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RARITAN TOWNSHIP – Jessica Yip knew there was no chance she’d be stopping at third base as the ball she ripped down the right-field line with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday night at the Skyland Conference Senior Softball All-Star Game settled in the corner at Diamond Nation.
With Team National being shutout through 8 2/3 innings by a foursome of Team American pitchers, Yip and her mates were focused on not leaving without scoring at least a run in their final games representing their high schools on the diamond.
Yip breezed around second and headed for third as the ball was dug out by Montgomery’s Nicolette Shackelford and thrown back toward the infield. But Immaculata skipper Gary Bury, who was in the third-base coaching box and at the helm of Team National, had been clammoring for just one run for the final couple innings – even jokingly offering pizza, and, reportedly, cash, if his squad coule break through on the scoreboard. He never stopped waving the Hunterdon Central shortstop around third base, through it looked like she was going to get thrown out by a mile. But the ball was not handled cleanly on the cut, and the relay to the plate was not on target, allowing Yip to score.
And while, ultimately, there was no pizza – or cash – Team National was able to leave its final high school softball game having met one late goal.
Team National scored another run in the frame, getting an ensuing walk form Rutgers Prep’s Kate Dougherty and then an RBI double from Franklin’s Casey Gomez, but, ultimately, fell 5-2
But nobody cared about the final score. Instead, it was a thrilling finish to the careers of 34 seniors.
For Yip, the inside-the-park homer was the first of her varsity career and something she hadn’t done at any level in quite some time, she said. But that home run was far less important than the experience.
“I’ve probably never hit one. I think, maybe, 10-U was my last time,” said Yip, who finished 3-for-3. “It was my last-ever game, so I was really excited just to be here, and I was honored to play with this team and a bunch of really good players. It was all or nothing tonight.”
As for her trip around the bases, she was absolutely sure Bury would send her home. Whether or not she thought she’d make it…
“Eh. That was iffy,” she said. “But I was just going to go.”
Union County Softball All-Stars make most of final high school game
GMC Softball All-Star Game brought senior stars under one spotlight
For Team American, it was about the pitching, with the first three hurlers to take the circle for the home side coming through unscathed. North Hunterdon ace Layla Francisco was the starting and winning pitcher, going the first three shutout innings and allowing just four hits and no walks, striking out seven.
Like Francisco, Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak was making her first pitching appearance for her high school since last Friday’s state finals, and although she continues to deal with pain from a stress fracture in her back, limiting her to just one inning in the circle Wednesday, she made the most of it, firing a 1-2-3 fourth, striking out one. The four-year starter also made contributions in other ways, posting a single, run and stolen base, and playing second and third base, making a couple of nifty defensive plays.
Delaware Valley’s Taylor Aycock got the ball for the next three innings, allowing no runs on just three hits, walking none and two. Combine that with her 2-for-2 day at the plate and it was enough to earn the four-year starter the game’s Most Valuable Player award.
Not bad for a Group 2 pitcher dealing with an opposing lineup full of all-stars.
“I had a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun playing with my teammates for the last time,” said Aycock, who was joined by fellow Terriers Lily Rynearson, Ally Moschberger and Brooklyn Liskowacki on Team American, the largest contingent from one school in this year’s event.
She also got a chance to renew some softball acquaintances, not only playing with and against high school rivals, but even some travel-ball foes.
“I play against some of them on club, too, so It’s been awesome to play with them and get to know everyone,” Aycock said.
While the senior players were representing their schools for the final time, Bound Brook head coach Shannon DeLuca, who skippered Team American, was also making her final appearance for her school’s softball team, one she not only led for 19 seasons, but also played for and served as an assistant coach on after her college. It’s been 30 years as a Crusader and certainly would have been an All-Star had the event existed in the 1990s.
After her last official contest ended in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Dayton in last week’s state Group 1 final, the reigning two-time Central Group 1 champ was able to take it all in Wednesday night.
“It was less stressful and so much fun,” DeLuca said, comparing her feeling to last Friday at the state finals. “The girls were great and this was so much fun to do. It was full circle for me. Playing, coming back and coaching. So, it does hit me hard.”
While Team American’s pitchers scattered eight hits over the first eight innings, the offense was on point from the start. Bound Brook’s Rachael Gurczeski led off the bottom of the first by ripping a double, but Bernards ace Ganny Mongno stranded her, inducing three pop outs. But the Americans cashed in a run in the second.
Mongno struck out the first batter on a good-looking changeup, but singles b Marusiak and Aycock put two runners on. Moschberger then grounded into a force play, sending Marusiak to third, and she then scored when Moschberger got into a run down trying to steal second and Team National opting to throw through.
Team American added on in the third, getting a lead off double from Phillipsburg’s Addison Fallon and an RBI hit from Shackelford, and notched three more in the fourth, getting an RBI single from Mount St. Mary’s Isabella DeLuca and a two-run triple from Pingry star Ella Royster.
The Team National pitching was outstanding from that point on, as Rutgers Prep’s Kate Dougherty rebounded from a rough fourth inning by retiring six of seven over the next two frames, with a lead off single by Aycock in the sixth the lone blemish. She also picked up two strikeouts.
Franklin’s Josslyn Sejeck finished up for Team National, going three shutout innings, allowing just two hits, hitting a batter, and striking out three.
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
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This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: It was the NJ softball experience, not result at Skyland All-Star Game
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With Team National being shutout through 8 2/3 innings by a foursome of Team American pitchers, Yip and her mates were focused on not leaving without scoring at least a run in their final games representing their high schools on the diamond.
Yip breezed around second and headed for third as the ball was dug out by Montgomery’s Nicolette Shackelford and thrown back toward the infield. But Immaculata skipper Gary Bury, who was in the third-base coaching box and at the helm of Team National, had been clammoring for just one run for the final couple innings – even jokingly offering pizza, and, reportedly, cash, if his squad coule break through on the scoreboard. He never stopped waving the Hunterdon Central shortstop around third base, through it looked like she was going to get thrown out by a mile. But the ball was not handled cleanly on the cut, and the relay to the plate was not on target, allowing Yip to score.
And while, ultimately, there was no pizza – or cash – Team National was able to leave its final high school softball game having met one late goal.
Team National scored another run in the frame, getting an ensuing walk form Rutgers Prep’s Kate Dougherty and then an RBI double from Franklin’s Casey Gomez, but, ultimately, fell 5-2
But nobody cared about the final score. Instead, it was a thrilling finish to the careers of 34 seniors.
For Yip, the inside-the-park homer was the first of her varsity career and something she hadn’t done at any level in quite some time, she said. But that home run was far less important than the experience.
“I’ve probably never hit one. I think, maybe, 10-U was my last time,” said Yip, who finished 3-for-3. “It was my last-ever game, so I was really excited just to be here, and I was honored to play with this team and a bunch of really good players. It was all or nothing tonight.”
As for her trip around the bases, she was absolutely sure Bury would send her home. Whether or not she thought she’d make it…
“Eh. That was iffy,” she said. “But I was just going to go.”
Union County Softball All-Stars make most of final high school game
GMC Softball All-Star Game brought senior stars under one spotlight
For Team American, it was about the pitching, with the first three hurlers to take the circle for the home side coming through unscathed. North Hunterdon ace Layla Francisco was the starting and winning pitcher, going the first three shutout innings and allowing just four hits and no walks, striking out seven.
Like Francisco, Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak was making her first pitching appearance for her high school since last Friday’s state finals, and although she continues to deal with pain from a stress fracture in her back, limiting her to just one inning in the circle Wednesday, she made the most of it, firing a 1-2-3 fourth, striking out one. The four-year starter also made contributions in other ways, posting a single, run and stolen base, and playing second and third base, making a couple of nifty defensive plays.
Delaware Valley’s Taylor Aycock got the ball for the next three innings, allowing no runs on just three hits, walking none and two. Combine that with her 2-for-2 day at the plate and it was enough to earn the four-year starter the game’s Most Valuable Player award.
Not bad for a Group 2 pitcher dealing with an opposing lineup full of all-stars.
“I had a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun playing with my teammates for the last time,” said Aycock, who was joined by fellow Terriers Lily Rynearson, Ally Moschberger and Brooklyn Liskowacki on Team American, the largest contingent from one school in this year’s event.
She also got a chance to renew some softball acquaintances, not only playing with and against high school rivals, but even some travel-ball foes.
“I play against some of them on club, too, so It’s been awesome to play with them and get to know everyone,” Aycock said.
While the senior players were representing their schools for the final time, Bound Brook head coach Shannon DeLuca, who skippered Team American, was also making her final appearance for her school’s softball team, one she not only led for 19 seasons, but also played for and served as an assistant coach on after her college. It’s been 30 years as a Crusader and certainly would have been an All-Star had the event existed in the 1990s.
After her last official contest ended in a disappointing 2-1 loss to Dayton in last week’s state Group 1 final, the reigning two-time Central Group 1 champ was able to take it all in Wednesday night.
“It was less stressful and so much fun,” DeLuca said, comparing her feeling to last Friday at the state finals. “The girls were great and this was so much fun to do. It was full circle for me. Playing, coming back and coaching. So, it does hit me hard.”
GAME RECAP
While Team American’s pitchers scattered eight hits over the first eight innings, the offense was on point from the start. Bound Brook’s Rachael Gurczeski led off the bottom of the first by ripping a double, but Bernards ace Ganny Mongno stranded her, inducing three pop outs. But the Americans cashed in a run in the second.
Mongno struck out the first batter on a good-looking changeup, but singles b Marusiak and Aycock put two runners on. Moschberger then grounded into a force play, sending Marusiak to third, and she then scored when Moschberger got into a run down trying to steal second and Team National opting to throw through.
Team American added on in the third, getting a lead off double from Phillipsburg’s Addison Fallon and an RBI hit from Shackelford, and notched three more in the fourth, getting an RBI single from Mount St. Mary’s Isabella DeLuca and a two-run triple from Pingry star Ella Royster.
The Team National pitching was outstanding from that point on, as Rutgers Prep’s Kate Dougherty rebounded from a rough fourth inning by retiring six of seven over the next two frames, with a lead off single by Aycock in the sixth the lone blemish. She also picked up two strikeouts.
Franklin’s Josslyn Sejeck finished up for Team National, going three shutout innings, allowing just two hits, hitting a batter, and striking out three.
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997, and has been on the softball beat since 1999. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus
BOX SCORE
| Weds, June 17 at Diamond Nation | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAM NATIONAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
| TEAM AMERICAN | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| TEAM NATIONAL | AB | R | H | RBI | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessica Yip, Hunterdon Central | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Kate Dougherty, Rutgers Prep | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Casey Gomez, Franklin | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brooke Helpinstill, Bernards | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isabella Icangello, Hunterdon Central | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalecia Stoddart, Warren Hills | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sophia Gosk, Manville | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kallahan Lewis, Hillsborough | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josselyn Sejeck, Franklin | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ella Martinelli, Gill St. Bernard’s | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Maddy Apgar, Hunterdon Central | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Addison Whitney, Hillsborough | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cali McCoy, Rutgers Prep | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sammie Kalinak, Gill St. Bernard‘s | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Victoria Gabryszewski, Franklin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ava Giglio, Immaculata | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabby Mongno, Bernards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals: | 36 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 2B: Gomez; HR: Yip. | |||||
| SB: Dougherty, Lewis. | |||||
| TEAM AMERICAN | AB | R | H | RBI | BB |
| Rachael Gurczeski, Bound Brook | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ella Royster, Pingry | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Briana Cacchio, Bridgewater-Raritan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryane Riddell, Montgomery | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Anna DeCola, Somerville | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Isabella Marusiak, Bound Brook | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Taylor Aycock, Delaware Valley | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Ally Moschberger, Delaware Valley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Addison Fallon, Phillipsburg | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nicolette Shackelford, Montgomery | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Thea Pappas, Somerville | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sarah Graber, Somerville | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brooklyn Liskowacki, Delaware Valley | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lilly Rynearson, Delaware Valley | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ella Lagomarsino, Voorhees | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isabella DeLuca, Mount St. Mary | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals: | 37 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| 2B: Gurczeski, Fallon; 3B: Royster | |||||
| HBP: Cacchio. SB: Marusiak |
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| PITCHING | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEAM NATIONAL | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HBP |
| Gabby Mongno, Bernards (L) | 3.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kate Dougherty, Rutgers Prep | 3.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Josslyn Sejeck, Franklin | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Team totals: | 9.0 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| TEAM AMERICAN | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HBP |
| Layla Francisco (W), North Hunterdon | 3.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Isabella Marusiak, Bound Brook | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Taylor Aycock, Delaware Valley | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Sarah Graber, Somerville | 2.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Team totals: | 9.0 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: It was the NJ softball experience, not result at Skyland All-Star Game
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