WILD& CRAZY KIDS
Backlund’s dash home sends Steinert past NBC in sectional final
COLUMBUS » After both sides squandered early chances, it began shaping up as one of those classic games where a mistake was going to make the difference.
Two occurred in the top of the seventh and 4th-seeded Steinert took advantage for a 1-0 victory over 2nd-seeded Northern Burlington in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship Tuesday night.
In winning its third straight sectional title, Steinert (21-5) faces Hammonton, a 2-1 winner over Seneca in the South Jersey Group III final, Thursday at Stockton University. The Spartans will be vying for their third consecutive trip to the state championship game.
Backlund felt this one was a little different than the first two.
“It’s so hard to get here,” she said. “Our previous teams, I don’t want to say they were bet- ter or anything, but we’ve had a lot of seniors graduate. I think a lot of people doubted us that we’re not as strong a team as last year, so we’re just working really hard on getting back to where we want to be.”
They are on the doorstep thanks to another gem by Kaylee Whittaker, who overcame early control issues to fire a one-hitter with eight strikeouts. The junior outdueled Haylei Archer, who threw a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts but ran into 7th-inning issues.
Backlund led off and hit a semi-slow grounder back toward the circle that ticked off Archer’s glove to shortstop Madison Sisz, who just missed throwing out Backlund.
Small ball went to work as Whittaker sacrificed and pinch-hitter Olivia Owens grounded to first to get Backlund to third. With a 2-2 count, a wild pitch went high over catcher Julia Mayernick’s head to allow Backlund to get home just before the tag.
“I was hoping for a wild pitch, so I was ready for it,” said Backlund, who turned in a defensive gem at third earlier in the game. “I was just ready to get in there as quick as possible.”
It was the break Whittaker was waiting for.
“Once it hit the fifth inning and it was still nothing-nothing I knew it was going to come down to one play and it obviously did,” the hurler said.
NBC (23-3) missed its opportunity to get to Whittaker early. While Steinert was able to win on a wild pitch, the Greyhounds were unable to take the lead on one. Whittaker walked the bases loaded with two outs in the first and, with Archer up, a wild pitch got to the backstop. Catcher Alex Haley threw to Whittaker covering and the tag was made as the runner ran upright right into it.
“I was surprised,” Whittaker said. “I was looking for a cleat to my leg but she didn’t slide through.”
Steinert had its best chance in the second when Whittaker and Cora Bridgers singled to put runners at second and third (after Bridgers stole second). But Archer got a pop-out and strikeout to end it.
Whittaker continued to miss her spots in the second, putting runners on first and second with one out before getting a well-turned 4-6-3 double play. That was the start of a dominating string as the junior righthander retired 14 of the final 15 batters she faced. The lone baserunner was a one-out single in the fourth by Mayernick, who hit a three-run homer to beat Whittaker in the regular season.
“I think it was just nerves,” Whittaker said. “This type of games is always fun to play in, but I knew after a few innings they were going to take advantage of that (wildness) and I had to settle down.”
It’s what Steinert does best in these state sectional games — stay calm under pressure and not be the one to make the mistake. Steinert (21-5) 000 000 1 — 1 2 0 No. Burl. (23-2) 000 000 0 — 0 1 1 WP: Whittaker. LP: Archer