BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above, New Egypt's Jessie Qualtrone is greeted by her teammates after hitting a home run during a recent game against J.P. Stevens in Edison. Below, Sara Messinger shows some patience at the plate. BORDENTOWN - Most high school softball coaches would feel a little bit nervous about handing the ball to a freshman in a sectional championship game.

Not New Egypt High School Carolyn Eckhardt.

Eckhardt gave the nod to freshman standout Abbey Houston, the younger sister of senior standout Shannon Houston, as the Lady Warriors squared off against host Bordentown in a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I final last week.

The younger Houston handled the pressure-filled situation with grace. The freshman hurler scattered nine hits and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning as New Egypt captured its second sectional title last Thursday with a dramatic 3-2 win over Bordentown.

"We have a lot of confidence in [Abbey Houston's] ability," Eckhardt said. "She may only be a freshman, but she has pitched in her share of big games before. She did an outstanding job in this game for us. Of course, she had a lot of help from her defense."

Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Bordentown made one last attempt at catching the Lady Warriors in the final inning. Bordentown strung together a walk and pair of singles to load the bases with two outs.

"At that point in the game, we called for time and I went out to talk to the kids," Eckhardt said. "I just wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page."

Houston ran a full count on the batter, before delivering a drop-curve for strike three and the final out of the game.

"I have to admit I was a little nervous at that point in the game," Eckhardt said. "They were threatening and the bases were jammed. I think we all were a little nervous."

Instead of throwing a fastball on the 3-2 count, Eckhardt signaled for the off-speed pitch.

"It was a gutsy pitch for her to make at that point," Eckhardt said. "But we didn't want to throw a straight fastball in that situation. Abbey made a great pitch, and the batter swung over the top of it."

The strikeout set off a wild celebration as New Egypt captured its first Central Jersey Group I title. The Lady Warriors won a South Jersey Group I title two years ago.

New Egypt jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Sara Messinger drove in a run with a single to right field. The Lady Warriors made it 3-0 after two innings.

New Egypt staged a two-out rally to build the early cushion. Brittany Kennedy singled and Shannon Houston reached on an error. Molly Dixon provided the big blow, a two-run double.

"It was nice to have a lead so early in the game," Eckhardt said. "But we knew Bordentown wasn't done. They weren't going to roll over and just give it to us. They are a very talented squad. We just had enough to hang on at the end."

The Lady Warriors, who improve to 22-5 overall, met Salem in the NJSIAA state semifinals Tuesday. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday in Toms River.

"If we continue to play consistently, we have a good chance to getting there," Eckhardt. "We need to continue with the solid pitching and sound defense. At this level, all these teams can play. Often times it comes down to who can make the plays."

Jackson girls lose heartbreaker

in SCT final

The Jackson girls softball team came within three outs of knocking off two-time defending Shore Conference Tournament champion St. John Vianney on May 31, only to watch the Lancers pull out the win.

SJV beat Jackson, 3-2, in a thrilling SCT final at Ocean County College, as Katie DeBlasio laced a two-run, walk-off double down the left field line to secure the win in the bottom of the 10th inning. DeBlasio came to the plate with the bases loaded and her team down a run, and got the job down, just as Diana Sansevera had all game for the Lancers, holding the Jaguars' explosive offense to just one second-inning run

The Jaguars took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th on an RBI groundout from Brittany Eckett, setting the stage for DiBlasio's heroics.

With the loss, the Jags ended their

stellar season with a 24-5 mark.