Nelson, Pagano Lead Griffins to Championship

To me Lindsey Nelson was the longtime play-by-play voice of the New York Mets, calling their games in the 60s and 70s as part of a Hall of Fame career.

However at Donovan Catholic High School Lindsay Nelson (first name spelled with an a and not an e) is the freshman softball pitcher who yesterday led the Griffins to a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame in the Non-Public South “A” championship game at Stockton University.

The young lefty gave up just an unearned run in the 1^st inning on her way to a complete-game 2-hitter with 9 strikeouts.  Nelson helped her own cause with an RBI single and fellow freshman Lindsay Hay (first name spelled with an e and not an a) drove in the other two with a single and double as the Griffins made it 14 wins in their last 16 games to win the sectional title.

Sophomore Alexa Pagano had three of Donovan Catholic’s eight hits as they will next play North Jersey champion Immaculate Heart in the Non-Public “A” final on Friday or Saturday at Kean University. IHA is the defending champion and will come into the game having won 29 straight as they are the top-ranked team in New Jersey.  Meanwhile the young Griffins who start only one senior will be making their first state final appearance since 1988 when the school was named Monsignor Donovan.

The championship road ended for the Lacey softball program yesterday with a tough 2-1 loss to Steinert in the Group 3 semifinals in Washington Township.  The South Jersey sectional champion Lions outhit Steinert 8-3 and loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 7^th but could not push across the tying or winning runs.

Lacey pitcher Chelsea Howard fought through a pair of long rain delays to toss a 3-hitter with 12 strikeouts and went 3-3 at the plate with a walk and run scored.  The Lions finish the season at 21-6.