By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
Coming into this season, South Jersey softball fans had big expectations for what the Colonial Conference would have in store.
In the midst of arguably one of the most competitive years the conference has ever experienced in the softball world, several teams have lived up to the preseason hype. None as much as Gloucester and Haddon Township, both of which sat atop of the conference standings with identical 8-2 records heading into Thursday’s meeting. Gloucester played a near-perfect game as the Lions defeated the Hawks, 10-2, to take control of the Colonial Conference.
Gloucester (9-2, 4-1 Colonial Liberty) is now 8-0 against the Hawks (8-3, 4-0 Colonial Patriot) the past four seasons. While certainly an impressive record over a playoff-bound team year after year, the majority of those contests have been very competitive, and that was recognized by Lions coach Megan Mason right away after Thursday’s victory.
“It was a big win,” she said. “We knew this was going to be a tough game. The last couple of years they played us really tough, and they’ve been playing better every year. We just came ready to play today.”
Sophomore catcher Gabbie Maldonado was a force, driving four runners home, including a two-run home run. Kaelyn Zearfoss and Rylie Zearfoss combined for four hits, two runs and two RBIs for Gloucester while Bailey Schoenfelt went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Maldonado rotates at the catcher position with junior Lauren Parry, but with Parry behind the plate on Thursday evening, Maldonado’s full focus was on her at-bats. It paid off.
“I’ve been struggling at the plate getting big hits,” Maldonado said. “I feel like with my team having my back and having the faith in me to hit the ball, that really makes me want to be out here (playing) and it gives me a lot of confidence on the plate. Being here for my team and being able to have those big moments (like the home run) keeps me pushing forward.”
Junior pitcher Kloi Tighe did her job, too, limiting the Hawks to just two earned runs while fanning four batters. Although she said she wasn’t hitting the corners the way she wanted, she was happy to progressively rebound, and she credited Maldonado for her performance.
“Gabbie having a big day at the plate gets me hyped, because that’s my girl, I love Gabbie,” said an enthusiastic Tighe. “Gabbie and I played travel together one summer and she gets the team going to stay hyped all game. We don’t play on the same (travel-ball) team anymore, and it’s kind of sad because I love playing with Gabbie.”
Regardless of whether Maldonado and Tighe play on the same offseason team together, one thing’s for certain: the duo has nothing to be sad about. The Gloucester softball team controls its own destiny as the new team to beat in the powerful Colonial.
“Gabbie works really, really hard,” coach Mason said. “She works on her own, she works here at practice, and she really wants to improve. She’s been a great asset to our lineup this year, and she came through for us today.”
About Tighe, Mason commented, “Kloi is a tough, tough kid. The other day she had the winning run at home, sliding in head-first. She steps on the mound ready to go every day. She works hard, and it pays off for her.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Gloucester travels to Our Lady of Mercy Academy on Monday at 3:45 p.m. Haddon Township travels to Holy Cross on Saturday at 10 a.m.
