Monroe ends state tourney with 3-2 loss to Mid South

Things can change very quickly in softball and it literally is a game of inches. That's how close the Monroe High School softball team is to winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship.

JEFF GRANIT staff Monroe pitcher Carly Keane tags out Middletown High School South's Jessica Fuentes as she runs during the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III softball final on May 29. The Falcons narrrowly lost to South by a score of 3-2. The Falcons put together a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Middletown South on a Kelsey Schobert's bloop single, but left the bases loaded. Monroe loaded the bases again in the second frame but was unable to push any runs across the plate.

Nevertheless, with ace pitcher Carly Keane on the mound, things seemed to be working in Monroe's favor. Keane allowed a home run by South's Jackie Bates in the third inning, but was otherwise cruising along heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

After allowing a leadoff double, Keane walked the next hitter. Following a Middletown South sacrifice, the Eagles had runners on second and third with just one out. South pitcher Liza Kuhn then bunted, and an errant throw to first permitted both runners to score. Monroe escaped the inning without further damage but was down to its last three outs.

Lindsey Curran led off the top of the seventh with a bloop to right field that seemed to be a hit for the senior left fielder, until Eagles second baseman Kerri Kent made a running catch. Kent then pulled down Andrea Carini's hard liner before Keane lined to center field to end the game.

"We hit the ball hard throughout the game, but Middletown South made all the plays," Monroe coach Keith Hudak said. "Their bunt in the sixth was good; it was a tough play, but what really hurt was they scored two runs."

This marked the second straight season Monroe (17-8) reached the sectional final. The Falcons lost to Wall a year ago, also as the result of a bunt. Last spring the Falcons went 22-4 and won the Greater Middlesex Tournament (GMC) title.

This time around Monroe was battling to stay above .500 with a 9-6 mark at the mid-point of the campaign. The Falcons then went on a tear winning eight of their final 10 games.

"The girls really came on strong and they peaked in time for the post-season," Hudak said. "We had our chances against South; we left the bases loaded twice. We could have scored a lot more runs."