Livingston's Run Ends in State Semifinals

The Livingston High softball team came into Tuesday's game with Watchung Hills ranked No. 2 in the state and heavily favored to win—but the Warriors seemed to thrive on being the underdog.

The Lancers jumped out to an early lead, but were stopped there in a 2-1 loss in the Group 4 semifinals in Nutley.

1

Livingston blasted out to an immediate advantage when lead off batter Kaylie McLaughlin hit a soaring shot over the left center field fence for a home run.  Unshaken, the Warriors, behind pitcher Abby Cline, made that the Lancers' only run of the game. 

"Watchung was incredible defensively," Livingston head coach Jason Daily said. "They were extremely sharp. I am just blown away by the pitcher, she is very tough, she works quick, keeps the ball down and away, and she is extremely effective. That is the reason they won the game. I think both teams played incredibly well defensively.

"When you get to this spot, and there are only so many teams left in the state tournament, it is going to be a one-run game and you have to be ready for it," Daily said. "We were ready for it, but in four of the six innings, we had the lead off runner on and we just couldn't execute and put the ball through.  That is a credit to Watchung's defense and their pitcher."

Cline finished the game with three strike outs and giving up only five hits.

"I say it every time—my team is amazing," Cline said. "I would not be here without my team. They make every play in the field, they hit so many times in clutch situations, it is actually insane. Wow is all I can say."

In the second inning, Deanna Gonnella got a single to lead off for the Warriors.  Dana Mertz walked and McKayla Brady placed a sacrifice bunt, putting Gonnella's courtesy runner Annie Suitovsky on third and Mertz on second base.

That's when Jess Gaeta came to the plate, driving a base hit that scored a run for the Warriors to tie the game at 1-1.

The pitching of Lancer Jess Preslak halted the Warriors with a five strike out, six hit performance backed by a diving and relentless defense.

Both teams went scoreless through the middle innings, but the Warriors found some magic in the sixth inning.  With Dana Mertz on third base and McKayla Brady on second and two outs, Jess Gaeta came to the plate. 

With the count full (two strikes and three balls), Gaeta made contact for a second base hit—sending Mertz home for the second and game-winning RBI.

"Beautiful!" Watchung Hills head coach Mike D'Alessandro said. "We just have a great bunch of kids that are believing they are going to get the job done. I honestly think that as other people doubt us, we are playing a team that is ranked No. 2 in New Jersey, that just gets us just that much more determined.

"I was feeling real good the way the girls approached this game," he added. "They had a great attitude, we had a great practice yesterday. All 15 of us in the dugout knew we were winning this game today."