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WOOD-RIDGE – It took one green bat with an attached purple Teletubby, one amazing outfield performance, and one zip code.
Add it all up and it was one special night for Ramsey, who dethroned four-time county champions Immaculate Heart, 8-2, in the Bergen County softball final at the WRAC May 22.
“I am so proud of this team and the feat of one zip code -- and I’m going to harp on this -- homegrown Rams,” said Ramsey coach Chris Caserta while his team danced to ‘Come On Eileen’ nearby. “We’re one zip code battling the entire county and teams with multiple zip codes and look at this, this is years of them being together, being a Ram, homegrown, you can’t ask for anything more.”
It was the first Bergen County title for Ramsey since 2018 and the school’s eighth overall. It was also sweet redemption after losing to IHA in the 2025 and 2023 final.
“4 years,” said Ramsey senior shortstop Lucy Sobel, who was the Rams starting pitcher in the 2023 final. “I can’t even…I can’t stop crying. I can’t explain how much this means. It means so much to the girls who have been here since the beginning. Being able to win with these girls, who are the most special girls I have ever been around, I can’t even explain.”
Caserta said he had a good feeling that it was his team’s night when he woke up in the morning. And it was true. Rams junior pitching star Brooke Donofrio quickly locked in on the strike zone -- finding a sweet spot on the outside corner and finished with 10 strikeouts.
“She is so much more mature than last year as far as her approach in finding the strike zone and not getting frustrated, it’s fantastic to watch,” said Caserta.
When IHA put the ball in play, the Rams ran it down. Cynthia Chetaitis made two spectacular plays in left field, saving at least one run in the sixth inning. Rams center fielder Bella Baldino snagged a hard line drive earlier in the sixth and Grace Bagley snagged a tough ball in the third.
“Our outfield has been playing so hard in practice,” said Sobel. “You see them laying out all the time in practice and it really is true that you practice how you play, because they really locked it down and stopped so many runs.”
At the plate, Ramsey played small and big, bunting and running when they had the chance. Taylor Murphy had three hits and two RBIs. Lily Kriz had a double and scored two runs. Baldino had a two-run single in the second inning to put Ramsey ahead 4-0. After IHA got one back in the bottom of the second, Ramsey put up three in the third with Eva Chetaitis popping a long sac fly.
With every big hit or big play, there was a flash of a bright green bat in the Ramsey dugout with a purple stuffed Teletubby stuck on top. The unnamed Teletubby gave kisses for luck to anyone nearby.
“The Teletubby on a stick brings good energy, it is magic, so when someone holds the Teletubby near you and hives you a kiss, it brings you luck,” said Sobel, adding that it was Donofrio’s creation. “It’s hard to miss.”
Caserta enjoyed the moment, smiling at all the shenanigans. Asked if it felt good, he said it was an understatement.
“To be here three of the last four years and failing the first couple of times, I can honestly tell you, not in a cocky way, but in a confident way, it was our night,” Caserta said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramsey wins 2026 Bergen County softball title
Continue reading...
Add it all up and it was one special night for Ramsey, who dethroned four-time county champions Immaculate Heart, 8-2, in the Bergen County softball final at the WRAC May 22.
“I am so proud of this team and the feat of one zip code -- and I’m going to harp on this -- homegrown Rams,” said Ramsey coach Chris Caserta while his team danced to ‘Come On Eileen’ nearby. “We’re one zip code battling the entire county and teams with multiple zip codes and look at this, this is years of them being together, being a Ram, homegrown, you can’t ask for anything more.”
It was the first Bergen County title for Ramsey since 2018 and the school’s eighth overall. It was also sweet redemption after losing to IHA in the 2025 and 2023 final.
“4 years,” said Ramsey senior shortstop Lucy Sobel, who was the Rams starting pitcher in the 2023 final. “I can’t even…I can’t stop crying. I can’t explain how much this means. It means so much to the girls who have been here since the beginning. Being able to win with these girls, who are the most special girls I have ever been around, I can’t even explain.”
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Caserta said he had a good feeling that it was his team’s night when he woke up in the morning. And it was true. Rams junior pitching star Brooke Donofrio quickly locked in on the strike zone -- finding a sweet spot on the outside corner and finished with 10 strikeouts.
“She is so much more mature than last year as far as her approach in finding the strike zone and not getting frustrated, it’s fantastic to watch,” said Caserta.
When IHA put the ball in play, the Rams ran it down. Cynthia Chetaitis made two spectacular plays in left field, saving at least one run in the sixth inning. Rams center fielder Bella Baldino snagged a hard line drive earlier in the sixth and Grace Bagley snagged a tough ball in the third.
“Our outfield has been playing so hard in practice,” said Sobel. “You see them laying out all the time in practice and it really is true that you practice how you play, because they really locked it down and stopped so many runs.”
At the plate, Ramsey played small and big, bunting and running when they had the chance. Taylor Murphy had three hits and two RBIs. Lily Kriz had a double and scored two runs. Baldino had a two-run single in the second inning to put Ramsey ahead 4-0. After IHA got one back in the bottom of the second, Ramsey put up three in the third with Eva Chetaitis popping a long sac fly.
With every big hit or big play, there was a flash of a bright green bat in the Ramsey dugout with a purple stuffed Teletubby stuck on top. The unnamed Teletubby gave kisses for luck to anyone nearby.
“The Teletubby on a stick brings good energy, it is magic, so when someone holds the Teletubby near you and hives you a kiss, it brings you luck,” said Sobel, adding that it was Donofrio’s creation. “It’s hard to miss.”
Caserta enjoyed the moment, smiling at all the shenanigans. Asked if it felt good, he said it was an understatement.
“To be here three of the last four years and failing the first couple of times, I can honestly tell you, not in a cocky way, but in a confident way, it was our night,” Caserta said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramsey wins 2026 Bergen County softball title
Continue reading...
