Randolph Softball experienced both highs and lessons learned over a busy late-April stretch, ultimately emerging with momentum as the team advanced to the Morris County Tournament (MCT) semifinals.

Behind standout pitching performances, explosive offense and resilience in close games, the Rams proved they are peaking at the right time.

Here are some highlights.

April 22: Randolph 9, Vernon 1

On April 22, Randolph traveled to Vernon and defeated the Vikings 9-1 in an NJAC divisional game. The Rams have now won their last four matchups against Vernon. With the county tournament approaching, Randolph looked to build momentum.

The Rams set the tone early, jumping ahead in the first inning behind senior captain Hayley Arigo and strong pitching from Breanna Colburn. Randolph broke the game open in the third inning and built a 9-1 lead through five.

Colburn pitched a complete game, allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts.

Arigo led the offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBIs. Cassidy Smith added a home run and three RBIs as Randolph finished with eight hits in the win.

Contributions across the lineup came from Daniella Gizienski, Madison Ryan, Elena Perez, Elisabeth Latch, Brielle Nuzzo and Isabella Schmidt, while younger players Emily Czapka, Mia Briganti, Elise Bui, Camryn McClain and Devyn Meyers continue to develop within the program.

April 26: Red Bank Catholic 2, Randolph 1

Randolph traveled to Cedar Grove to face Red Bank Catholic in the Black and Gold Invitational, falling 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel, on Sunday, April 26.

Randolph scored its only run in the third inning but struggled to generate offense late. Lily Zepp led the Rams, going 2-for-3 with the team’s only RBI as Randolph finished with five hits. Colburn started in the circle, throwing four shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out three.

The game turned in the fifth inning when Kayleigh McClain entered in relief, allowing two runs over two innings. Despite solid defense, Randolph was unable to rally.

April 27: Hunterdon Central 4, Randolph 1

Randolph hosted Hunterdon Central in a 4 p.m. game on Monday, April 27. The Rams stayed competitive early with strong pitching and defense before Hunterdon Central pulled away late for a 4-1 win.

Zepp led the offense, while Latch and Perez added key hits. McClain took the loss after allowing three runs, and Perez allowed one run in relief.

“Playing top teams helps us become better, whether it is seeing better pitching, or allowing us to identify our weaknesses,” Smith said. “By playing top teams, we are able to play under lots of pressure, which is going to help us stay calmer during the MCT.”

April 28: Randolph 7, Madison 0 (MCT Second Round)

No. 3 Randolph powered past No. 14 Madison with a 7-0 shutout in the second round of the MCT on Tuesday, April 28.  

Randolph came out of the gate extremely strong, collecting three hits and two runs in the first inning, and never stopped. The Rams continued to add runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings. These runs not only came from huge hits, but also from solid contact hits and productive at-bats.  

“I think we did a great job getting ahead early and kept the energy up the entire game,” senior captain McClain said.

Smith and Gizienski each tallied three hits, while Ryan added three of her own.  

While Randolph’s offense stayed steady all game, Colburn turned in one of her best statistical performances of the season, tallying 14 strikeouts and limiting Madison to just one hit.  

Randolph’s defense backed up Colburn’s dominant pitching performance by playing error free, which included a huge diving catch from Ryan in the top of the fourth inning.  

“I thought we did well at the plate,” Smith said. “We were able to get a lot of people on base with clutch hits to drive them in. There’s still room for growth, and we’re fully capable of putting up more runs as the tournament continues.” 

Head coach Ashly Kanya said this pivotal win could help fuel a successful MCT run. “This was a big win for us, and the energy throughout the game showed it,” she said. “From the first pitch to the final out, the team played with confidence and intensity, feeding off one another. It’s the kind of performance that can build momentum at exactly the right time to carry us far in the county tournament.”

May 2: Randolph 6, Mount Olive 5 (MCT Quarterfinals)

The Rams advanced to the semifinals after grinding out a tight 6-5 win against Mount Olive, in front of home crowd on Saturday, May 2.

Mount Olive struck first, but Randolph stayed composed and answered back to keep the game within reach. The Rams chipped away through the middle innings and took control late to secure the win.

Arigo led the offense with a strong day at the plate, while Colburn, Ryan and Zepp added key hits to keep the lineup moving. Colburn battled in the circle through most of the game, and Perez came in late to shut things down and lock in the final outs. Randolph stayed steady under pressure and finished it off with a complete team effort.

Randolph hits the road to face Morris Hills next, on Tuesday, May 5.