MIDDLESEX COLLEGE SOFTBALL FINISHES 8TH IN NATION AFTER FALLING TO MONROE CC
Middlesex College softball's historic 2022 season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Monroe CC at tne NJCAA Division III National Tournament, but this Colts team is one that will be remembered as one of the college's best softball teams ever.
The Colts (23-10) fell behind 1-0 in the first when Monroe's leadoff batter walked and then was questionably called safe on a stolen base. A wild pitch and single got the Express (27-16) on the board and the fast-moving game stayed 1-0 until the sixth.
Monroe pushed across two unearned runs in the sixth against Middlesex starter Kaitlynne McCarthy (Sophomore/Port Reading, NJ) to give the Express their decisive margin.
The Colts offense couldn't get much going against Monroe starter Toni Shawnee, managing just a double by Jennah Schiraldo (Sophomore/Carteret, NJ) and single by Olivia Tirso (Freshman/Elizabeth, NJ).
The loss brought an end to a historic season for Middlesex College that saw the Colts grab a final ranking of #8 among NJCAA Division III schools in the country. They were the North Atlantic District B Champions and had five wins against teams that were either nationally ranked or region champions. Their appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament was the first time a Colts softball team had qualified for nationals in decades.
McCarthy was named the Region XIX Pitcher of the Year and Head Coach Jim Muldowney was named Coach of the Year.