Lady Mounties Have Déjà Vu In Sectional Final

Montclair head coach Tara Delmour is glad that a certain pair of Morris Knolls players is a pair of seniors.

Morris Knolls pitcher Caitlin O'Connor and catcher Angela Maioran are both playing in their final games and the Lady Mounties are saying good riddance.

The Golden Eagles hurler shut down the Lady Mounties last season, 1-0, in the Group 4 North 1 state sectional title game and did the same on Friday with a score of 7-2, foiling Montclair's attempt for the state sectional title by allowing only one hit.

Montclair finished with a 19-9 record and can take solace in the fact that they won their second straight Super Essex Conference Liberty division title.

In addition to O'Connor, Maioran would go 4-for-4 and hit two home runs along with four RBIs off Montclair junior pitcher Tori Sneden.

Despite giving up seven runs, Delmour was happy with his junior pitcher's performance. "She gave up some big hits and there were some dinks," said Delmour. "But she pitched well and we made some miscues in the field."

And Delmour knows both of them will not be there if and hopefully when the Lady Mounties are again in the same scenario of winning a state sectional title in 2012.

"We really came a long way from last year and the beginning of this year," said Delmour. "It's nice to know that we have talent coming back and will be more confident."

With a younger team this season, Montclair got behind against Morris Knolls and this time could not come from behind like they have this season.

Their come-from-behind attitude was evident in the semi-finals when they scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Roxbury, 7-6, in the sectional semi-finals.

"We have done that in the past, but it is something that I don't relish," said Delmour. "It's always hard when you get down early."

This time Morris Knolls, one of the top teams in the entire state, just was too strong and would not let up on its attack.

The lone hit for the Lady Mounties came off the bat of sophomore shortstop Deja Davis who smacked a home run in the top of the third inning.

The Montclair head coach was proud of her team in getting a run in the top of the seventh inning as Sneden scored on a sacrifice from catcher Amy Bianco.

"I think that it showed a lot that we did not just surrender in the last inning," said Delmour.

Delmour is hoping that making the state sectional final for the second year in a row will give her underclassmen more experience and incentives for the 2012 season.

Before the start of 2012 next season seniors like catcher Bianco, both Haefeli's centerfielder Sara and first baseman Laura, along with third baseman Dakota Sikes-Keilp and Giuliana Fred can take solace in winning the second straight Liberty championship, the lone two championships since the new conference started last year.

One of the biggest holes to fill will be Sara Haefeli who led the Lady Mounties in several offensive categories.

"She definitely left her mark not only in the softball field, but throughout the Montclair sports program," said Delmour. "She not only has a physical presence, but also has several intangibles like her leadership."

But Delmour has the likes of Sneden and Davis returning to help the team's hope of going far in the state tournament. The Lady Mounties though will have a new challenge as they move up to the American division from the Liberty. The American is the hardest of all divisions in the SEC.