Steinert third basemen Carli Backlund throw a laser to first base in the MCT Tournament Championship game.  Photo by Michael A. Sabo

By Michael A. Sabo

It was only fitting that the only 2 teams that have ever won more than 2 back to back MCT Tournaments would finally get to play out the much-anticipated game that would decide this year’s champion.  This game should have happened nearly two weeks ago and was rained out multiple times and was falling right in the middle of the CJ III tournament that both teams are in the semi-finals of.

In the end, Robbinsville would prevail, topping Steinert by a final score of 4-1. Robbinsville beat Steinert twice early in the season, 3-2, and 2-0 and the third time would be a charm.   The win would give them their 3rd straight MCT Tournament Title.  It was also fitting that the only other three-peat team in Mercer County Tournament history is Steinert, of course.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”152″ gal_title=”Steinert MCT Final 2018″]

The loss for the Spartans was certainly not from a lack of effort, it may have just been fatigue.  Steinert is in midst of brutal, week playing CJ III State games Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and this MCT final today.

They had some defensive masterpieces that included a diving grab by shortstop Cora Bridges, a quick-handed catch on pop up by pitcher Kaylee “The Salad Princess” Whittaker that nearly resulted in a double play and a seed to second by catcher Alex Haley to catch a Robbinsville runner attempting to steal.  But in the end, the offense just didn’t come in a timely fashion.

Steinert’s season continues as the two-time defending Central Jersey Group 3 champion, travels to No. 17 Burlington Township on Friday.