|
MKA's softball coaches, from left, Izzy Mendez, Jessica Sarfati and Donna Bruno, hold the state prep B-Division Tournament championship trophy after Cougars defeated Gill St. Bernard's, 5-3, in the 2025 final, Monday, May 19, at Diamond Nation in Flemington. In second photo also holding the trophy are quintiet of players, from left, Eva Sieger, Gabby Ladd, Olivia Healey, Maudie Lomuscio and Mia Wallace, and in bottom photo the entire team gets together with their championship hardware after team copped first prep B title. (photos courtesy of MKA Athletics)
Veteran Montclair Kimberley Academy coach Jessica Sarfati was a key member of the coaching staff back in 2009 when the Cougars won their last NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship so she knows all about having patience while seeing the years pass by before that next title for the softball program; but now, 16 years after that tremendous day at Toms River North, she is enjoying every moment of her team’s first prep B tournament title after a 5-3 triumph over top-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the 2025 championship game on Monday, May 19, at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
“As far as I know we have never won the prep B title before,” said Sarfati, who is a former softball standout at neighboring Montclair High. “The trophy we took home yesterday (Monday) dated back to 1994 and our name was not on it.
“I don’t know if there was a tournament or trophy before that, but this was special for us because of it being our first one since this trophy began.
“Our last major championship that I was part of was our state title (Non-Public B) in 2009.”
The long wait had a major payoff for a young MKA team (12-8 overall, 6-3 in the Super Essex Conference-Colonial Division) which has persevered through some early-season ups and downs to now win six in a row and eight of its last nine, also including a pulsating, walk-off 5-4 win on Tuesday (May 20) vs. Colonial Division champion West Orange (16-8, 9-1) on senior Marin Ievers’ RBI double.
Ievers, the team’s standout catcher, is the lone senior on the roster and serves as tri-captain along with juniors Maudie Lomuscio and Serena Nguyen.
MKA, which had to endure a few injuries earlier in the season, is playing its best softball of the season at the perfect time with the NJSIAA Non-Public B state tournament about to begin.
And, as is almost always the case in softball having a front-line pitcher who is throwing well is a major factor in a team’s success and as evidenced by sophomore Olivia Healey’s star-level performance vs. Gill in the prep B final as she scattered 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 7, the Cougars and their ace in the circle are in a good place as the states are around the corner.
Healy also helped her cause going 3-for-4 at the plate.
“Olivia is so impressive,” said Sarfati. “She has the ability to mix her pitches so well, but she also has the right mindset. When I ask her to make adjustments, she just does it. I haven't coached a pitcher as competitive as she is in a very long time, and someone who has such an amazing presence.
“She gets stronger as she goes along as you could see from her performance in the prep B final as she shut Gill down in the last inning.
“She also got her 300th strikeout in that game.
“We have everyone back and healthy and finally a full lineup and we felt really confident on the field at Diamond Nation. And, I think Olivia feels confident that everyone will get the job done behind her.
“We are really excited about being back in the ‘B’ bracket of the state tournament. For the past few years, we have been in the ‘A’ and I like our chances for this year’s tournament.
“If our kids are in the zone the way they were in the prep B final anything is possible.
“We are prepared and ready!”
From a hitting standpoint, MKA has been clicking very nicely at the top of its lineup with its talented sophomore trio of speedy leadoff hitter Eva Sieger, Healey and Gabby Ladd who combined to go 7-for-12 with 5 runs vs. Gill (12-11) in the prep B final.
Sieger (2-for-4 with a double and triple) helped ignite a quick start for third-seeded MKA with a 3-run first inning vs. Gill by reaching on an error and scoring one of her 3 runs in the contest. Ladd, who scored 3 runs, had an RBI single in the first as the Cougars took early control of the contest vs. Gill freshman pitcher Julia Ward, who made the start in place of the team’s usual starter, senior Emily Titsworth, who was sidelined with a back ailment.
“Gabby and Eva were ready from the minute they stepped on the bus,” said Sarfati. “They are so confident in what they can do, you just knew we were going to win. They are true competitors!
“They wouldn't accept anything but a trophy. They bring such versatility and strength to the field, and the energy they have is contagious to all the players.
“This team really likes to have fun and get loose before a game and it is definitely their way of getting pumped, which they certainly were for the prep B final.”
It is a cohesive MKA softball squad, one where each player makes her own contribution to the overall success of the program behind its solid coaching staff of veterans Sarfati and Donna Bruno along with Izzy Mendez, a former 3-sport star at MKA, who is also the Cougars’ head girls basketball coach and assistant field hockey coach.
“Everyone in our lineup contributes to these wins,” added Sarfati. “The kids in the dugout are constantly supporting their teammates on the field and working hard in practice.
“It is truly a team effort. We have a positive mindset and I just keep telling them we have to work hard to get the first batter out every inning.”
Follow Steve Tober on 'X' @Chattermeister
Sophomores Eva Sieger (11) and pitcher Olivia Healey (27) are two of the mainstays for the 2025 prep B champion MKA Cougars who have been playing best softball of season. (SC photo and by Rick Osterberg)
Copyright 2005 Sideline Chatter - comments - contact the webmaster
|
|
