High Point falls to Jefferson, 4-0, in state sectional final
OAK RIDGE. The Wildcats had only one hit against Jefferson’s Kama Skrek, who threw 10 strikeouts.
| 05 Jun 2023 | 06:27
HP1 High Point freshman Joelle Lucatorto scoops up the ball in the game against Jefferson on Friday, June 2. (Photos by Jay Vogel)
HP2 Catcher Daphne Matthews celebrates an out.
HP3 Junior Emma Leto swings at the ball.
HP4 Left fielder Rachel Teague, a junior, prepares to throw the ball.
HP5 Center fielder Mikayla Conklin, a junior, prepares to catch the ball.
Junior Megan Jennings prepares to throw the ball from third base.
Junior Mikayla Conklin swings the bat.
Catcher Daphne Matthews, a freshman, prepares to make a long throw to second base.
Freshman Karli Matthews rounds the bases.
Freshman Grace Meyers runs during the game.
Junior Mikayla Conklin is at bat.
From left, Abby Macfie, Daphne Matthews, Kerstin Crane, Emma Leto and Joelle Lucatorto watch the action.
The Jefferson team celebrates the win.
The Jefferson team poses with a plaque after winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 tournament.
From left, High Point players Grace Meyers, Karli Matthews, Mikayla Conklin, Mia Donofrio and Emma Babcock congratulate members of the Jefferson team.
Students and parents watch the game at Jefferson.
The sixth-seeded High Point Regional High School softball team did very well to reach the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 tournament championship.
The Wildcats fell short of winning their first title in nine seasons when they bowed to fourth-seeded Jefferson, 4-0, on Friday afternoon, June 2 in Oak Ridge.
The title was the first for Jefferson (24-7) in 19 years.
High Point (17-9) was seeking its first sectional title since it won in 2014. The Wildcats won the overall Group 2 title that season and finished that campaign at 28-2 and with a 22-game winning streak.
High Point managed just one hit against Jefferson’s Kama Skrek, who had 10 strikeouts, including the 300th of her career.
The Wildcats had upset third-seeded River Dell, 6-3, in the quarterfinal round May 26 and second-seeded Indian Hills, 5-0, in the semifinals May 31.
Against Indian Hills, Grace Meyers pitched a three-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks; Mikayla Conklin went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs; Joelle Lucatorto singled and drove in three runs; Daphne Mathews was 3-for-4 with a double and a run; and Rachel Teague went 2-for-3 with two runs to pace the victory.
Meyers also shone against River Dell, striking out 10 while scattering 10 hits with no walks. She also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Teague (2-for-3, two RBI, run) and Grace Piechowski, Mathews, Conklin and Lucatorto each added two hits to fuel the 14-hit attack.
Vernon boys volleyball
A very successful campaign for Vernon Township High School came to an end when the eighth-seeded Vikings bowed to top-seeded Summit in three sets in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 tournament there May 30.
After dropping the first set, 25-19, Vernon (14-8) bounced back to take the second set, 25-16, before falling, 25-20, in the third and deciding set.
Summit (21-5) was scheduled to host 11th-seeded West Milford in the finals Wednesday, June 7.
Vernon was led by Tristan Santiago (17 digs, one assist), Ben Jurewicz (three kills, three blocks), Caden Krzyzak (four kills, four blocks, one dig), Jon Chromcik (three blocks), Josh Jean (11 kills, five digs, one block), Joe Petrucci (five kills, five digs, two aces), Pearse Esposito (21 assists, four aces, three digs, three kills, two blocks) and Logan Peek (one dig, one assist).
Vernon outdoor track
The Vikings were led by Tyler Jones, who finished second in the 800-meter run in 1:56.65, and Zack Mountain, who was third in the long jump with a leap of 21-05.00 and fifth in the high jump with an effort of 5-08.00 at the annual NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Championships on June 2-3 at home.
The Vernon boys 4x400 meter relay team finished second and qualified for the group championships on June 9-10 at Delsea High School.
On the girls side, the highest finisher was Brooke Schneider, who was seventh in the 1600-meter run in 5:37.61 and ninth in the 800-meter run in 2:30.34.
Other top 10 finishers included Maureen Lovett, who placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 93-08.00; Sophia Haw, who was ninth in the 400-meter run in 1:01.11; and the 4x400 meter relay team that was ninth in 4:27.14.
