Behind a stellar, 7 inning complete game shutout and a timely 2-out, 2-run single, the Morristown Nationals All-Star softball team won game one of the 2 out of 3 District One Little League Championship on Monday night against the combined Rockaway/Parsippany team. The final score at Veteran’s Field in Morristown was 4-0 in favor of the home team, setting up the opportunity for Morristown to win the District crown tonight at Rockaway’s Donatoni Park at 6pm.
Pitcher Abby Edson was sharp all night long, striking out 5, allowing only 3 hits, with no walks and no runs while recording 9 ground ball outs. She kept Rockaway/Parsippany off balance throughout the game, snuffing out a last inning, 2 base runner threat with a pick-off at second base to end the game. Offensively, Morristown got things going in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a lead-of bunt single by Grace McKenna. After a stolen base and a passed ball, McKenna came in on a perfectly placed rbi single by Victoria Cote. In the bottom of the 4th, the Nationals came through again, this time in clutch fashion. After singles by Krista Vargas and Layla Moroses, followed by an error to advance the runners, Nina Lolli came up in need of a big hit and she did not disappoint, as she laced a 2-run single into right center field, increasing the lead to 3-0. Morristown tacked on their final run in the 5th inning as Cara Minter reached first on an error, moved to 3rd on a single by Chloe Saia, and came in to score on the next pitch on a double steal.
Morristown managed 6 hits of their own with Moroses leading the way with 2 hits in 2 at bats, including a double.
Morristown FYI 