By Matthew Rocco
The Saint John Vianney High School softball team will take the field in the Shore Conference Tournament championship this week.
The Lancers are looking for their first postseason title of 2017 after falling one win shy of a sectional championship in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) tournament.
With an explosive lineup, the Lancers slugged their way to the South Jersey, Non-Public A championship game, toppling Gloucester Catholic High School and Notre Dame High School by scores of 9-0 and 7-2, respectively.
In the finals, top-seeded Donovan Catholic High School jumped to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Lancers quickly climbed back. They capitalized on an Alexis Agrapides double and a two-out error in their next turn at bat, playing four runs to tie the game. The Lancers took the lead in the fifth when catcher Ally Jones knocked a base hit through the infield to score Julia Parker.
The lead was short-lived, as Donovan Catholic struck back in the bottom of the inning with two runs. Donovan Catholic held on for a 6-5 win, clinching a berth in the group stage.
The Lancers were eager to put the disappointing loss behind them, and the first step was sending Middletown High School North home from the Shore Conference Tournament two days later.
Parker and Demi Rivera combined to hold the Lions to two runs on nine hits, and St. John Vianney got a solo homer from Shelli Rivard in a 3-2 semifinals win. Lindsey Baron and Gianna Mavica also had RBI hits.
The Lancers advanced to play Middletown North with an 8-5 win over Red Bank Catholic High School in the quarterfinals.
The lineup has routinely risen to the occasion this season, coming up with clutch hits when the Lancers needed them most.
“Our bats have been hot all season long. I don’t ever think we’re not going to score,” said head coach Kim Lombardi, recalling St. John Vianney’s comeback attempt against Donovan Catholic.
St. John Vianney’s loss in the state tournament was its first of the season. The Lancers, who clinched the Shore Conference A Central Division title with a 12-0 record, enter the conference tournament finals with a record of 27-1 overall.
Second-seeded St. John Vianney and No. 12-seed Ocean Township High School will battle for the Shore Conference Tournament crown June 8 at 4 p.m.
