S. Jersey Girls: Kingsway rolls to tournament title

By Pete Schnatz, For The Inquirer

Posted: April 03, 2011

Senior Dominique Ficara earned most valuable player honors by pitching Kingsway to two victories, including a one-hitter in the Dragons' 11-0 romp past Hammonton on Saturday in the championship of the Ron Vinick Softball Tournament at Millville.

Allie Bradian homered for Kingsway, which seized control of the title game with an eight-run outburst in the first inning.

Following a first-round bye in the six-team tournament, Kingsway opened its season with a 14-2 rout of Washington Township. The Dragons provided plenty of offensive support for Ficara, banging out 13 hits against the Minutemaids.

Hammonton had to win twice to reach the championship. Morgan Divello had a pair of hits in the Blue Devils' 8-1 opening-round defeat of Millville, and a five-run third-inning rally helped Hammonton hold off Cumberland, 6-5, in the semifinal.

Washington Township took third place with an 11-2 triumph over Cumberland, and Absegami edged Millville, 6-4, for fifth place.

Colonial. Two-run singles by Mattie McCleary and Becky Transue fueled a five-run fourth inning, sending host Haddon Heights past West Deptford, 7-3.

McCleery finished with three RBIs, Transue batted 2 for 3, and Taylor Nichols added three hits and one RBI for the Garnets. Shayla Sweeney struck out seven and scattered three hits to pick up the win.

Cape-Atlantic. Maria Santiago led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run, giving host Buena a 3-2 triumph over Sacred Heart.

Gina Teti drove in two runs on a single and a triple for the Chiefs. Winning pitcher Brittany Scott, who struck out a dozen while limiting the Lions to a pair of singles, yielded the tying run in the top of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk.

Lacrosse

Senior attack Melissa Arthur riddled the Seneca defense for eight goals and Michelle Gonzales dealt two assists to go with her hat trick as host Cherokee took a 16-12 win in the Olympic Conference.

Charlie Flake pumped in four goals while Taylor Donahue and Laura Lesky netted three apiece for the Golden Eagles.

Track and Field

Consistency enabled Millville to outduel Kingsway for the Division 2 - or large schools - crown, and Schalick excelled in the field events in capturing the Division 1 title at the Buena Invitational.

Janeese Barber contributed to Millville's victories in the sprint medley and shuttle hurdles, and the Thunderbolts parlayed six runner-up finishes into a 92-point total - nine better than Kingsway.

Victoria Wright starred for Schalick, pairing with three different teammates to win the triple jump, discus. and javelin, as the Cougars captured four of six field events.

Contact Pete Schnatz

at rallysports@phillynews.com.