Team of the Year

Pequannock

Looking back, it seems so obvious that Pequannock would have a huge season in 2009.  Loaded with talent and led by four seniors who meant so much to the program, the Panthers had everything in place.  But entering the year, this team carried the burden of so many near misses in recent seasons that one wondered if they could ever break through.

That's why the first of Pequannock's four titles may have been the biggest.  The Panthers reached the Morris County final in impressive fashion, but fell behind 4-1 against Morris Knolls.  This would be no ordinary game, as Pequannock rallied twice, tying the game 7-7 heading to the sixth inning.  That inning will live on in legend for as long as Pequannock plays softball, as the Panthers scored 13 runs and won the game 20-8.  They didn't just break through the barrier, they blew it to smithereens.

The momentum from that win carried Pequannock through the rest of its league schedule and into the sectional final.  But the dream season could have ended there against Indian Hills and its dominant pitcher.  Instead, the Panthers won the old-fashioned way, converting their only hit into a run and winning 1-0 behind a Megan Brain shutout.  Two more victories, including a convincing 4-1 win over Cranford in the Group II final, and Pequannock was a state champion for the first time in the program's history.

Player of the Year

Steph Pasquale, Pompton Lakes

Her numbers are astounding, but what's really hard to imagine is what she might have done had teams not pitched around her so often.  Pasquale hit .535 with 10 home runs and 23 RBI for the Cardinals.  With teams issuing Pasquale so many walks, coach Karyn Albanesius moved her to the leadoff spot and it resulted in her scoring 39 runs on the season.

Pasquale also plays catcher quite well, making her doubly valuable for Pompton Lakes.  The good news for the Cardinals is that she's just a junior, so she'll be back to wreak havoc on the opposition for another year.

A hitter so good the entire game strategy seemingly revolved around her, Steph Pasquale is our JSN Softball Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year

Maryann Goodwin, Pequannock

Leading her team to an amazing four titles (league, county, sectional and state) would be enough to give a coach this honor.  But the way she went against the grain of typical softball strategy to help her team makes Goodwin the obvious choice here.

Blessed with a senior ace pitcher in Megan Brain, Goodwin didn't simply ride one arm to the top.  Instead, she used three hurlers during the season, and on more than one occasion changed pitchers in the midst of a competitive game.  She had the guts to make such a change in the state final with her team ahead 4-1 in the sixth; Kristin Brain came in to replace her older sister and got the final six outs to lock up the title.

Goodwin also kept far more players on her varsity roster than most coaches, and this enabled her to use numerous pinch runners without depleting her bench.  This strategy also paid off several times in critical moments.

It is often said a coach's job is to put players in a position to succeed.  Maryann Goodwin did that flawlessly in 2009, and that makes her our JSN Softball Coach of the Year.

Softball Notes

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR:  Early in the season, it appeared West Milford was a more likely candidate to win multiple titles than Pequannock.  The Highlanders started the season red-hot and reached as high as #6 in a statewide ranking.  But things went south late in the season as injuries and hitting struggles led to unexpectedly early ousters in both the county and state tournaments.  That left coach Jim Dransfield just two wins shy of 500 for his career, a mark he will surely reach early in the 2010 season.

WINNING WILDCATS:  The only JSN-area team other than Pequannock to claim a banner this season was Whippany Park.  The Wildcats took the Colonial Hills Conference-Colonial Division title, going undefeated in league play.  In the state tournament, Whippany Park briefly held a lead against eventual section champ High Tech before losing a hard-fought 3-2 decision.

RIVALRY RESHUFFLE:  The realignment of high school sports leagues in north Jersey will surely create new rivalries in the coming years.  But some traditional matchups will be lost, at least as divisional matchups.  For example, Pequannock and Caldwell will no longer meet twice a year.  West Milford and Mt. St. Dominic have long been Skyline Division rivals, and the addition of Montville could have led to an intense three-way fight for years.  Instead, the three schools will join three different leagues next year.   -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now