The Steinert Girls Softball Team celebrate after capturing their third straight CJ III Title. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
May 29: Not only does winning sectional titles never get old for Steinert’s softball team, it actually gets better.
“This really means a lot,” said Kaylee “The Salad Princess” Whittaker after pitching the 4th-seeded Spartans to a 1-0 win over 2nd-seeded Northern Burlington in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship game in Columbus tonight. “We never gave up the whole season despite what other people may have thought we would have done. We can fight through every game and pull them through so this feels special.”
Whittaker was her usual special self in the circle. After allowing four walks and a hit batsman in the first two innings, she retired 14 of the final 15 batters she faced in throwing a one-hitter with nine strikeouts. The game’s lone run came in the seventh when leadoff batter Carli Backlund reached on an error, was bunted to second by Whittaker, went to third on Olivia Owens ground-out and scored on a wild pitch over the catcher’s head.
Whittaker retired the side in the seventh, finishing with a flair by striking out the last two and giving the Spartans their third consecutive sectional crown. Steinert (21-5) will meet Hammonton, a 2-1 winner over Seneca, in Thursday’s Group III semifinal at Stockton University.
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The Spartans are vying for third straight trip to the state finals, thanks to playing outstanding defense and mistake-free softball. They seem built for these games.
“I think for the upperclassmen, we’re used to it but I think we also know what could happen,” Backlund said. “We will teach the underclassmen and I think they are learning it’s not just a game. It’s more than just that and we’re trying to get to a place where we were before.”
And having so many tournament games under their belts has to help.
“I think coach Rupp (Jean Ruppert) does a really good job of keeping us calm,” Backlund said. “She’s been through more than enough and she’s just the best coach to have out there at this time.”
Steinert looked in trouble in the bottom of the first when Whittaker walked the bases loaded, but then got a break on a wild pitch when catcher Alex Haley threw back to Whittaker who made the tag when the runner did not slide.
“I just knew I had to get there quick,” Whittaker said. “I knew Alex had to make a quick throw, we had to get the tag.”
Steinert got its only two hits in the top of the second from Whittaker and Cora Bridgers but did not score despite getting runners on second and third with one out. In the bottom of the inning, NBC (23-3) put runners on first and second with one out before Nicole Cerasi-to-Cora Bridgers-to-Grace Gaskill turned a clutch 4-6-3 double play.
It was one of numerous outstanding defensive plays made by both teams. Dara Kelly and Taylor Hawkes made sliding and diving catches, respectively, in the outfield and Bridgers and Backlund were outstanding on the left side of the infield. NBC centerfielder Nicole Bondoc made the play of the night to rob Hawkes of extra bases.
After the double play, Whittaker got into a big-time groove.
“I’ve been playing with Kaylee for a really long time and I have a ton of confidence in her,” Backlund said. “We’re very close on and off the field. I will back her up in anything. She’s a great person to have on the mound, I feel very comfortable with her.”
As the game played out, it started to feel like a break would make the difference.
“With a hard team like that it always comes down to one mistake, or one hit that breaks the game open for us,” Backlund said.
Which is exactly what happened.
And are the Spartans surprising people beside themselves?
“I think so but at the same time we’re proving ourselves,” Whittaker said. “No one can take us lightly. We’re going to play every game.”
And they are not happy just being one of the four best teams in Group III.
“We want all of it,” Whittaker said. “We want to get to win states again.”
“We’re very confident,” Backlund added. “But we’re also very humble about it.”
