NEWARK- Situational hitting, strong pitching and sound defense are all staples in the annual deep run produced by Mount St. Dominic when it comes to either the Essex County Tournament or the NJSIAA states.
However, a timely stolen base is not generally part of that formula for the Mount's success; yet in the 49th ECT a daring theft of third base by the Mount’s veteran star Jill Cianfrocca in the third inning, preceding a clutch RBI infield hit delivered by Bella Iannitelli, proved to be a decisive decision by Lions coach Rob Stern as the two pitchers – Ava Kelshaw for the Mount and Claire Shupe for Columbia – dominated the rest of the contest in a pulsating 1-0 Lions victory for their third straight and record 13th ECT crown achieved on a perfect 70 degree Saturday night before a good-size crowd at Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park.
Kelshaw, the University of Michigan junior commit, allowed 5 hits while issuing just one walk, which was an intentional free pass, and she struck out 14 to reach 500 for her already historic Mount career, and Columbia’s Shupe, a Boston University-bound senior, was also superb, scattering 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 9.
It ultimately came down to the key steal of third by Cianfrocca, who had led off the third inning with a hard-hit double to left-center field to set the stage for a pivotal decision by her veteran coach.
With one out and Iannitelli at the plate after Jill’s sister Abby Cianfrocca had struck out vs. the hard-throwing Shupe, Stern knew it was time to take a chance.
“Sometimes you have to have some guts in games and that decision was made when Abby got up. I had told Bella that if Abby didn’t move Jill to third base we’re fake bunting and stealing on the first pitch and getting her over there was obviously important because it drew them to draw their infield in.
“I think if we don’t do that, that kid (Columbia shortstop Cassie Maguire) is back and maybe she makes the play and maybe she holds Jill at second base.
“At that point I’m feeling you have to take some shots here because runs are going to be at a premium.”
Although they had trouble scoring runs against Shupe, who was difficult to solve for the most part, the Lions were able to get into deep counts vs. the Columbia ace, and Iannitelli was maintaining strong concentration while ready to swing on a 3-2 pitch as she hammered a hard hit ground ball that the Cougars’ shortstop Maguire made a nice diving stop of but it became an infield single as Cianfrocca slid home with what would prove to be the game’s only run.
“I know that Jill has speed and that if you can put the ball in play with her on third anything can happen and most likely she’ll score, and after having struck out my first at bat against her, I was really focusing there on making good, hard contact and putting a ball in play,” said Iannitelli. “After getting that run it was really more a matter of watching Ava strike out just about everyone while we stayed ready to make a play when needed.”
Columbia put runners in scoring position in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings yet Kelshaw and company were able to work out of any trouble all three times. In the fourth, after Shupe (2-for-3) had singled and the Mount issued an intentional walk to the Cougars’ talented No. 3 hitter Eva Clevenger to put runners on first and second with one out, Kelshaw reacted perfectly on a ball hit back to her as she fired to third baseman Abby Cianfrocca for the second out before recording a strikeout to end the threat.
