Morris Knolls softball flips the script on Roxbury to win sectional title

SUCCASUNNA — The Morris Knolls softball team is typically all business, but at the NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 final, players had glitter on their faces and had a celebratory golden cowboy hat in the dugout for a big play.

"The cowboy hat might have to stay now," senior Abby Freidman laughed. "It definitely helped us today."

Freidman was sensational in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out three in a 1-0 shutout of Roxbury.

"We never do anything crazy, but for today we needed that," Freidman said. "We needed a little bit of sass."

The Golden Eagles let it hang a little bit looser despite three of their four losses this season coming at the hands of the Gaels, including less than a month ago in the Morris County Tournament semifinals.

"We were always one or two plays away," Morris Knolls head coach Keith Heinemann said. "We played them four times last year and we'll probably play them four times next year. I think we just finally got over that hump and iron sharpens iron."

Roxbury junior pitcher Hailey Errichiello tossed yet another spectacular game Saturday, striking out 12 across seven terrific innings. Including Saturday's performance, Errichiello had struck out a total of 44 batters in 28 innings when facing Morris Knolls.

"We know how good Hailey is," Heinemann said of Errichiello. "You're going to have to advance runners and put the ball in play."

What it means

Morris Knolls (23-4) had not had a championship season since 2017, when the Golden Eagles were still classified as a Group 4 program. Now, Morris Knolls looks forward to a date with Cranford on Tuesday in a Group 3 semifinal. A victory would put the Golden Eagles in the group final for the third time ever after winning Group 4 titles in 1980 and 2010.

"We've had a long history with this program and it's nice to get that trophy to show all that hard work," Heinemann said.

The result also ends the title defense for Roxbury (22-5), who won the Group 3 title last season and was seeking a third consecutive sectional title.

Key play

Junior Jessica Fox is one of Morris Knolls' best bunters, but she has had a rough year in those situations.

"I probably hadn't laid down a successful bunt all season," said Fox.

In the fifth inning of a scoreless game, the elder Fox stared at her sister, freshman Julia Fox, standing at third base with one out. Jessica took a deep breath and played Ozzy Ozbourne's "Crazy Train" in her head.

It worked.

"I didn't even look up," Julia said. "I didn't know how far up the ball was, I just wanted to get to the plate."

Fox laid down a bunt and a shovel of the ball home was not enough, scoring the game's lone run.

"I have full trust in my sister to get down the line when I put that bunt down," said the older Fox sister.

Game ball

Freidman faced the possibility of this being it for her high school career and took to the circle for the third time this season against Roxbury.

"I'm just happy that I got a chance to start and prove myself to my team," Freidman said

Friedman was bolstered by strong defense behind her. Roxbury was unable to get a runner to third base until two outs into the seventh inning. With the tying run on third, a pop up to second base ended things and gave the Golden Eagles that elusive win.

"I was trying to get my glove off so I could throw it into the air," Freidman said about the final out. "I just wanted to enjoy that moment with my team."

Freidman was the first player to be handed the championship trophy, but she quickly passed it along. As her teammates celebrated and took photos with the trophy, Freidman ran off to greet family members and give a hug toRoxbury freshman Lily Spezza. The club teammates shared a couple of tear-soaked hugs after the game.

"That was pretty emotional," Freidman said. "I put my heart and soul into this game and it's pretty surreal."

They said it

"Most of my RBI come from me driving in my sister. We are kind of in sync like that." - Morris Knolls junior Jessica Fox.

"I don't think Morris County softball gets the credit it deserves and this tournament proves it. We could never take a day off in the conference and we were battle tested for a tournament as good as this one was." - Morris Knolls head coach Keith Heinemann.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris Knolls NJ softball flips the script on Roxbury to win title