MIDDLESEX COLLEGE SOFTBALL GRABS #3 SEED, WILL FACE RCSJ-GLOUCESTER IN REGION XIX PLAYOFFS
Middlesex College softball drew the #3 seed in the NJCAA Region XIX Tournament after they finished their regular season with a record of 21-6.
They will face second-seeded RCSJ-Gloucester on Saturday in a best-of-three series. The teams will play two games on Saturday at noon and if they split, they will play the decisive game on Sunday at noon.
Currently, the softball team is ranked No. 11 in the country in the latest NJCAA Division III poll.
The Colts started their season by winning 13 of their first 14 games on the strength of their pitching and a deep lineup that features a number of key contributors. Currently, Middlesex College is tops in the nation among NJCAA Division III colleges in team ERA at 2.13 thanks in large part to lefty hurler Kaitlynne McCarthy, a sophomore from the Port Reading section of Woodbridge. McCarthy was 14-6 with an ERA of 1.88. Her 13 wins are the sixth most nationally and her ERA ranks fourth. McCarthy has been a workhorse, pitching 126.1 innings (fourth nationally) with 17 complete games (second nationally).
Catcher Jennah Schiraldo, a sophomore from Carteret, led the Colts with a .452 batting average while also providing outstanding defense behind the plate.
Olivia Tirso (Freshman/Elizabeth, NJ), Julie Davis (Sophomore/South Plainfield, NJ) Abigail Jason (Sophomore/Edison, NJ) are all tied for the team lead with 35 hits.
REGION XIX SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SEEDS (RECORDS)
- Brookdale (16-2)
- RCSJ-Gloucester (15-3)
- Middlesex (14-4)
- Lehigh Carbon (12-6)
- RCSJ-Cumberland (12-6)