After another exciting week of the high school softball season, it’s time to look back on the best performances.
Read about the players who stood out last week and let us know who you think should be the Morris/Sussex Player of the Week in the poll at the bottom of this page.
Voting closes at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Elease Belenets, Mendham
The senior catcher had eight hits across 14 at-bats, scoring five runs and hitting her first varsity home run across four games this week, including two wins. Belenets went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in a 6-5 win over Morristown on Monday for Mendham’s first win of the season.
Daniella Biggio, Montville
The senior pitcher went 5-for-12 for the week with five runs scored and three RBIs as the Mustangs won all four games played. Biggio was spectacular in three starts this week, combining for four hits allowed in three shutout wins while striking out 43 total batters. In a 2-0 win over Parsippany Hills on Tuesday, Biggio struck out 20 in a one-hit shutout.
Olivia Cilli, Pope John
The junior pitcher had seven hits, four RBIs and four stolen bases across five games this week with wins over Gill St. Bernard’s, Sparta and North Hunterdon during that span. In three appearances in the circle, Cilli tossed 18.1 innings, allowing four combined earned runs and striking out 16 while earning two wins.
Autumn Liebhauser, Randolph
The senior shortstop went 6-for-10 at the plate this week with six runs scored and eight RBIs as the Rams had wins over West Morris and Morris Hills this week. The state’s leading home run hitter the previous two seasons, Liebhauser struck three home runs this week, including a pair against Morris Hills. It was the seventh time in Liebhauser’s career that she has hit multiple home runs in the same game.
Jaida Long, Newton
The sophomore pitcher allowed two earned runs on four hits and struck out 11 across six innings in a 14-4 win over Sussex Tech on Monday. Long also went 5-for-5 at the plate and drove in four runs in the victory. Long allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 13 in a 9-2 win over Hackettstown on Tuesday.
Joelle Lucatorto, High Point
The junior shortstop went 4-for-6 this week in games against Lenape Valley and Roxbury. Lucatorto’s big game came Tuesday in a 17-0 win over Lenape Valley. Lucatorto went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and five RBIs, including her second career home run.
Leah Scalzo, Morris Hills
The junior pitcher went 7-for-14 with two runs scored and six RBIs as the Scarlet Knights won three of five games this week. Scalzo went 3-for-3 and drove in five in a 7-4 win over Mount Olive on Tuesday. Scalzo allowed two earned runs each in wins over Lenape Valley on Friday and Sayreville on Sunday, striking out a combined seven across 12 total innings.
Kama Skrek, Jefferson
The senior pitcher a combined 7-for-13 with three runs scored and 10 RBIs in four wins this week. Skrek had a three-run home run against Sparta on Friday and went 4-for-4 with another home run on Sunday against Gill St. Bernards. In 21 innings across three pitching starts, Skrek allowed two earned runs and struck out 24, including the 500th strikeout of her career.
Arianna Zajac, Parsippany
The sophomore pitcher went 4-for-9 at the plate with two runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBIs in a pair of wins this week. Zajac allowed two earned runs combined and struck out 13 in wins over Mountain Lakes and Whippany Park on Monday and Thursday respectively. Zajac also struck out 12 when Parsippany defeated Mountain Lakes in a rematch during the Morris County tournament on Friday.
Vote!
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