New Providence Softball Season Ends at State Sectional Final

The New Providence Varsity Softball team continued to make many strides this season. But the 2012 campaign came to an end Thursday, as the Pioneers fell 7-0 to Whippany Park in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament in Whippany.

New Providence was shutout for the second time this spring, entering the game having won 12 of 13 games. The team finished the season with a 15-6 mark.

“We came a long way this year,” said junior right-hander , who absorbed the loss Thursday. “We ran into a good pitcher today and didn’t play our best.”

Whippany Park,  was led by Jenn Sanislo, who pitched a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

The Morris County school improved to 27-1 and is ranked 10th in the state by The Star-Ledger.

Squeri, who struck out four and walked none, finished 2-for-3 along with Kelsey Quinn in the loss.

Taylor Trifiolis and Ashley Belott each drove in two runs, and Sanislo and Sam Mellea each scored twice for Whippany Park, which scored three times in the bottom of the first inning.

New Providence had one of its most successful softball campaigns in school history under 11th year head coach Kelly Villa.

As the sixth seed, New Providence rallied in the Union County Tournament quarterfinal and semifinal rounds last month, earning its first berth in the county final in the 37-year history of the event.

On May 11, New Providence scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to erase a one-run deficit and earn a 2-1 victory over third-seeded Westfield in a UCT quarterfinal.

The next day, second-seeded Cranford raced out to a four-run lead after five innings only to see the Pioneers strike for five runs in the sixth inning and earn a 5-4 victory.

New Providence went on to the 

“We had a pretty good run this season,” said junior center fielder . “We’ve worked really hard and played with a lot of heart. We plan on using this experience to our benefit next year.”

New Providence will graduate just one senior – third baseman Nicole Saitta – from this year’s team and will be one of the favorites for the UCT title next spring.

“We will set our goals pretty high for next year,” said Squeri, who finished the season with an 11-5 record. “I think we proved that we’re just not this small program from this little town.”