Lady Lions softball team powers into ECT semifinals

By Edward Kensik

The Mount St. Dominic Academy softball team is showing everybody that they’re a team to be feared this season in the Essex County Tournament despite being the third seed.

The third-seeded Lions took care of business on Saturday with a dominating 14-1 victory over sixth-seeded West Essex at Ivy Hill Park on the Seton Hall University campus in the ECT quarterfinals.

Mount St. Dominic takes on second-seeded Columbia on Friday, May 16 at Ivy Hill Park, tentatively set for 5pm. The Lions will look to repeat what they did to the Cougars, a couple of weeks ago, with an MSD 13-6 victory at home on May 1. MSDA raised its record to 16-3 and won its sixth straight game. Columbia defeated seventh-seeded Montclair, 5-1, in their quarterfinal contest.

One of the few seniors on the 2025 Mount St. Dominic Academy squad, outfielder Carlee Paez, said that the other top teams in the ECT should beware of the defending ECT champions. "I think maybe some people are underestimating us," said Paez. "But like in the past years I'm sure that we will come out on top like we have."

In the Lions’ win over West Essex, Mount St. Dominic Academy had several hitting stars including freshman Abby Cianfrocca, sophomore Brooke Mundy and freshman Kaylan Bartolozzi.

The Lions pulled away against the Knights in the third inning with eight runs.

Bartolozzi hit a pair of home runs, the first time she has ever hit two dingers in a game in club and high school. "I feel the last few hitting lessons and practices that I have been hitting better and getting better contact," said Bartolozzi, who added what pitches she hit for the home runs. "I think they were mostly outside, but I just went in there swinging."

In addition, both Mundy and Cianfrocca were perfect at the plate on the day. Mundy went 3-for-3 with six RBI while Cianfrocca was 4-for-4 with an RBI. In addition, Cianfrocca scattered six hits, struck out four and allowed only one third-inning run in the circle.

If Mount St. Dominic Academy defeats Columbia, they would take on the winner of top-seeded Cedar Grove vs. fourth-seeded vs. Livingston on May 17 in the ECT title contest, also at Ivy Hill Park.

Track and Field

Mount St. Dominic Academy had a great day in the first of the two days for the Essex County Championships at Schools Stadium in Newark on May 9.

The Lions were fourth in the standings against the bigger and deeper schools in the county.

Mount St. Dominic Academy sophomore Ciaran Fernandez continues to pile up the medals in the javelin event. Fernandez tossed the javelin 107 feet, 10 inches, which was more than four feet longer than Caldwell's Isabella Hatzidoukas, who finished second (103-6).

Fernandez was not the only Lion who had success in the javelin. Senior Mackenzie Williamson took sixth in the event with a throw of 93 feet. The next big meet for Fernandez will be the Non-Public meet on May 30 and 31 at Stockton University.

After Fernandez, senior Lorelei Middleton had the next best finish on the first day with a second in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:06.19, only behind Columbia's Johanna Yarde (1:05.09). Middleton also came in fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 58.88.

In addition, senior Natalia Feliz grabbed 10th in the shot put with a distance of 31 feet, 11.75 inches.

Lacrosse

The Mount continues to build toward a strong finish this season and into the future.

The Lions dropped a 19-9 decision to Caldwell on May 7.

MSDA senior Jayden DeSilva continues to be one of the Lions’ highlights with three goals and two assists.

Mount St. Dominic Academy sophomore Johnna Fio Rito is the future and had three goals against the Chiefs.