Worth the wait: Saddle Brook ousts Emerson in 13

Friday, May 31, 2002

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

OAKLAND - She came out of left field, literally. And had the play been routine or the game not been a state final, nobody might have noticed. With Saddle Brook and Emerson so evenly matched, with the North 1, Group 1 state sectional final in the bottom of the eleventh inning and with both teams' seasons riding on the outcome, Saddle Brook sophomore Allison Malyso was right where she was supposed to be.

Neither team had scored an earned run over the first 10 innings, so when Emerson got a chance, it took a gamble that came so close to paying off. Michelle Rossi led of the bottom of the eleventh with a single and was still at first base three hitters later when Kristen Benson slapped a single to right field.

Rossi, running on contact, tried to go first to third and and the throw from Saddle Brook's Lindsey Santana arrived at the third base bag at about the same time as Rossi's right cleat. A hard slide kept the throw from being caught, the ball trickled away and Rossi headed toward the plate. But there was Malyso, who, instead of watching as her team's season ended, hustled herself into the play and threw out Rossi at the plate by the slimmest of margins.

Two innings later, in the top of the thirteenth, Pierina Leone's single broke a seven-inning old deadlock when Ali Lagomarsino scored the game-winner as Saddle Brook (27-4) earned a trip to the Group 1 state semifinals with a 2-1 win.

"Allison Malyso backing that ball up at the fence. To be there, to get that ball, to throw a strike to get [Rossi] at home saved the game," said Saddle Brook head coach Darren White. "She's a sophomore, she's been sharing time in the outfield with Vanessa Pelli, another sophomore, and both of them made big plays to help up us win this game."

The win was the 100th in the four years that the Saddle Brook seniors have been in the program and it was the 27th win this season for starting pitcher Jen Barnes, who earned it the hard way.

Barnes threw every pitch for the Falcons, 13 innings worth, and allowed only a single unearned run. That happened when Leah Mondadori led off the game by reaching on an error and scored in the opening inning on a two-out base hit by Rossi. Barnes allowed only seven hits and two hits in an inning only once, striking out nine and walking two.

"It was getting frustrating for me," said Barnes, who pitched the extra innings with Emerson (24-4) as the home team meaning that any run she would have allowed would have ended the Falcons' season. "But I knew we would come out and do it. It was our turn this year. I have confidence in every one of my teammates on offense and defense."

Saddle Brook figured it was its turn to win the sectional title, a title they last won in 2000, because it was Emerson that ousted the Falcons last season, 1-0, on its way to the Group 1 state finals.

"It was revenge. They beat us last year," said Leone, the Saddle Brook catcher who had the game-winning RBI and made the tag in the eleventh inning at the plate. "They watched us go home crying last year and this year we didn't want that to happen again."

Mondadori went the first eight innings for Emerson, allowing just an unearned run in the sixth when Laura DeVito reached on a two-base error leading off then inning then scored on a Jess Topolski sacrifice fly two batters later. Tessa LoFredo replaced Mondadori one batter into the ninth and gave up just four hits in her five innings of relief.

Emerson left nine on base in the game, but only two of them in scoring position as the Cavos could mount just three quality scoring chances in the final 12 innings.

"That's been our trouble all year, scoring runs," said Emerson head coach Steve Mondadori. "We've pretty much had to manufacture runs all year and we knew that that was our problem. Saddle Brook played great, but we feel like our season ended two games too soon."

The loss ends the careers of Emerson's three seniors -- Allie Mueller, Leah Mondadori and Kelly Streicher -- three important members of last year's state title run and this season's success.

"It's really sad. I loved playing with this team," said Leah Mondadori, who finished the season with a 14-3 record. "It's so sad that next year we are not going to get to play with them."

Saddle Brook now moves on to the Group 1 semifinals where the Falcons with play North 2 champ Roselle Park, a surprise 3-1 winner over Cedar Grove on Thursday.

"It's a shame that somebody had to lose this game. Both teams played their hearts out and I said to the third base ump there that I just hope that somebody doesn't lose on an error," said White, whose team will next play on Tuesday at Northern Highlands, a game away from a chance at an outright state title. "It was a great game, a great experience for these kids and we are trying to go to Toms River (for the finals)."