Just 24 hours after a tough loss ended one title dream, the West Milford softball team made sure another chance didn’t slip through its fingers.

The second-seeded Highlanders broke open a tie game in the fifth inning and went on to top Hawthorne 5-2 to capture the Passaic County championship.  It’s the second straight county softball title for West Milford and the third in the last four years.

Brittany Evanick broke a 2-2 tie with her RBI double, and Kristy Skeens followed with another run-scoring hit.  Caity Sacco earned the win on the mound, allowing two runs on seven hits.

Hawthorne, which upset top seed Pompton Lakes to reach the final, got an RBI double from Caitlin Smith.

The Highlanders’ victory was even more impressive as it came just a day after a heartbreaking loss in the state tournament.  West Milford led top-seeded Mount Olive 5-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth, but the Marauders scored five times in that inning and won the game in the seventh.

West Milford finishes the season with a 22-8 record. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now