Softball advances to Region XIX Final Four

NEWTON, NJ- The RCSJ-Cumberland Dukes softball team is on their way to the Final Four for Region 19 after defeating the Sussex County Skylanders. The quarterfinals series took all three games for the Dukes to advance after dropping game one, 10-5.

Cumberland would get back on track in game 2, winning 14-7. This game was not as easy as the score appears. Cumberland fell behind 6-1 going into the top of the 3rd inning, but would go on to put up 13 runs in the remaining innings. Many Dukes collected multiple hits including: Anita Hassen (3), Olivia Powers (2), Madison Sloan (3), Bailey Pennino (2), Mollie Reece (5), and Sayde Nichols (2). Cumberland collected 19-hits as a team. Hassen, Sloan, and Nichols also contributed multiple RBI's. Karly Smaniotto earned the win in the circle, pitching 5.2 innings while only allowing 1 earned run. 

After splitting on Saturday, the Dukes traveled back to Newton, NJ for a winner take all game 3. Offensively, the Dukes got going early with 4 runs in the first inning. Sussex would respond with 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd inning and they game would be tied at 5 after 3 complete innings. The Dukes were able to push 4 runs across the board in the 5th and 6th innings. This would be all Cumberland needed to notch a 14-10 victory over the Skylanders. Hassen, Powers, Reece, Sloan, Pennino, Nichols, and Adrianna Cotres all had a multiple hit game. Sayde Nichols and Karly Smaniotto combined to pitch 7 innings while giving up 8 earned runs. This was Nichols first start in the circle of the 2023 season.

The Brookdale Jersey Blues will be the next opponent for Cumberland as they faceoff in the North Atlantic A Championship in Lincroft, NJ on Saturday, May 13th at 12PM. Game 2 will start 30 minutes after the completion of game 1. If the two teams split on Saturday, game 3 will take place on Sunday, March 14th at 12PM. For all updates on Dukes athletics, follow us on all social media platforms (GoRCDukes).