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Ava Kelshaw was dealing while striking out 14 Columbia batters, Jill Cianfrocca (1) was excited to be on second base after third inning leadoff double before she stole third and Bella Iannitelli (14) delivered an infield RBI single while reaching first base safely as Cianfrocca slid home with the game's only run before she could eventually hold up the trophy as Mount St. Dominic had earned its third straigh and 13th overall Essex County Tournament title. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold-jstiefbold.smugmug.com) (continued from page 1) Then, with two outs in the sixth, after Shupe and Clevenger had both singled, a grounder hit to shortstop Iannitelli was alertly thrown to third for the inning-ending force out as defense once again proved to be a prime ingredient in the Mount’s success. In the seventh, Kelshaw would strike out the side despite giving up singles to both Olivia Ahlberg and Lexi Kaplan. “Our kids know that you’re going to play defense or you can’t play for us,” said Stern. “I don’t care as much about the hitting as the fact that if you can field, you’re going to play. Our second baseman (Bella Baez) is one of the best in the county and she doesn’t hit; she plays defense for us.” The key inning-ending force-outs at third base executed by Kelshaw in the fourth and Iannitelli in the sixth are also part of the familiar regimen in terms of practice at the Mount. “We drill that quick decision on the lead runner all the time, and our kids know that’s the play we have to make,” continued Stern. “Defense is huge in a game like this against a quality opponent with a terrific pitcher. “Ava was fantastic for us and their kid was great as well. They played their hearts out and I told her (Shupe) that I’ll miss watching her pitch, but I’m happy to see her leave.” Now it’s time to look forward to the state tournament and Non-Public A for the Mount and Group 4 for Columbia as the two top teams from Essex County prepare to move into the ultimate challenges of the 2026 season in the NJSIAA’s season-ending event to produce six group champions. “We’re clearly the two best teams in the county and they should win their state section,” said Stern. “I give a lot of credit to (Coach) Cliff (Smith) who is a good friend and has built a very good program. “I know that Essex County may not be where it’s been the last handful of years, but the final is still the way it is and we were clearly the two best teams this season,” said Stern. “It’s always important for us to win this tournament and our kids respect the other teams in the county.” NOTES- Columbia, which won the very first ECT in 1977 for what has been its only county title, was appearing in its fourth final and first since 1981…The Mount has appeared in 22 finals. Cedar Grove is second with 12 finals along with six titles, including being the only team to defeat the Lions in the championship game since 2017, winning vs. the Mount in both the 2018 and 2023 finals. The Mount has won six of the last eight ECT crowns and 9 of the last 12 since 2014. There was no final in 2020 due to the covid virus…ECT softball co-directors Rob Gogerty of Cedar Grove and Lorenzo Sozio of the Mount did a superb job overseeing the 2026 countywide softball event….Both the Mount, with only one senior starter in the Villanova-bound Jill Cianfrocca, and Columbia, with three senior starters in Shupe, Clevenger (St. Thomas Aquinas) and the veteran right fielder Kaplan, should be quite strong next year as well, while both will return strong pitching including Kelshaw for the Mount and promising freshman Alison Kelly for the Cougars. Essex County Tournament final, Saturday, May 16, at Ivy Hill Park: Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' @Chattermeister The 49 Essex County Softball Tournament finals: Most Titles: Appearances In Final:
Mount St. Dominic coach Rob Stern congratulates Columbia's Claire Shupe, who pitched a superb game for the Cougars in 1-0 defeat to Lions who generated run-scoring inning in the third after double delivered by the team's hard-hitting leadoff batter Jill Cianfrocca.
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