Cedar Grove's Faieta strikes out 21 in perfect game

Cedar Grove sophomore pitcher Mia Faieta has brought a new meaning to pitching a perfect game. For the second time in nine days, Faieta struck out every batter she faced, setting down all 21 batters in a 4-0 win over North Warren in a North 1, Group 1 state semifinal game Thursday.

"I've never witnessed anything like that before," said Cedar Grove head coach Nicole Velardi. "She really held it together. We didn't realize until the last inning that she was doing it."

Faieta also achieved the feat in a reduced role on May 17 in the opening round of the tournament against 15-seeded Paterson Charter. In an 11-0 victory in five innings, Faieta did not allow a ball in play and struck out all 15 batters she faced. 

Including that game against the Lady Cougars, Faieta has pitched 25 innings across four games, allowing only four hits and four walks, while striking out 61 batters. Faieta now has 321 strikeouts on her sophomore season, becoming the leader in the state of New Jersey on Thursday.

More important than the individual performance, Faieta has helped push the second-seeded Lady Panthers into the North 1, Group 1 sectional final on Tuesday against Verona, a neighboring rival and the top seed in the bracket.

"We can't lose focus now," said Velardi. "We have to prepare to not make mistakes."