The Governor Livingston softball team managed to capture its seventh county championship the hard way – without registering a basehit.
However, the Highlanders were able to push across a run in the bottom of the second and – behind superb pitching once again from senior Alanna Namit – made it stand up.
Top-seeded GL outlasted third-seeded Johnson 1-0 in Friday’s (May 12) re-scheduled 42nd annual softball Union County Tournament championship game. It was the first time the final was played at Linden’s Flanagan Fields since the last time the Highlanders were not in the final, 2009.
GOV. LIVINGSTON’S 7 UCT CHAMPIONSHIPS:
2017: Gov. Livingston 1, Johnson 0 – at Linden
2015: Gov. Livingston 4, Cranford 3 – at Kean
2012: Gov. Livingston 9, New Providence 2 – at Kean
2011: Gov. Livingston 8, Westfield 1 – at Kean
2001: Gov. Livingston 3, Scotch Plains 0 – at Linden
1999: Gov. Livingston 8, Johnson 3 – at Linden
1997: Gov. Livingston 5, Cranford 0 – at Linden
Defending champion Johnson received another outstanding pitching performance from senior right hander Gianna Randazza, who tossed a no-hitter. Randazza gave up only one run in two UCT championship game appearances.
Senior Nicole Trezza reached first on a bunt attempt and then moved to third on a wild pitch. With the ball loose in the infield, Trezza raced home with what turned out to be the game’s only run.
In the fourth, Lauren Donah singled and then Randazza hit a double, with Donah thrown out at third. Later in the inning the Crusaders had runners on second and third with one out before Namit retired the next two batters.
Namit allowed three hits, striking out 10 and walking two.
Randazza struck out five and walked three in a six-inning stint that included her yielding only one unearned run.
GL won its 17th straight game to improve to 19-2.
Johnson had a six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 15-8.
GL swept the regular season series, winning Watchung Division games at home 9-6 on April 17 and on the road 2-1 on May 2.
UCT SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS:
2017: Governor Livingston – WP: Alanna Namit
2016: Johnson – WP: Gianna Randazza
2015: Governor Livingston – WP: Alanna Namit
2014: Westfield – WP: Elena Scarano
2013: Westfield – WP: Elena Scarano
2012: Governor Livingston – WP: Jordan Robbins
2011: Governor Livingston – WP: Jordan Robbins
2010: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2009: Union – WP: Amanda Kardys
2008: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2007: Cranford – WP: Kelly Hardman
2006: Cranford – WP: Elena Morge
2005: Brearley – WP: Jenna Vitale
2004: Roselle Park – WP: Becky Riccitelli
2003: Roselle Park – WP: Becky Riccitelli
2002: Cranford – WP: Christine Pemoulie
2001: Governor Livingston – WP: Lyndsey Sheppard
2000: Union – WP: Rayneesha Adams
1999: Governor Livingston – WP: Gina Turturiello
1998: Westfield – won as 6th seed; WP: Shannon Wagner
1997: Governor Livingston
1996: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1995: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1994: Union – WP: Laura Labonia
1993: Union – WP: Alison Brehm
1992: Union
1991: Union
1990: Westfield
1989: Union Catholic
1988: Union
1987: Union
1986: Westfield
1985: Westfield
1984: Westfield
1983: Union
1982: Roselle Park
1981: Johnson Regional
1980: Linden
1979: Johnson Regional
1978: Westfield
1977: Scotch Plains
1976: Westfield
Championships:
Union (11)
Westfield (9)
Governor Livingston (7)
Cranford (5)
Johnson Regional-Johnson (3)
Roselle Park (3)
Scotch Plains (1)
Linden (1)
Union Catholic (1)
Brearley (1)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORES
2017-1987:
2017: GL 1, Johnson 0 – at Linden
2016: Johnson 7, GL 0 – at Kean
2015: GL 4, Cranford 3 – at Kean
2014: Westfield 5, GL 2 – at Kean
2013: Westfield 15, GL 1 – at Kean
2012: GL 9, New Providence 2 – at Kean
2011: GL 8, Westfield 1 – at Kean
2010: Cranford 4, GL 3 – at Kean
2009: Union 3, Linden 1 – at Linden
2008: Cranford 2, Union 0 – at Linden
2007: Cranford 13, Linden 0 – at Linden
2006: Cranford 1, GL 0 – at Linden
2005: Brearley 2, GL 1 (10 inn.) – at Linden
2004: Roselle Park 2, Cranford 1 (13 inn.) – at Linden
2003: Roselle Park 1, Cranford 0 (11 inn.) – at Linden
2002: Cranford 3, Union 0 – at Linden
2001: GL 3, Scotch Plains 0 – at Linden
2000: Union 2, GL 1 – at Linden
1999: GL 8, Johnson 3 – at Linden
1998: Westfield 9, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1997: Governor Livingston 5, Cranford 0 – at Linden
1996: Union 4, Johnson 3 – at Linden
1995: Union 11, Westfield 0 – at Linden
1994: Union 8, Cranford 7 – at Linden
1993: Union 16, Cranford 14 – at Linden
1992: Union 13, Westfield 0 – at Linden
1991: Union 1, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1990: Westfield 3, Union 0 – at Linden
1989: Union Catholic 4, Union 2 – at Linden
1988: Union 1, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden
1987: Union 3, Roselle Park 0 – at Linden