWELL- Jill Cianfrocca was glad to begin her Mount St. Dominic athletic career this past winter as a member of the Lions’ improving basketball team, which under the direction of coach Ted Sochaski continued to make inroads in the Super Essex Conference-American Division hoops wars. Plus, she had the chance to spend more quality time with softball teammates Gianna Stern, Bella Iannitelli and Ava Kelshaw as four of the mainstays of the basketball team were getting their cardio work in along with enjoying their other sport experience at the Caldwell-based Catholic school. “We had more time to bond together plus coach Sochaski makes basketball fun to play here,” said the Mount’s hoops forward and slugging sophomore first baseman who is one of the school’s multi-sport standouts enjoying the entire high school experience. “That camaraderie that we developed on the basketball team has carried over to softball where we have another great group of girls, terrific coaches and a really good team.” Cianfrocca, a first baseman, Stern, the Monmouth University-bound senior second baseman and the precocious freshmen duo of Iannitelli at third base, and Kelshaw, who is emerging as one of the state’s top pitchers, currently help lead the Mount softball squad which was recently ranked No. 8 in the nj.com statewide Top 20. And, Cianfrocca, who in a recent 4-game stretch went 11-for-18 with three doubles, two home runs, 9 RBI and seven runs scored, is the latest Parisi Fairfield/Sideline Chatter Athlete of the Week. “Jill has been a great addition to our team this season and had one heck of a week, that’s for sure,” said Mount head softball coach Rob Stern after Cianfrocca went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI as the Lions defeated defending Essex County Tournament and Group 1 state champion Cedar Grove, 5-1, April 19, in Caldwell. “She is a tremendous athlete and is emerging as one of the top hitters in our conference, that’s for sure!” The 5-foot-10 first baseman and No. 2 hitter in the deep Mount lineup struck out looking in her first plate appearance against Cedar Grove’s ace pitcher Cayce Kavakich in last Friday’s big Super Essex Conference-American Division showdown, but came back to make great adjustments in her next three at bats, delivering RBI singles her next two at bats in the second and fourth innings, and then hammering a double in her final plate appearance in the sixth. Two days prior, in an April 17th 14-0 win vs. Montclair, Cianfrocca had a monster day at the plate going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two homers and 7 RBI. In a Tuesday, April 16th 10-1 victory over West Essex she was 2-for-5 with a double and scored two runs. To begin the week, she was 2-for-3 with two runs as the Lions earned an important 4-3 win over another top conference rival, Livingston. For the season, through 11 games, Cianfrocca was batting a rather robust .571 with 20 hits, 16 runs scored and13 RBI while hammering out six doubles, a triple and 3 homers. Cianfrocca, who spent her freshman year at Gill St. Bernard’s, has enjoyed the entire process of her transfer this school year to the Mount, both on and off the field and courts. “I love the Mount,” she said. “It’s been such a great transition, I love the school, my classes, and I know that this is the best place for me. “My teammates and coaches are very supportive and I enjoy the highly-competitive schedule that coach Sten has put together to challenge us every day. “I want to one day play college softball at a high level and my preparation here and with NJ Pride in the summer is definitely going to help make that dream come true.” Cianfrocca said that she’s been watching as much women’s college softball as she can on TV, taking in games of teams such as Clemson, Notre Dame, Villanova and Lehigh, but as of now – in the still early stages of her high school career – she is open to all possibilities in regards to what might develop for her at the next level. “I’m going to take my time and see what college might be best for me,” she added. “But, right now I’m just concentrating on this season and helping us to win all the championships that we can.” Currently, the Mount (10-1, 7-0) is undefeated while seeking yet another SEC-American Division crown, and will be the top seed in the ECT which seeds its field Wednesday night. Later in May will begin the quest to capture a Non-Public A state title, something the Lions have not won now for a decade with the last overall state crown coming in 2014 behind the guidance of longtime coach Lorenzo Sozio, the school’s athletic director. “We’re excited to get out there together to compete each and every day,” said Cianfrocca. “I know that we will continue to battle and enjoy the challenges of facing some of the very best teams in the state.” NOTES- Cianfrocca, who is 16, has been with NJ Pride since the fall of 2022 and moved from the 14U team to the 18U squad…Jill resides in Chester with her sister, Abby, 13, who is another budding softball and basketball standout, and their parents Jeff, a former multi-sport athlete who came from Texas and attended Montgomery High School in New Jersey for two years, and mom Heidi, a former softball player from Emerson Boro…Jill and Abby’s older brother, Jeffrey, 19, who attended Delbarton, is a sophomore high jumper for the Bucknell University track and field team and just recently established a personal best with a winning jump of 6-9 ¾ for the Bisons in a collegiate meet…The Cianfroccas enjoy their animals at home and currently have three dogs, Bucky, a Plott hound; Lucy, a pit bull, and Toby, a Chihuahua. Follow Steve Tober on 'X' (formerly Twitter) @Chattermeister *** Parisi Speed School has been empowering athletes for over 30 years, since 1992. As the industry leader in youth performance training in the country, they have successfully trained over 1,000,000 athletes to include schools, teams, youth organizations and individual athletes from 7 years of age to the Pros in MLB, NFL, MLS, NBA and WNBA. Parents and coaches are invited to visit their website for additional information at www.parisifairfield.com or contact their Director, John Cirilo at 973 227-0199.
Jill Cianfrocca has emerged as a top hitter and reliable first baseman at Mount St. Dominic in her first season at Caldwell-based Catholic school. Copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - comments - contact the webmaster
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