McKoy’s ability to ‘Play Up’ should inspire a new generation of youth to prosper and succeed

The Book: ‘Playing Up’: One Man’s Rise From Public Housing to Public Service Through Mentorship

The Website: http://www.vaughnmckoy.com

I had the pleasure of meeting Vaughn L. McKoy while researching a feature I was writing about Mr. McKoy’s high school football coach, Chris Olsen.

McKoy had played for Olsen while a student at Paterson Eastside High in 1984 and 1985 and credits the eventual legendary Wayne Hills coach for ‘saving his life’ by providing a level of discipline and accountability with the football program.

Vaughn McKoy speaking at his book signing on June 8 at Eastside High. (Photos courtesy of V. McKoy)

Vaughn and I spoke a lot about Olsen, who would coach at Eastside for just a few years before finding incredible success for 26 seasons at Wayne Hills. It was during our initial conversation that he mentioned the advent of his book and how Olsen not only helped him, but assisted other Paterson football players, some of whom Olsen never coached, to attend college.

McKoy took advantage of his opportunities at Eastside, where he was graduated in 1986, to become not only a good athlete, but a standout student who earned a scholarship to Rutgers. There, he excelled on the gridiron and earned an undergraduate degree. When he wanted to attend law school, he received guidance from Rutgers graduate and business mogul Arthur Goldberg.

It was through Mr. Goldberg’s mentorship and guidance that McKoy’s adult life would take shape.

McKoy’s writing hand was certainly busy on June 8 as he signed copies of ‘Playing Up’.

He is today a successful executive with PSE&G as one of its senior counsels. Previously he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

When Mr. McKoy opted to write this book, he wanted the chance to reach youngsters who grew up with the same challenges he faced a generation earlier.

“It’s about having kids realize the opportunities that are available to them, but also understanding the work needed to reach those goals,” McKoy told me during a recent interview. “Mentorship provides an adult the chance to work with a youngster and provide the tools for that child to eventually attain success. There were many who helped me. I just want to give back.”

McKoy had his first book signing on June 8 at Eastside High, a well-planned event which drew a large and enthusiastic audience. (You can read my review of the event here:  http://www.northjersey.com/sports/211413201_Football__Former_Eastside_standout_credits_former_Wayne_coach_for_his_success_in_new_book.html

“Eastside is where it all started for me,” McKoy said at the time. “It was the right place to launch the book.”

There were plenty of smiles for Vaughn McKoy and his family following his first book signing on June 8 at Eastside High School.

McKoy’s book is not only entertaining, but down right direct. He speaks of the relationship with his mother, Nettie, the special bond he shares with his eldest daughter, Sabrina, as well as daughters Jordan and Aubri, and his wonderful wife and soul mate, Marnie.

In ‘Playing Up”, you will learn about growing up in ‘P-Town’ and the rigors of inner city life,  the influence provided by former Eastside principal Joseph Clark, at a time when McKoy needed that guidance, as well as Olsen’s tutelage and Goldberg’s eventual direction to McKoy’s success today.

It is a book which will keep you riveted and wanting to learn more.

And if McKoy’s vision of the book providing a link to mentorship for youngsters is as clear as the message, there’s no doubt ‘Playing Up’ will be a huge success.

(Check out Mr. McKoy’s website, http://www.vaughnmckoy.com for more information on this man’s accomplishments and hope for the future).

Didn’t the softball season just end? In Essex County, the ’14 campaign has already begun

It was about three weeks ago, right, when the 2013 high school softball season concluded in New Jersey?’

Yeah, that’s it. The last three teams still alive from Essex County in the NJSIAA tournament all lost on June 4. Since then, there were the state finals on June 9, followed by the various year-in-review stories from different publications, which, of course, elicited debate among the adults while the kids have already moved on.

Graduation week is upon us, with the seniors getting ready to move on to the next phase of their lives. But for the returning players in 2014 and beyond, the high school season may be complete, but the next campaign is already well underway.

In Essex County, a bunch of schools are back in a league that will play into late July. This season, a majority of the games will be contested on Nutley’s two softball fields, which are adjacent to each other. (Last summer, Mount St. Dominic was the host school for the league).

The 2013 summer league began tonight, with Mount St. Dominic, Nutley, Verona and Bloomfield all playing five inning, timed, round robin games. Nutley faced Mount St. Dominic and Verona while Bloomfield took on Verona and the Mount.

Newark Academy, Montclair and West Orange will also field teams and the league will play twice a week for the next five weeks, or so.

The varsity coaches were all there tonight, with the Mount’s Lorenzo Sozio, Nutley’s Luann Zullo, Bob Mayer of Bloomfield and Pete Foster from Verona making sure to get all their players some valuable time, including some incoming freshmen, as well as players who hope to make their mark on the varsity next spring.

There were also the famliar faces, such as Mount St. Dominic’s Sam Platt and Olivia Gemma, Bloomfield’s Victoria Ross and Nutley’s Carly Anderson and Stephanie Ziemer.

Bloomfield standout Victoria Ross, a first team, All-Essex FMTC player.

All-State pitcher Carly Anderson of Nutley

Nutley’s Stefanie Ziemer, a third team, All-Essex, FMTC player in 2013.

And while the play will be intense from time to time, it is summer, so the wins and losses may not be as important as the players getting key time on the diamond. And some of the kids will go on vacation, and that’s a good thing, too, because many have been playing pretty steadily for the last four months.

Some of the them also play on club teams, too, so there could be scheduling conflicts.

But it is softball, and it’s in Essex County, so why not write about it?

And I’m not even going to say get your popcorn ready!

Promise !

Iron Patriot Awards symbolize a Wayne Hills tradition and another step in a new era

Wayne Hills head football coach Wayne Demikoff handed out the annual Iron Patriot Awards on June 18, symbolic of those players who put in an effort above and beyond what was expected since the end of the 2012 regular season last Nov. 30.

Those chosen for the award are named for their work in the weight room, as well as overall leadership qualities which exemplify the tradition of winning that has become Wayne Hills football for over a quarter century.

Demikoff may be new as the program’s head coach, but he’s more than familiar with the Patriots tradition, having served as an assistant coach for the past 14 seasons under Chris Olsen.

The Iron Patriot winners for 2013 included (incoming) sophomore Vincent Loverde, juniors Frankie Falzarano and Dylan Doecks and senior Mike Scheiner.

The overall Iron Patriot for the 2013 season is Martin Kilroy, who will be a senior this fall.

“It’s a good award, but don’t let it take away from the other kids,” Demikoff said. “We’ve had a lot of kids put the time and effort in and it’s showed so far in practice and in the first 7-on-7 (last Saturday). And we told the kids that when we handed out the awards. Don’t get down if you didn’t get the award. And I think our kids were happy with the winners and now it’s time to get back to work.”

Demikoff and his coaching staff seem to have gotten off to a good start with a large core of players. Non-contact practices began on June 11 and the players have been putting in a lot of time learning some new schemes and getting used to their new coordinators.

The rest of this week will be dedicated to the players preparing for their final exams, thus no practice until June 24.

“It’s important you spend the necessary time studying and getting some rest,” Demikoff addressed the team after Tuesday’s practice. “Strong academics are a big part of what we expect on this team and it’s been that way for years. We want our kids to represent themselves well in school and that means excelling in the classroom and following the rules of the school.”

The Patriots have some busy times ahead. There’s pretty much a full week of practice on the week of June 24, wrapped around an off day for graduation. The team then heads to East Stroudsburg University on June 30 for four days of football camp.

“We’ll get a lot of time to work with the kids at East Stroudsburg,” Demikoff said. “There’s a lot of 7-on-7’s and time for us to work with them as a team. We’ve been going there for a while now and it’s a big part in our team’s development.”

All-Essex Softball: Livingston’s Wasilak is Player of the Year; Peslak is Pitcher of the Year; MSD’s Sozio is our Coach of the Year; Caldwell’s Roselle prepares for Naval career and All-Essex Players for 2013

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rachel Wasilak of Livingston was her usual understated self in 2013. She makes the difficult plays at second base appear routine. She’s as disciplined as they come at the plate, hitting with pop, but most importantly, in the clutch. 

Rachel Wasilak at the plate in a game earlier this season. (Courtesy of Jason Daily)

Most of all, Wasilak is a winner, and her game was a prime reason why Livingston captured its second straight Super Essex Conference, Essex County Tournament and state sectional championships this spring.

Headed for William Paterson University, where she’ll continue playing softball this fall, Wasilak’s relative silence when it comes to discussing her softball prowess should never be confused with indifference.

“Rachel is such a smart player,” Livingston coach Jason Daily said. “She’s almost like a soldier in the field. She’s so disciplined and makes the hard plays look easy because she’s always in the right position on the field. Her softball IQ is tremendous. She just understands the game. It’s hard to explain.”

Rachel Wasilak was an outstanding defensive player and clutch hitter. (Courtesy of Wasilak family)

Wasilak hit .344 with seven doubles, seven triples and 14 RBI. Batting mostly second in the lineup, she was sometimes under the radar, but her performance in the sectional championship game against Morris Knolls, when she collected three hits.

Her defensive game is off the charts. Just ask opposing coaches.

“That kid is the real deal,” said Immaculate Heart Academy coach Anthony Larezza. “I don’t think people realize how good she is, but she makes every play.”

Caldwell College coach Dean Johnson agrees.

“She can play, plain and simple,” Johnson said. “She fields like a vacuum cleaner and hits in the cluch. She’ll be  a very good college player.”

Wasilak’s love for the game should continue in earnest at William Paterson, where she’ll play in the very competitive NJAC.

“This game is a big part of my life,” Wasilak said. “Watching my team get better every year was exciting. I’m looking forward to William Paterson. I didn’t want to go too far away, so this is a good move for me.”

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Jess Peslak. What can you say about one of the most dominant pitchers in Essex County softball history? The strikeouts? Sure. The grittiness? Of course. The toughness? Not even a question.

In her junior year, Peslak was a strikeout machine, leading Livingston to a 29-1 record. This season, despite numerous physical ailments, she was up to the challenge once more, guiding the Lancers to a second consecutive conference, county and sectional championship.

Jess Peslak, seen here with batterymate Marina Lombardi. (Courtesy of Lombardi family)

She’s not called Secretariat for nothing.

Sure, there were the strikeouts, including 15 Ks against Cedar Grove and 17 versus Belleville. She averaged well over a strikeout per inning and nearly 10 a game while pitching to a 23-4 record and 1.13 ERA.

But there was much more to her game in 2013 than meets the eye.

There was her effort in the Essex County Tournament championship game, when she gave up three runs in the top of the first inning, then held Mount St. Dominic to a run for the rest of the game as the Lancers rallied to win, 5-4, in what was clearly the county’s game of the year.

Her bat was also key, as she drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth in the county final. And when teams seemed to think they had a chance for a big inning against her, Peslak shut the door, either with a big strikeout (including the last out of the county final) or relying on her defense to make plays.

There was never a complaint about a hip flexor, back spasms and hamstring ailments all season.

“That kid was in pain more often than not,” said West Essex coach Andrea Mondadori. “She gutted that season out. She’s as good as they get.”

An outstanding student and 2013 recepient of the Men of Essex’s highest honor, the aspiring lawyer will attend Hofstra University this fall, where she’ll also continue playing softball.

Jess Peslak with her parents, Jean and Ed, at the Men of Essex dinner, held on May 15, 2013.

Get your popcorn ready, Hofstra fans.

And thanks for the memories, Jess.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Livingston’s 25-4 campaign featured a second straight SEC, Essex County Tournament and state sectional championship. The county title was Livingston’s fifth overall and second straight.

The 2013 Lancers. (Courtesy of Lombardi family)

COACH OF THE YEAR: The general consensus is a private school can just go out and get whatever player it wants, which is not true.

And with that said, a coach of a private school can somewhat be overlooked, but in this case, the job turned in by Mount St. Dominic’s Lorenzo Sozio more than makes him worthy of this accolade.

Sozio guided MSDA to a 25-7 record. It lost in the county final and Non-Public North A final to two of the state’s best teams in Livingston and Immaculate Heart Academy, both by one run. No program in Essex played as tough an overall schedule as the Mount.

Mount St. Dominic coach Lorenzo Sozio and his family.

The Lions were outstanding in the SEC, losing just two games, both against Livingston. And most of the team will be back in 2014, giving hope that MSDA will be a serious contender for a fourth straight ECT finals appearance and perhaps its first championship since 2009.

The hard-working Sozio, who has 426 wins at the Mount and four county titles in 18 seasons, also serves as MSDA’s athletic director and discipline coordinator. He’s held that job for nearly 14 years.

And getting outstanding players to attend a private school isn’t easy. Like anything worthwhile, it takes work and diligence. And the rigors of a private school, with the academic workload, is well documented.

The jobs turned in by Nutley coach Luann Zullo, Sergio Rodriguez of Newark Academy and Livingston’s Jason Daily should also be noted. Zullo took a team with four freshmen in the starting lineup and guided the Raiders to a 22- win season.

Luann Zullo of Nutley

Rodriguez led Newark Academy to its best season in school history as the Minutemen finished 22-8.

Newark Academy’s Sergio Rodriguez 

And while expected to win, it’s never easy when the opposition circles your team as its biggest game. With that said, Daily led Livingston to 25 wins this spring. Over the past two seasons, the Lancers were 27-1 in league play and 54-5 overall, with only one loss coming to an Essex County opponent during that run.

Livingston’s Jason Daily (right) celebrating a sectional championship in 2013.

STUD OF THE YEAR: Kylie McLaughlin of Livingston was the most dynamic player in Essex County, both at the plate, on the basepaths and in the field, in 2013.

The ultimate compliment by an opposing coach is when that player is dubbed ‘A Stud’ and McLaughlin gets that accolade this year. She hit .468 with 44 hits, 27 stolen bases, six homers and 24 RBI. And bear in mind, those numbers were by a natural right-handed hitter who ‘slapped’ from the left side.

Kylie McLaughlin was outstanding once again in 2013.

McLaughlin’s speed on the basepaths was incredible, so much so that parents from opposing teams couldn’t believe how fast she was. One joked, in a game against Bloomfield, that McLaughlin was already at second base when the ball she hit smacked against the wall. By the time the ball was fielded, she was rounding third for a rare inside-the-park homer at Ivy Hill Park.

She hit two laser shots for homers at Livingston’s fence-less field in a game against Mount St. Dominic and also put one over the fence in the Lancers’ Group 4 semifinal versus Watchung Hills at Nutley.

And, guess what? She’s back next season for her senior campaign.

Seattle Slew !

AT-BAT OF THE YEAR: Kim Shaw vs. Jess Peslak. In a game at Livingston in late April, West Essex sophomore catcher Kim Shaw fouled off nine pitches on a 3-2 count against Livingston’s hard-throwing Jess Peslak before the 10th pitch was called a strike. The call may have been a little questionable (the pitch appeared high), but it shouldn’t take away from a classic competition.

GAME OF THE YEAR: MSDA vs. Livingston, Essex County final: Mount St. Dominic had taken its first lead in six games (spanning two seasons) against Livingston pitcher Jess Peslak when the Lions gained a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first at Ivy Hill Park. But Livingston would rally back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and Peslak would settle down, allowing just one run for the remainder of the game.

Mount St. Dominic pitchers Sam Platt and Olivia Gemma both pitched well for the Lions, which held a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. There, Livingston scored three times, capped off by a run-scoring hit by Peslak. Livingston would hold off Mount threats in the sixth and seventh innings to win a classic, 5-4.

Sam Platt of Mount St. Dominic

Gemma was marvelous in this game,  especially at the plate, where she had two hits.

Livingston became the first team to repeat as county champions since the Mount did it back in ’08 and ’09.

EPIC HOMERS: Mount St. Dominic’s Olivia Gemma blasted a three-run homer over the right centerfield fence against Cedar Grove in the bottom of the sixth and the Lions held on to win in an ECT semifinal, 4-3. That same night, Sammi Rothenberger drilled a homer that went through the trees in left field for Livingston as the Lancers defeated Bloomfield in the other semifinal.

CEDAR GROVE’S CASTELLI WAS A GAMER: Gabrielle Castelli of Cedar Grove closed out her high school career by leading the Panthers to the Essex County semifinals, as well as the sectional semis. Castelli won over 70 games in a four-year career and guided Cedar Grove to the 2010 county championship, as well as the 2011 and ’12 sectional crowns.

She probably deserved a better fate in the county tournament this year as she pitched tremendously against the Mount, but lost a close game, in part, because of errors in the field.

Good luck to Gabrielle Castelli as she begins her college career.

Castelli will attend William Paterson University in the fall, where she’ll continue playing softball.

NUTLEY’S OUTSTANDING BATTERY: Victoria Malanga of Nutley put together a fabulous high school career. In 2013, the senior catcher hit .303 and was outstanding behind the plate. Her batterymate, sophomore pitcher Carly Anderson, had a tremendous season. She was 21-7 with a 1.06 ERA while recording 222 strikeouts. As a leadoff hitter, she hit .326 with 29 runs scored and 21 walks.

Carly Anderson of Nutley (top) had a tremendous sophomore season while senior catcher Victoria Malanga was one of the best to ever wear the gear at Nutley.

ENSIGN ROSELLE?: Caldwell second baseman Gabby Roselle will attend Old Dominion University this fall where she will be a part of that school’s Naval ROTC program.

Gabby Roselle was an excellent second baseman for Caldwell.

Roselle has a long affinity toward the United States Navy and admits her love for the Military came in part to a sad Tuesday in Sept. 2001, when as a first grader, she recalled the day we now know as 9-11.

By the time she was 11 years old, Roselle joined the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, whose mission is, ‘through organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, to encourage and aid American youth to develop, train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues.”

She has excelled with the Sea Cadets, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, the highest level a cadet can attain.

Gabby Roselle (far left) is looking forward to attending Old Dominion University, where she will be in the Naval ROTC program. (Photos courtesy of G. Roselle)

Roselle hopes to major in Engineering and would like to focus her Naval career in Surface Warfare. She’s also considering a career as a Naval pilot after graduating from Old Dominion as a commissioned officer four years from now.

COUGAR UPRISING?  Montclair Kimberley showed a good deal of improvement in 2013. The young team, coached by Jess Sarfati, finished at .500 and were a factor in the SEC, Liberty Division. The Cougars last won a Non-Public B championship in 2009 and heading into 2014, there’s no reason why they can’t be a factor once again.

Sarfati just completed her third full season as the team’s head coach, which at MKA is saying something. With some much needed coaching stability and a core of young players, MKA could be a team to watch next spring.

The MKA Cougars hope to be a factor in the conference, county and state section in 2014.

Final FMTC Top 10:

1-Livingston (25-4)

2-Mount St. Dominic (25-7)

3-Nutley (22-7)

4-Newark Academy (22-8)

5-Cedar Grove (15-10)

6-Bloomfield (19-7)

7-Caldwell (14-12)

8-West Essex (12-15)

9-Montclair (7-17)

10-Montclair Kimberley (12-12)

FMTC All-Essex:

Among the first team, All FMTC players are (top to bottom), Victoria Malanga, Jenna Orlando, Kylie McLaughlin, Gabrielle Castelli, Jess Peslak, Lisa Swenson and Carly Anderson. (See complete list below)

FIRST TEAM

Rachel Wasilak, Livingston

Jess Peslak, Livingston

Sammi Rothenberger, Livingston

Kylie McLaughlin, Livingston

Gabrielle Castelli, Cedar Grove

Olivia Gemma, Mount St. Dominic

Sam Platt, Mount St. Dominic

Alexa Altcheck, Livingston

Victoria Ross, Bloomfield

Jenna Orlando, Bloomfield

Ashley Kowalski, Mount St. Dominic

Victoria Malanga, Nutley

Carly Anderson, Nutley

Lauren Catena, Newark Academy

Lisa Swenson, Newark Academy

Among the second team, All Essex players are (top to bottom) Katie Johnson, Jazzy Pignatello, Damariz Mercado, Heather Williams and Gabby Roselle. See complete list below)

SECOND TEAM

Deja Davis, Montclair

Ashley Kowalski, Mount St. Dominic

Heather Williams, Nutley

Candice Mitola, Cedar Grove

Jazzy Pignatello, Livingston

Marina Lombardi, Livingston

Gianna Genello, Caldwell

Carleigh Trivino, Caldwell

Kaitlyn Johnson, Mount St. Dominic

Gabby Roselle, Caldwell

Damariz Mercado, Bloomfield

Becca Butler, Newark Academy

Gabby Giachin, Newark Academy

Tara Kelly, Glen Ridge

Jenny Shaw, West Essex

Among the third team, All-Essex players are (top to bottom) Gabby Lombardi, Tina Spithogiannis, Stephanie Ziemer and Phoebe Labat. (See complete list below)

THIRD TEAM

Greer Manton, West Orange

Debbie Mazzeo, Bloomfield

Gabby Lombardi, Mount St. Dominic

Monica Onorata, West Essex

Sofia Cusenza, Montclair

Caroline Chivily, Verona

Courtney Luing, Newark Academy

Frankie Ann Fontana, Belleville

Izzy Mendez, Montclair Kimberley

Sophie Silberman, Montclair Kimberley

Phoebe Labat, Columbia

Laura Hart, Verona

Christina Spithogiannis, Bloomfield

Vicky Finlay, Glen Ridge

Stephanie Ziemer, Nutley

ALL-SEC AMERICAN DIVISION, AS VOTED BY THE COACHES

FIRST TEAM

Jessica Peslak	P	Livingston
Deja Davis	IF	Montclair
Sammi Rothenberger	IF	Livingston
Rachel Wasilak	IF	Livingston
Olivia Gemma	IF	MSD
Ashley Kowalski	OF	MSD
Kylie McLaughlin	OF	Livingston
Alexa Altcheck	OF	Livingston
Victoria Malanga	C	Nutley
Samantha Platt	Op	MSD
Carly Anderson	Op	Nutley
Gabrielle Castelli	Op	Cedar Grove

 

 

SECOND TEAM:

Name	Pos	School
Jennifer Shaw	P	West Essex
Heather Williams	IF	Nutley
Candice Mitola	IF	Cedar Grove
Jazmine Pignatello	IF	Livingston
Gianna Genello	IF	Caldwell
Carleigh Trivino	OF	Caldwell
Jahnaya Howard	OF	West Orange
Bria Bartsch	OF	MSD
Marina Lombardi	C	Livingston
Gabby Roselle	Op	Caldwell
Gabriella Badurek	Op	West Orange
Gabrielle Lombardi	Op	MSD

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

Name	School
Ana Chambers	Livingston
Kaitlyn Johnson	MSD
Niki Maffettone	Cedar Grove
Monica Onorata	West Essex
Brittany Currie	Nutley
Sofia Cusenza	Montclair
Greer Manton	West Orange
Rachel Curtiss	Caldwell

 

 ALL-SEC LIBERTY DIVISION, AS VOTED BY THE COACHES

FIRST TEAM:

Name	Pos	School
Debbie Mazzeo	P	Bloomfield
Victoria Ross	C	Bloomfield
Jenna Orlando	IF	Bloomfield
Lauren Catena	IF	Newark Academy
Lisa Swenson	IF	Newark Academy
Stephanie Mancuso	IF	Bloomfield
Damariz Mercado	OF	Bloomfield
Jenna Dembner	OF	Millburn
Courtney Lving	OF	Newark Academy
Tara Kelly	OP	Glen Ridge
Becca Butler	OP	Newark Academy
Caroline Chivily	OP	Verona

 

 

SECOND TEAM:

Name	Pos	School
Gabby Giachin	P	Newark Academy
Frankie Ann Fontana	C	Belleville
Sophie Silberman	IF	MKA
Izzy Mendez	IF	MKA
Phoebe Labat	IF	Columbia
Brianna LaFiura	IF	Bloomfield
Carly McMahon	OF	Newark Academy
Christina Spithogiannis	OF	Bloomfield
Vicky Finlay	OF	Glen Ridge
Rebecca Mandelbaum	OP	Newark Academy
Laura Hart	OP	Verona
Samantha Corio	OP	Bloomfield

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

Name (First Last)	School
Stephanie Komorowski	Glen Ridge
Emily Tross	Newark Academy
Anna Mandel	Millburn
Nadia Uberoi	MKA
Noelle Agosta	Bellevile
Taryn Williams	Columbia
Olivia Feigler	Verona

 

ALL-SEC COLONIAL DIVISION, AS VOTED BY THE COACHES

FIRST TEAM:

Name (First Last)	Pos	School
Jerypher Cruz	P	Bloomfield Tech
Michelle Mayorca	C	Arts
Samantha Sanchez	IF	Science
Jenna Correia	IF	East Side
Ayannah Lawrence	IF	St. Vincents
Karina Ortega	IF	Bloomfield Tech
Keturah Mitchell	OF	Arts
Shley Hossic	OF	East Orange
Krizia Morell	OF	Bloomfield Tech
Shannon Thomas	Op	Arts
Jenifer Elizondo	Op	Bloomfield Tech
Amber Hunter	Op	Arts

SECOND TEAM:

Name (First Last)	Pos	School
Shea Hollins	P	East Orange
Nyasia Sanchez	C	Science
Alyssa Morales	IF	East Side
Marielis Alicea	IF	Bloomfield Tech
Katarina Najdeic	IF	St. Vincents
Leah Rowan	IF	St. Vincents
Melissa Budhu	OF	Bloomfield Tech
Jada Owens	OF	Barringer
S’Miyyah Boss	OF	East Orange
Gaby Rosario	Op	Arts
Janay Plaza	Op	Bloomfield Tech
Rachel Neilan	Op	Science

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

Name (First Last)	School
Niagia Belton	East Orange
Tatiana Gonsalez	Arts
Kat Garcia	Bloomfield Tech
Stacy Arce	Science Park
Allyson Pereira	St. Vincent
Yesenia Parada	East Side
Selena Santiago	Barringer

 

ALL-SEC INDEPENDENCE DIVISION, AS VOTED BY THE COACHES

FIRST TEAM:

Name	Pos	School
Dericka Rieley	P	Irvington
Chiquela Dennis	C	Irvington
Crystal Garcia	IF	Technology
Simone Moore	IF	Orange
Jasmine Harrell	IF	University
Lashun Shaw	IF	Central
Quiyanah Muse	OF	University
Ashley Massieu	OF	Technology
Joinay Carr	OF	Irvington
La-Nijah Willis	Op	Orange
Monique Taylor	Op	Orange
Natasha Stewart	Op	Central

 

 SECOND TEAM:

Name	Pos	School
Aysia Blake	P	University
Johaunna Faison	C	Orange
Tyzhane Lassiter	IF	Irvington
Zhane Robinson	IF	Central
Carla Reynolds	IF	Weequahic
Marilyn Hernandez	IF	Technology
Gloria Ekeh	OF	Orange
Ameerah Hines	OF	Weequahic
Kaitlyn Perez	OF	Technology
Nijah Thomas	Op	Central
Leana Thompson	Op	Irvington
Madai Torres	Op	Technology

HONORABLE MENTION:

Name	School
Dominque Jarrell	Weequahic
Idaliss Rivera	Technology
Maria Cancillano	Orange
Nikiyah Simpson	Irvington
Jordan Schenker	Golda Och
Samirah Jones	Central
Iricelly Caban	University

 

Off season? What off season? Just ask Hills’ Demikoff and PV’s Carcich

So, the summer is nearing. The 2012-2013 school year, for all intents and purposes, has concluded. The scholastic sports year is complete.

Time to relax, right?

Well, not really.

Literally 12 hours after the end of the spring sports season, the high school season began for the 2013-2014 school year. And it’s begun, in earnest, all over the state, as coaches are allowed to work with their respective teams as soon as the athletic calendar was finalized for 2012-2013.

Two of my favorite programs, Wayne Hills football and Passaic Valley boys basketball, are already hard at work.

At Wayne Hills, there’s a new era underway as Wayne Demikoff is the new head coach, taking over for the legendary Chris Olsen. Demikoff served 14 seasons as an assistant to Olsen at Hills, so the landscape is somewhat familiar for him, even though the job has certainly changed.

Demikoff made some changes on the coaching staff, adding new faces, including former head coaches in John Jacobs, formerly of West Orange and Jermain Johnson, who was the head man at Paterson Eastside, to be the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively. There are also a number of returning assistant coaches to the Patriots’ staff for 2013.

Practice began on June 11 with a large turnout of players. The pads won’t be issued until mid August, but there’s plenty of work to do in the meantime, and by the overall tone of the players, they’re thrilled with the coaching staff.

Wayne Hills football coach Wayne Demikoff is in mid-season form already in his new job.

“It was a good week,” Demikoff said this morning. “You always wonder how things will go when there’s a new coaching staff in place, but I couldn’t ask for more. The kids have been great. They’re working hard and I was very happy with the way our new coaches have worked with our players.”

The Patriots were scheduled to take part in a 7-on-7 competition on June 15. There will be plenty of practices, along with the team camp in late June, into early July, which will have the team busy for most of the summer.

“It starts up so quickly,” Demikoff said. “The kids need this time, and so do we, as a staff.”

The opening game of the 2013 season is less than three months away, so at this point, it’s full steam ahead at Wayne Hills.

Meanwhile, at Passaic Valley, the boys basketball team may not ‘officially’ begin practice for another five months, but there’s plenty of kids wearing green and white playing hoops this summer.

The Hornets have been playing in a league at Teaneck twice a week. They will also be hosting a series of games, beginning on June 15 at the varsity gymnasium and extending to two other weekends later this summer. There’s also a few summer leagues, as well as a summer camp. In addition, some of the players will be competing for various AAU teams.

In other words, don’t tell head coach Rob Carcich that these are the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

Feisty as always, Passaic Valley’s Rob Carcich always has basketball on his mind.

“If we want to be good, it starts now,” Carcich said. “The other teams are all doing it. We’ve got the potential to be very good next season, but that doesn’t happen without a lot of work. The expectations have been laid out for the kids. They know what has to be done.”

Carcich will be coaching the team, along with his assistants, Jim Holsworth and Dan Ring, in the various leagues and camps.

Passaic Valley won the Big North championship last season, en route to a 16-10 campaign. It lost in the second round of the state sectional tournament to Sparta after reaching the sectional final in 2011 and 2012.

“It wasn’t a bad year, and just about everyone is returning for this season,” Carcich said. “But we know what we’re capable of doing. Let’s see which kids are ready to put the time in. But, to be fair, so far, we’re showing some good signs. They’re listening and getting better with each summer game in Teaneck. When we play on (June 15) at PV, against some good competition, we’ll get a good idea of what’s up.”

So, with that said, there will be plenty to write about over the next few months. Summer may be here, but it’s business as usual when it comes to athletics.

Thanks again to KJ, Jenna, Gabby C and Secretariat

It seemed like yesterday.

On April 1, 2010, Mount St. Dominic Academy freshman Katie Johnson lined a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Cedar Grove, 6-4 in the first game of the new Super Essex Conference (SEC), at MSDA.

Cedar Grove’s pitcher that day was Gabby Castelli, herself a freshman. Before the end of that season, Castelli would lead the Panthers to its first Essex County Tournament championship in 26 years, pitching a shutout in the ECT final against a very good West Essex team, 2-0.

A few weeks later, at Cedar Grove’s Black and Tan Tournament, a Livingston freshman named Jess Peslak would pitch a game against powerful Sparta and made an immediate impact as the Lancers won, 2-0.

Livingston coach Jason Daily would keep Peslak somewhat under wraps that season, but as the year progressed, it became evident this kid was a strikeout machine. I remember a game at Livingston, in late April, which felt more like late January,when Castelli and Cedar Grove beat Peslak’s Lancers, 1-0. Both pitchers were outstanding that day. I also remember then-Cedar Grove coach Rob Stern dressed like a polar bear for that game, but that’s another story. (LOL).

At Bloomfield back in 2010, the fans were psyched about an up-and-coming freshman infielder named Jenna Orlando, who worked long and hard to become a tremendous athlete for the Bengals.

Anyway, over the years, Johnson, Castelli, Orlando and Peslak gave Essex County softball fans plenty of excitement with their stellar performances.

With Johnson, who I often call Katie J, it was truly the story of watching this kid grow up. Katie’s dad, Dean, is a long-time Assistant A.D. at Caldwell College. I worked at Caldwell from 1998-2004 as the school’s Sports Information Director. When I first started there, Katie was all of 3 years old and would often stop by my office when she came to work with Dean, juice box in hand.

Often, she’d discuss politics and the economy (well, not really), but she was pretty informative and usually was a stark critic of the various knickknacks I had in my office. especially the orange mini helmet I kept, being a big Cleveland Browns fan.

She’d often high-five me about something and, over the years, I saw her become a really nice young lady.

So, it was kind of fun writing about that key hit she had in the ’10 season opener, because having left Caldwell in 2004, I hadn’t seen much of her until she came to high school six years later.

Mount St. Dominic’s Katie Johnson, in her final high school game, on June 4, 2013. (Photo courtesy of Dean Johnson)

Katie became a very good softball player at the Mount. I thought her breakout season came in 2012, especially in her play in the county tournament that year, most notably the semifinals and finals at Ivy Hill Park.

She will play softball at Central Connecticut State University this fall. I still can’t believe she’s graduated high school, but yes, time flies by.

Good luck, Katie, and thanks for the great memories.

Orlando, who will play at Lafayette College, was a tremendous all around athlete at Bloomfield High. An excellent volleyball player, she started her softball career at second base, then moved to shortstop last season and excelled.

But when it comes to her, it’s ‘the laugh’ which will always carry great memories for me.

Intense on the field, Jenna Orlando’s smile and laugh were a pleasure to witness.

It started in the summer of 2010. Jenna had played in a summer game and her dad, Tony, along with the Ross family, headed over to the Town Pub with their kids, wives and families for some traditional pizza. I’m not sure what started it, but something made Jenna laugh and I’ll never forget how infectious it was. We were all cracking up, and really had no idea why.

Orlando’s smile and laugh continued throughout high school and that great personality will take her far in life.

As for Castelli, watching her play was fun for a myriad of reasons, but mostly because I had covered her father, Jimmy, as a standout football player at Belleville High in another era. So when she got to high school, it was enjoyable watching her play, along with her dad, who remains a good friend.

After Cedar Grove had won the county title in 2010, Gabby was walking on the field with her teammates. She had taken her cleats off and was wearing flip flops, which drove Jimmy nuts.

“Gabby, why are you wearing those?” he’d say in mock horror. “Mike, can you talk to her?”, to which I said, “she’s not going to listen to me, pal.”

It was all in good fun. Over the years, Gabrielle had a very good career at Cedar Grove. In addition to the county title, she led the Panthers to back-to-back state sectional championships in 2011 and 2012. Her performance in the 2013 ECT semifinal should have been good enough to lead her team to the finals, but it didn’t quite work out that way. Castelli also pitched Cedar Grove to the 2011 ECT semifinal.

Gabby Castelli won over 70 games for Cedar Grove and led the Panthers to a ECT title and a pair of state sectional crowns during her four-year career.

Gabby will attend William Paterson University in the fall, where she’ll continue to pitch. I think she’ll do great there, especially in the NJAC, which is an outstanding softball conference. She’ll also run into a few former teammates and high school foes, who are currently, or will be playing at NJAC schools.

Then, of course, there’s Peslak, or Secretariat as I’ve called her since 2010.

The horse moniker is the ‘stud’ theory of an outstanding pitcher, and I could probably write a book about her pitching and countless strikeouts.

I remember sitting with IHA coach Anthony Larezza and watching a state game with Montclair in 2010 when Peslak came in as a relief pitcher and was incredible. I remember a game in ’10 when Bloomfield’s Sarah Prezioso congratulated Peslak after the game on her dominant one-hit performance. (Prezioso, now a star at Temple University, bunted for Bloomfield’s only hit in the seventh and dove into first base to make sure she’d get on base).

Tbe always-smiling Jess Peslak of Livingston.

I remember the epic 2011 game with Nutley, when Peslak struck out 14 in the ECT semifinal, but lost the game. A week earlier, she had struck out 13 in a county win against Caldwell. I remember her breakout season in 2012, when she finished 26-1 with over 300 strikeouts, an ERA of 0.32 and nearly 90 straight innings of pitching shutout ball.

Jess Peslak, with her mom, Jean, and dad, Ed, at the 55th Men of Essex Awards dinner on May, 15, 2013.

I will remember the 2013 season where she battled injury after injury and still won over 20 games while pitching to a stellar ERA and still striking out an average of 10 per game.

I’ll remember saying ‘get your popcorn ready’ whenever Peslak pitched.

I’ll remember the back-to-back ECT championships, SEC titles and state sectional crowns. Most of all, I’ll remember a kid who couldn’t have been nicer, win or lose, a young lady who received the Men of Essex’s most esteemed award and will play at Hofstra this fall, while pursuing a degree in Law.

Hard to believe the high school days are about over, Secretariat.

Thanks again to KJ, Gabby, Jenna and The Stud for a great four years.

Always good to get your popcorn ready when Peslak pitched.

IHA’s run is truly remarkable, and it’s past Memorial Day !

A few weeks back, I had written a column on Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA) softball coach Anthony Larezza.

(Here’s the link to that story….https://mikelamberti.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/ihas-larezza-memorial-day-speech-maker-nestor-chylak-fan-sopranos-and-stud-historian-and-anything-else-worth-discussing/)

Anyway, behind the fun stuff, including the now famous Memorial Day speech of 2010 and a true respect for legendary MLB umpire Nestor Chylak, is a coach who is very close to a milestone which, especially today, isn’t easy to attain.

Former MLB umpire Nestor Chylak will always have a front-row seat for an IHA game.

If IHA defeats St. John Vianney for the NJSIAA, Non-Public A championship this weekend in Toms River, it will have won a third state crown in the last four years and, most assuredly, finish as the consensus No. 1 team in New Jersey for the second straight year and third time since 2009. (It has also lost a grand total of one game since the end of the 2011 season, and that was a 1-0 setback this spring).

In a time where good softball players are more prominent because of summer ball, showcases and outstanding conditioning regimens, great programs are harder to maintain. And, of course, there’s graduation every year which, even if its minimal, changes the landscape of a program.

So, as IHA prepares for a run to history this weekend (depending on the weather, the games could be Saturday, or Sunday), the Blue Eagles, with their marvelous ‘Affirmed’ pitcher, incredible defense and timely hitters, will be a riveting team to watch compete.

IHA junior pitcher Steph Thomas is ‘Affirmed’ to be one of the best in New Jersey.

They are truly a great program, led by a tremendous young coach.

Essex softball season is complete, but post-season honors await

The final three Essex County teams exited the NJSIAA tournament on June 4. And while Livingston, Mount St. Dominic and Newark Academy fell short of their ultimate goal of winning an overall state championship, the performances which led to yesterday’s game spoke volumes of the tenacity and fortitude which made 2013 a very good season.

Livingston finished 25-4 and won a second straight Super Essex Conference (SEC), Essex County Tournament (ECT) and NJSIAA, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 championship. Its 19-game winning streak ended in a 2-1 setback to Watchung Hills at Livingston’s new mini house of horrors, better known as Nutley’s home field.

Truth be told, the field is beautiful and Livingston is usually pretty good at Nutley, winning four straight SEC games there from 2010-2013. But, for the second straight year, the Lancers lost a Group 4 semifinal there, and as one of the fans said as the team headed to the bus, ‘hope we never see this place again.’

Mount St. Dominic’s 25-7 campaign concluded with a 1-0 setback to the state’s top-ranked team, Immaculate Heart Academy, at Ivy Hill Park, in the North Non-Public A final. The game was every bit as good as the final score indicated. IHA, which just finds ways to win, like a great team does, scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the fifth.

Sam Platt pitched a marvelous game for the Lions, but the ‘Affirmed’ Steph Thomas kept the MSDA bats quelled for most of the game to record the shutout.

Newark Academy dropped an 8-2 decision to Lodi Immaculate in the North Non-Public B championship game. The Minutemen had a tremendous season, finishing with a school record mark of 22-8.

Congrats to coach Sergio Rodriguez and his team on a great season.

Over the next two weeks, we’ll have a complete recap of the 2013 season, with three All Essex County teams and photos of all the honorees, an Essex Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Coach of the Year and a number of feature stories on some of the kids.

Stay tuned.

 

Montville freshman Leah Wis captures Group 3 discus championship in dramatic fashion

Leah Wis admitted she just needed some quiet time.

Competing in the NJSIAA, Group 3 championship track meet last weekend in South Plainfield, the 15-year-old freshman from Montville High School had already accomplished what few athletes her age have done. After all, just getting to the group championship meet meant she had to finish in the top six in the state sectionals a week earlier.

Wis not only qualified in one event, she made it to the groups in four events, the discus throw, high jump, triple jump and long jump.

But there she was, in the discus circle, with one throw left and sitting in sixth place overall. Having already appeared to qualify for the most prestigious meet in New Jersey, the Meet of Champions on June 5 in the discus, Wis was trying to focus on her final throw.

“I have a few coaches, and they’re all trying to help me,” Wis said. “But, at that point, I just needed a few minutes to myself. I knew what I was capable of doing. I had been working a long time to get here. I just wanted to throw.”

Leah’s dad, Robert, could also tell his only daughter was ready.

“Her body language was pretty much saying ‘just leave me alone,'” Bob Wis recalled. “I felt pretty confident she’d do something special on that last throw.”

Wis wound up and threw the discus better than she ever had before, hurling the sphere 126’5″, a good foot further than the second place finisher.

Leah Wis, the 2013 Group 3 champion in the discus, as well as a second place finisher in the high jump. (Photos courtesy of Robert Wis)

“When I let it go, it felt good, but I really didn’t know,” Wis recalled. “But after the throw, I’m walking, really fast, toward the scorer and when I heard 126 feet, I just went crazy. I was so happy. It was even better when I realized it took a PR (personal record) throw for me to win it.”

It’s not often a freshman can win a group championship in track and field, but Wis wasn’t overly surprised.

“I’m honored, believe me,” Wis said. “But I also think I’ve worked pretty hard for this. I’ve been competing for a while and have done well. I do realize what a big step this is.”

Wis also qualified for the Meet of Champions by tying for first place in the high jump, clearing 5’2″, despite a chronically sore knee.

“I’m not sure how it will work at the Meet of Champions, because the discus and high jump could be at around the same time,” Wis said. “I’m hoping to do both, but if the timing isn’t right, then I might have to skip the high jump. Obviously, I’d like to do both.”

Wis’ athletic abilities have been evident for a while. Six years ago, she was profiled in Sports Illustrated as ‘A Face in the Crowd’ for track and field. In 2009, she was named athlete of the month by Sports Illustrated for Kids.

A younger Leah throwing the discus and later receiving an award for her hard work.

She got involved with track at the age of 5 and competed in Junior Olympics four years later. By 2011, as a seventh grader, she had thrown the discus 85’6″ and high jumped 4’10”.

Leah Wis has been standing on the top step of the championship podium for a while now.

Now, she’s a state champion as a freshman and gearing for an appearance at the Meet of Champions.

“I can’t wait,” Wis said. “I want to break 5’2″ in the high jump and do a good job in the discus.”

Wis’ throw in the group championships puts her in good stead with the other group champions. Jess Woodard of Cherokee had an incredible day, throwing 168′, breaking the old mark by nearly seven feet. But other than that, the other champions were somewhat all in the same distance area.

Back to Nutley for the Lancers; MSDA and Newark A head to Ivy Hill; Thanks to Bob Leu; Updated Top 10

Over the past four seasons, Livingston has fared pretty well while playing in Nutley. The Lancers are 4-0 there in regular season play since 2010.

However, there was a fifth game for the Green and Black last June which didn’t turn out as favorably as Livingston’s 28-game winning streak ended in Nutley with a 4-0 setback to Hunterdon Central in the NJSIAA, Group 4 semifinals.

Just about a year later, Livingston is back in the Group 4 semi, which once again is being hosted by Nutley. This time, the Lancers’ opponent will be Watchung Hills on June 4. The winner of that game moves on to Toms River four days later to face the Washington-Hillsborough victor for the group championship.

Livingston (25-3), which has won 19 straight, put itself in position for another trip to Nutley by defeating Morris Knolls, 11-3, in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 title last Friday. After the game, the comparisons between the ’12 Lancers and this year’s version quickly became conversation pieces among the fans.

Which team is better?

Many feel this year’s version is clearly more battle tested, having gone through last year’s 29-1 campaign, which produced a Super Essex Conference, Essex County Tournament and state sectional championship.

This year’s team has matched those crowns and seem more relaxed than a year ago. This is a faster Livingston team that also has a more potent offensive lineup than in 2012.

Defensively, this year’s team is better. In the circle, the Jess Peslak of 2013 might be a more complete thrower, mainly because she hasn’t been as healthy as she was in 2012. But because of that, she might be more tenacious this year, because when opponents think they’ve found a chink in the armor, she’s responded in a big way.

Jess Peslak and her Livingston teammates hope to be smiling come June 8.

Peslak’s mental toughness has carried over to the team. And players like shortstop Sammi Rothenberger, centerfielder Kylie McLaughlin and first baseman ‘Princess’ Jazzy Pignatello are more vocal leaders.

Sammi Rothenberger (22) and her teammates are looking for another cold ice water bucket to be poured on coach Jason Daily on Saturday.

Then, there’s senior second baseman Rachel Wasilak, who may be Livingston’s most complete player in 2013. She’s that good. (And, just as quiet). And the second most underrated player on the team is probably sophomore catcher Marina Lombardi. All she does is excel defensively, has a rocket for an arm and is tremendous at the plate. Add in Alexa Altcheck’s speed and the Lancers seem to be pretty complete.

So, like I always say, get your popcorn ready.

Mount St. Dominic will seek a North, Non-Public A title on Tuesday night when it faces the state’s best team in Immaculate Heart Academy at Ivy Hill Park, beginning at 6 p.m.

Honestly, it’s hard to handicap this one. IHA is loaded, plain and simple. It has met every challenge en route to a marvelous season, including a third straight Bergen County Tournament title on June 1, and that’s even more impressive considering it ran through last season undefeated en route to the state’s number 1 ranking.

Nothing seems to fluster this team. Its coach, Anthony Larezza, pushes the right buttons. He gets mad when necessary, encourages his players when they need that and is seemingly two steps ahead in his strategic process.

So, where does that leave the Lions of MSDA? Well, if you know the Lions and their intense coach, Lorenzo Sozio, anything can happen.

Mount St. Dominic (25-6) has one of those teams where any player in the lineup can hurt you. I often kid about teams having ‘studs’. The Mount has a bunch of colts who are real close to being studs, and a few of them have already shown signs of being able to take a game over in pressure situations. And come Tuesday, the pressure will certainly be in the air.

Sam Platt bats leadoff and has one of the best hitting eyes on the team. Katie Johnson can hit for power; Gabby Lombardi is a smooth fielding shortstop who has come around offensively, as well; Ashley Kowalski has power from the left handed side and runs like a deer; junior catcher Alexis Havrilla has been very efficient on defense; Olivia Gemma established herself as the real deal in the Essex County Tournament; Bria Bartsch is a very good outfielder and don’t be surprised if Ally Dabroski comes up with a big play to win a crucial game.

Sam Platt may look mercurial, but she’s as tough as they come for Mount St. Dominic.

Pitching-wise, Platt and Gemma can both throw it with velocity and movement. They seem to compliment each other quite well and Sozio won’t hesitate to use either, and then possibly re-enter one or the other, to finish a game.

As for Newark Academy (22-7), the Minutemen have already set a school record for wins in a season. Now, coach Serg Rodriguez is a game away from his first trip to Toms River for the Non-Public B title.

Standing in Newark Academy’s way is Lodi Immaculate, a hard-hitting, young team, with good pitching and flashy defense. The teams will meet on June 4 in a 4 p.m. start at Ivy Hill Park.

The Minutemen will counter with Laura Catena, Becca Butler, Courtney Luing, Lisa Swenson and Gabby Giachin.

Newark Academy coach Sergio Rodriguez, here with Lisa Swenson, hopes to be coaching his Minutemen on Saturday in Toms River.

Newark Academy can hit with the best of them and if the pitching stays as consistent as its been for most of the season, Newark Academy has more than a legit shot against a state-ranked team in Lodi Immaculate.

Special thanks to Bob Leu, who put together a wonderful party for the Livingston parents to celebrate their daughters’ second straight sectional title. It was an enjoyable evening with parents and friends who are excited for Livingston’s success and, perhaps, a trip to Toms River on Saturday.

Livingston parents and friends celebrated a big win for the Lancers at Just Jakes.

Here is the updated FMTC Top 10.

1-Livingston (25-3)

2-Mount St. Dominic (25-6)

3-Nutley (22-7)

4-Newark Academy (22-7)

5-Cedar Grove (15-10)

6-Bloomfield (19-7)

7-Caldwell (14-12)

8-West Essex (12-15)

9-Montclair (7-17)

10-Montclair Kimberley (12-12)