When the NJSIAA Parochial A North state softball tournament began two weeks ago, there wasn’t a person alive who could have predicted that archrivals St. Dominic Academy and Holy Family Academy would face each other in the tourney.
Impossible, or so it seemed. After all, the two teams had already faced off six times over the previous two years, including the last two HCIAA Coviello title games. It’s one thing to be intertwined with another school; it’s another to be constantly matched with them. It’s become the local version of Yankees-Red Sox.
The SDA-HFA rivalry, albeit a good, friendly and competitive one, couldn’t dare handle another showdown.
Or could it?
“I don’t think anyone could have predicted that the two Hudson County teams would still be alive in the state tournament,” SDA head coach Dave Majewski said. “For both of us to escape and face each other once again is truly remarkable.”
SDA had to knock off second-seed Paramus Catholic in its quarterfinal game, which it did, 5-1. The same for HFA and a journey to Pope John of Sparta, where the Falcons came away with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of the arm of pitcher Lacey Skowronski.
So the unthinkable became reality, the Blue Devils vs. the Falcons once again, for the seventh time over the last two years.
“I didn’t see this happening at all,” Majewski said. “No way could anyone have predicted this. Great teams have a way of finding each other. We just have been able to keep finding each other over the last few years. I think the programs and the coaches are very equal and the players are very equal. It leads to a good rivalry and it should lead to a good game. Any time you play Holy Family, it’s a tough game, both emotionally and physically. The stakes are raised each time you play them and the games are always very well played.”
It’s true. Each of the six prior games between the two schools, five of which have been won by SDA, was nail-biting, one-run decisions. With a berth to a state sectional final on the line, chances are there will be another tight game.
It’s one that SDA ace pitcher Leigh Ann Murduca is looking forward to.
“Any time you play Holy Family, it’s going to be a good game,” Murduca said. “I can’t wait to play the game. I can’t believe we’re playing them for the seventh time [over the last two years]. Holy Family is a great team. We know anything can happen.”
Murduca was asked if she liked facing HFA as many times as she has over the last two seasons.
“Actually, I’d rather face teams I don’t know,” Murduca said. “Not knowing the batter and what they can do can actually help you in different situations. I’d rather not know. Plus, I have a lot of friends on that team. It’s upsetting to me that one of us has to lose and go home. We both worked hard to get to this point. These games always seem to be really close. I think this one will be too.”
Majewski said that it is also unfortunate that Holy Family is the Blue Devils’ opponent, with a berth in a state sectional championship game on the line.
The winner of the HFA-SDA showdown will face the winner of Mount St. Dominic-Union Catholic for the sectional title Tuesday at Belleville High School.
“Our girls want the opportunity to play for a championship,” Majewski said. “It’s only fitting that our biggest rival is in front of us. I think this is a game that will be with these girls on both teams for the rest of their lives. It will live in their memories for a long, long time to come. You wish you can play a team that you don’t have an emotional attachment to. If you play a team that you’re unfamiliar with, it’s a lot easier.”
It also can’t be easy for St. Dominic to try to beat a team for the sixth time in seven tries. After all, things naturally catch up with you.
Still, for a county that gets a bad rap across the state when it comes to softball, it is refreshing to see three teams still battling for state tournament glory.
Hoboken is also in the hunt, facing top-seeded Caldwell for the North Jersey Section 2, Group II title at Middletown South High School. The Red Wings won two games in the state tournament, thanks to the brilliant pitching of ace junior Natalie Lugo.
Three teams left among the top 36 in the state. Not a bad accomplishment at all. – Jim Hague