Caldwell 14U Softball Goes Down Swinging

HANOVER—The Caldwell 14U softball team had its collective hearts broken by Hanover for the second time this season.

But this time it came with the league championship on the line.

Despite a pair of RBIs from second baseman Gianna Genello and solid pitching from Cayla Lombardi, the Chiefs lost 6-4 Thursday night in the Bi-County Softball League championship game at Veteran's Park.

Caldwell coach Pete Frazza told his girls to keep their heads up following the final putout and said there's plenty to be proud of following an 11-2 season.   

"Last year their [Hanover] only two losses were to us, so in the end it balances out," Frazza said. "There were two great teams out there and a great bunch of kids on both sides."   

Frazza also said he'd rather focus on the positives the summer season brought his team and the future of the program.

"They had a great season, though, and they're so young," he said. "Nine of our girls were only in seventh grade, so at a minimum, nine will return. The future of Caldwell softball is in very good hands."   

Caldwell seemed in good hands to start the game when the Chiefs grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. First baseman Casey Ward drove in Val Murphy from third base on a fielder's choice. Alex Sciacca followed with an RBI bunt single, scoring Allie Nufrio for a 2-0 edge.

However, Hanover (12-1) responded immediately with three runs in the bottom of the frame off Lombardi, who was the victim of six fielding errors in the game.

"It hurts more to lose this way [with errors]. I'd rather get beat outright," said Lombardi, who insisted the team was well prepared coming into the game and looking to avenge the regular-season defeat to Hanover. "We really thought we were going to win. But I guess we got too cocky."

Half of Caldwell's errors came in the bottom of the first inning when three miscues resulted in three runs and a 3-2 Hanover lead.

"The last two days reading the papers, it talked about how great our defense was and [Thursday] was just one of those nights," Frazza said. "Our defense wasn't as good as it customarily is but that happens.

"Cayla's had a lot of positive games due to our defense but [Thursday] it wasn't quite there. But the girls did the best they could and they battled. That's all you could ask for because I'm proud of her and proud of the rest of the girls."    

Prior to the game, Caldwell flashed its confidence as the players were in a jovial mood, spraying each other's hair with temporary blue- and white-colored streaks. 

"Perhaps they were nervous but they're 12 and 13 years old, so it's OK," Frazza said, adding that his team was still within striking distance in the final innings. "It was 4-4 heading into the fifth inning, so one little thing here or there could've changed the whole dynamics."

While Genello drove in a run with a fielder's choice in the second inning and an RBI single to right field in the fourth, Hanover broke a 4-4 deadlock on a Christen Mills RBI double and Allie Brueno's fielder's choice in the fifth inning for a 6-4 lead.

Caldwell was a solid base hit away from forcing a bottom half of the seventh as Murphy led off the top of the frame with an infield single. Nufrio reached first on a fielding error, placing runners on first and second with no outs.

After Ward struck out, Sciacca bunted over Murphy and Nufrio, making it second and third with two outs. But Lombardi struck out swinging to end the game.

But for Frazza and assistant coach Mike Murphy, they were more proud of the way the girls handled defeat more than anything else.       

"They're polite and always respectful and we can't teach that. That's from their good upbringing," Frazza said just as a Hanover parent came over to praise his players.

"They are an extraordinary group of girls and that's what's most rewarding."   

Genello felt the season was a great learning experience.

"It was great to get this far with this group and two amazing coaches," Genello said. "At the same time, I'm kind of glad we got a chance to feel what it's like to lose, but it'll make us better for next year."

After an off-game in the semifinals, Genello came through with a 1-for-3 performance with two RBIs and a stolen base in the championship game.

"It [her play Thursday] was better than my game [Wednesday], so it felt good to be a part of success," she said. "But I just wish we could've pulled it out."