Monday, May 25, 2009

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

In addition to throwing nine strong innings, junior Christina Miquel gave IHA its first county title with a three-run homer in the bottom of the bottom of the ninth in a 3-2 win over Pascack Valley.

MAHWAH – Fate works its way into the outcome of a softball game in strange ways. Sometimes it’s a bad bounce here or a lucky bounce there. Other times, it’s an umpire’s call on a close play. Regardless of what the situation is, there is always a reference point in a big game that everyone from the casual fan to the most diehard supporter can look back at as being a game-changer. In Sunday’s Bergen County softball final between IHA and Pascack Valley, no one had a bigger impact on the game than Mother Nature herself.

After IHA hurler Christina Miquel allowed two runs in the top of the ninth with Pascack Valley breaking a scoreless duel and taking a two-run lead, the game was halted for 30 minutes by a weather delay with a runner on first base in the bottom of the ninth with nobody out.

Miquel was the scheduled on-deck batter just hoping for the chance to atone for mistakes she felt she made in the top half of the inning. The delay in the action gave Miquel time to clear her mind and focus on how she could get those runs back.

Turns out all Miquel needed was one swing of the bat, one that everyone who saw it will remember for years to come.

Pascack Valley's Nikki Bischoff sliding home with the game's first run in the top of the ninth inning.

Miquel turned on the first pitch she saw and clouted a three-run walkoff homerun to left-centerfield to lift top-seeded IHA to its first Bergen County Tournament title since 2002 with 3-2, nine-inning triumph over 7th seeded Pascack Valley at Ramapo College.

“I was a little nervous at the end, but we still had a chance,” said Miquel. “I’m happy it was up to me because I allowed the two runs in the ninth. The pressure was on and I wanted a chance to make up for it.”

This game was a showcase between two of Bergen County’s best pitchers and neither disappointed in showcasing their respective skills.

Carly Piccinich singled and stole second base in the first inning for IHA. Pascack Valley starter Brittany DeMaio got out of the inning though by striking out D’Ambrosio to end the inning.

Miquel matched DeMaio pitch for pitch by allowing just one baserunner through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Corinne Finamore laced a double to left-center and Dana Amato reached on an error to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Miquel settled down and struck out the next two batters before getting Jenna Discepolo to lineout to third baseman Kelsey Trujillo to end the threat.

Miquel and DeMaio were equally brilliant, matching zeros through eight innings until a wild ninth provided a fantastic finish to a classic game.

Juliette D'Ambrosio doubled in the bottom of the ninth to set up the game-winning home run.

PV’s Nikki Bischoff led off the top of the ninth with a single to left and was moved over to second on a bunt by Jenny Arcella. DeMaio followed by driving a ball that landed just between IHA left fielder Kaitlyn McGillycuddy and centerfielder Taylor Cosentino for an RBI double that plated Bischoff with the game’s first run. Amato then reached on a hard-hit ground ball that was kicked into centerfield, allowing courtesy runner Kelly Bassett to score to give the Indians a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Although IHA’s Jen Keller worked out a leadoff walk, Pascack Valley still had all the momentum and was just one strike away from getting the first out of the inning when the game was halted with a 1-2 count on Juliette D’Ambrosio. The weather delay due to the sound of thunder forced the game to be stopped for a minimum of 30 minutes before play can resume. The break allowed both D’Ambrosio and Miquel, who was on deck, to relax and regroup mentally.

“I kept thinking in my head that I wanted to do it for the team and move Jen (Keller) over,” said D’Ambrosio. “I was able to fight off some pitches. I knew if I got a good pitch to drive, I would be able to drive it. With the way Christina (Miquel) has been hitting the ball, I just wanted move Jen over and give her a chance to drive her in.”

D’Ambrosio fouled off three pitches and ran the count full before driving a DeMaio fastball off the fence in left-center to put the tying run at second and bring Miquel to the plate as the winning run.

This is where fate intervened once again.

Pascack Valley's Brittany DeMaio allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out six, to along with her RBI double that gave her team the first lead of the game.

If D’Ambrosio had hit a single or drew a walk instead of hitting a double, Miquel would have been looking to lay down a sacrifice bunt. If D’Ambrosio did not reach base, IHA head coach Anthony Larezza was prepared to pinch-hit for Miquel. Instead, Miquel walked into the batter’s box and Larezza gave her the green light to swing away.

Miquel jumped on the first pitch she saw. She took a high fastball and roped a line-drive to left-center that went just over the wall to send the IHA bench pouring out onto the field in celebration. It was a sudden end to the most dramatic ending in the 35-year history of the Bergen County Tournament.

“I just said to myself that I had to hit this ball as hard as I can and whatever happens, happens” said Miquel. “I thought it was hit hard, but I actually thought it was going to be caught. I swung with all of my might and was lucky I got it on the right spot of the bat. As soon as I saw it go over, I got so excited and I was so happy.”

Miquel not only hit the walkoff homerun, but also pitched an excellent game for IHA (24-2). The junior right-hander allowed five hits, had three Ks, and did not walk a batter, retiring 10 straight batters in one stretch. Her battery mate, D’Ambrosio, had two hits; while Piccinich and Alexis Durando each had one.

Although she took the loss, DeMaio was equally as impressive in the circle for Pascack Valley (24-6), which had its 14-game winning streak snapped. She allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out six, along with her RBI double. Discepolo and Jaimee Perlmutter each had hits for the Indians, who still have a lot to play for as they face NBIL rival Ramapo in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals on Wednesday.

With yesterday’s thrilling win, IHA now has the most Bergen County titles with six; moving past Ramapo and Ramsey who have five each. After several upsets over the past few years in the Bergen County Tournament, the Blue Eagles now have a huge monkey off of their collective backs.

“To go from total deflation to total euphoria is a surreal feeling for all of us,” said IHA head coach Anthony Larezza. “The delay helped stop their momentum and we knew it was attainable to come back. Instead of run or two, now we needed three. Without Jen (Keller) or Juliette (D’Ambrosio)’s at-bat, this comeback never would have happened.

“I didn’t think Christina’s shot was going to get out, but it just carried. I had no intention of Christina even swinging the bat. But with runners on second and third, I just said ‘why not?’ This is a funny game and fate works in crazy ways sometimes. I’m just happy for these kids that we showed what can happen when you play to the last out.”

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