Cedar Grove bests Verona for North 1, Group 1 crown

VERONA — For Ava Fernandez and Ava Mandala, this stage felt familiar. Both members of the girls basketball team, the two players remember being in a state sectional final as the number two seed in the bracket. Last winter saw Cedar Grove fall shy of the dream of becoming a state champion. Yet, both were big parts with extra base hits in a 2-1 win over Verona in the North 1, Group 1 final.

"This is the happiest moment of my life," said the junior Mandala. "When I hit that ball, I was just so happy and I ran probably the fastest I've ever run."

Mandala's triple to lead off the third scored the game's first run as the center fielder sprinted home on a passed ball. 

Later in the sixth, Rianna Marinelli reached on an error and scored on Fernandez's hit that skipped between the removable fence and the foul pole, ruled an RBI ground rule double, mere inches from a home run or even a foul ball.

"i'm so happy for our entire team's effort," said Fernandez. "We have worked so hard and we knew this was going to be the toughest game yet. We stuck together and pulled it out."

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CEDAR GROVE:Raieta strikes out 21 in perfect game

Sophomore pitcher Mia Faieta had grabbed headlines for her performances throughout the state playoffs. Faieta had pitched a combined 19 innings in three previous rounds, allowing just one hit, walking two and striking out 48 batters. In her last game, Faieta struck out all 21 batters she faced.

Not bothered by the attention, Faieta allowed a run on three hits and four walks, but struck out 15 on the day, adding to her total as the state leader in strikeouts this season. The sophomore now has 336 on the season

"I just knew she had this," said Mandala. "We believe in her so much and she pitched an incredible game.

Faieta follows her mother, Francene, who won a state title in 1984 for Cedar Grove as a shortstop. 

After allowing a run in the bottom of the sixth, Verona threatened with a runner at second and two out. Faieta allowed a pop up to right field as Fernandez, the first baseman, began to scream out to freshman right fielder Gianna Kubu.

"It went over my head and I saw it going foul," said Fernandez. "I didn't know exactly where it was, so I just started yelling for her to dive for it. She caught it and I was just so happy."

Cedar Grove, now 20-7 on the season, will play at Montclair State University on June 1 against Roselle Park, who won the North 2, Group 1 title as the fifth seed in its bracket.