NEWARK – Steinert maintained their belief and capitalized on the momentum all the way to state history.
The Spartans pulled off a great escape and staged an epic seventh-inning rally to come back and stun Randolph, 3-2 in the NJSIAA Group 3 softball final on June 13 at Ivy Hill Park at Seton Hall University.
The Spartans wrote history as the first public school to win three consecutive state softball titles.
Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom half of the seventh inning, Steinert’s bats came alive when senior catcher Addison Hassan singled to center field on a 1-2 count, scoring Ellie Miller with the game-winning run. It was the highlight of a five-hit inning in which the Spartans plated three runs with one out.
I was just looking to hit the ball anywhere through the infield. Something that wouldn’t get caught or get my runners stuck up. Anything to get my runners through," Hassan said of her first and only hit of the game. "It was my fourth at bat. So honestly, I felt confident. I felt great out there. This is 100 percent my biggest hit of the season.
Steinert went all game, putting a runner on base in six of seven innings. But Randolph pitcher Breanna Colburn managed to contain the fast-paced offense by weaving in and out of trouble through the first six innings.
That was until the seventh inning when freshman Victoria Poppert, pinch-hitting for Gianna DiMeglio, doubled on a line drive to center field on a 2-0 count.
After Colburn got a strikeout, Mia Pope singled on a line drive to left field to plate the Spartans' first run of the game. Pope, who fell behind in the count 0-2 on three straight foul balls, worked the count to even before fouling off two more pitches and roping the eighth pitch into the outfield.
I had a relaxed mentality. I wanted to go into today’s game and do it for my team. I was seeing the ball right," said Pope, who was 4-for-4 with two doubles. "It’s a great feeling to be a part of history. It drives us and it lets us know we can always do it and come back and do it again. We were always in this game. We never gave up, and that’s what Spartans are all about.
Ellie Miller followed with a ground-ball single to center field, and Bianca Walsh singled on a line drive to left field to score Pope from third base.
What it means
Steinert (22-4) is the state champion for the third time in as many years. The Hamilton Township school has reached the Group finals in four straight years.
The Spartans close out the season having won seven straight games.
Randolph (17-8), playing in its first-ever state title game, saw its nine-game win streak come to an end.
Putting it together
Steinert's pitcher Katie Simonka allowed two runs, four walks, and six hits, while recording six strikeouts. Playing in her third state title game, the senior got into trouble in the fourth inning when the Rams started the frame with back-to-back singles. After giving up a walk to load the bases with two outs, Simonka walked Autumn Liebhauser, giving Randolph the lead.
The Rams' second run came in the fifth on a throwing error by Pope from shortstop. Steinert committed six errors.
Senior year and coming back here a third time knowing we could make history, it’s exactly how we wanted it to go," Simonka said. "We’ve come back to win in almost every state title game this year. We did the same thing last year at this same exact field. This is such an amazing team and we pull through no matter what.
I think the adrenaline kept me composed. This is honestly such an amazing accomplishment. I couldn’t be more proud of every one of these girls. I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Steinert softball stages epic rally to stun Randolph in Group 3 state final
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