Randolph Softball won the NJSIAA State Sectional Championship for the second year in a row, defeating Old Tappan 12-1 on Friday, June 5.
With this win, the team continues its stellar 16-7 season, playing the next game @ South Plainfield on Tuesday, June 10. If Randolph wins it, the team will move on to compete for the state title, on Friday, June 13.
The team has seen success all season thanks, in part, to its six talented senior players: Hannah Bermudez, Camryn Browning, Rebecca Dasti, Autumn Liebhauser, Olivia Madayag-Williams and Brianna Vega.
“I do not think I could adequately express how vital our senior class has been to the success of our program,” head coach Ashley Kanya said. “They were a part of a team that was six and 15 and turned it around to be the powerhouse we are today.”
The Rams started the season strong. During the week of March 30, the team earned a three-game winning streak against West Morris 13-4, Pope John 4-3 and Morris Knolls 4-2.
“One of our biggest wins this year was beating Morris Knolls,” Liebhauser said. “We hadn’t beaten them in about eight years.”
The team got into a groove the week of April 16 to April 24, with four wins in a row against Madison 10-0, Sparta 8-5, West Morris 11-1 and Morris Hills 11-2.
Key plays included junior pitcher Kayleigh McClain earning five strikeouts against Madison and junior Daniella Gizienski getting two RBIs for the team.
Playing against Sparta, junior Cassidy Smith had a great game, earning the team two runs and four hits. Sophomore Elsabeth Latch and junior Haley Arigo earned two hits each for the team as well.
“We train hard and know what kind of team we are, so we always try to play our best and even better than expected,” Liebhauser said. “We do a lot of drills to make sure we’re ready for anything.”
On April 29, the team saw another win in the first round of the Morris County Tournament, beating Parsippany Hills 3-0. However, Randolph unfortunately fell to Jefferson 4-3 early on in the quarterfinal round.
“Win or lose, we grow as a team; we’re like a family,” Liebhauser said. “Playing strong teams early on made us better and helped prepare us for the big games we’re playing in the state tournament.”
The following week, the Rams hit a rough patch from May 3 through May 8. Randolph saw three losses in a row, to Hunterdon Central 4-1, Pope John 2-1 and Morris Knolls 4-2.
Despite this, the girls saw some impressive plays throughout these tough games. Junior pitcher Breanna Colburn earned seven strikeouts against Hunterdon Central. Against Pope John, junior Lily Zepp earned the only run for Randolph off an RBI. Liebhauser led the team and earned two hits and one run against Morris Knolls.
After a needed reset, the team regrouped and went on a three-game winning streak to end the regular season, beating Whippany Park 4-0, Roxbury 6-4 and Sparta 3-0.
Moving into the final tournament of the year, the NJSIAA State Tournament, the Rams took an early 11-1 first round win against Leonia on Wednesday, May 28. Dominating this game were Colburn with 10 strikeouts, junior Caitlin Sedorak with one stollen base and freshman Madison Ryan with one RBI for the team.
“The team came together at the right time,” Kanya said. “They have such a wonderful dynamic and friendship that extends beyond the ballfield. I am so blessed and lucky to be able to work with them and see them through till the end.”
The team was on a roll going into the second round, beating West Essex with an impressive 7-0 on Friday, May 30.
In the semifinals, Randolph dominated Sparta 8-1, with both Liebhauser and Arigo earning a home run for the team to help energize the Rams and solidify the win.
Capping it off, Randolph saw the team’s decisive 12-1 championship win against Old Tappan on Friday, June 5.
With this sectionals win, the team’s season continues with the NJSIAA Group 3 Semifinals, being played @ South Plainfield on Tuesday, June 10. And if the Rams win that, the team moves on to compete for the state title, on Friday, June 13.
