High School Softball:
Eustace Wins Pitcher's Duel

Saturday, April 11, 1998

By Crystal Parker
SJSports Staff Writer

Bishop Eustace is considered to be one of the best softball teams in South Jersey and predicted to win the Olympic National Division again this year. Coach Mike Sacca would put his defending Group B state champions up against a very tough Padua Academy team from Wilmington, Delaware. This would turn out to be a classic pitching dual between Eustace's Megan Johnston and Padua's Julianne Lovejoy. Both pitchers had control of their game and kept most batters off the bases. The scoreless game continued until the bottom of the sixth inning where Eustace plated the winning run.

Padua Academy, an all girls' Catholic High School, would send Julianne Lovejoy to the mound. Her velocity and control with her pitches would send several would be batters back to the bench. This pitcher would be a good test in showing what kind of team Bishop Eustace had under Coach Sacca. This would also be true for Padua against Megan Johnston. Any threat that each team put up would be denied by good pitching and good defense. It would seem as if this game would go well into extra innings.

Bishop Eustace would finally put up a scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and a runner on second base. Lindsey McNamara would come through for Eustace with a single to left. This hit would give the home team the only run of the game to defeat Padua Academy.