It takes something bold to beat a team with the championship pedigree of the Haddon Heights High School softball team - a program which had won more consecutive playoff games than any public school in state history. It takes a big-time moment. And it also takes an overall performance that is clean and nearly perfect.
Freshman Bailey Schoenfeldt provided the bold, Kaelyn Zearfoss came through in the big-time moment and Olivia George and the Gloucester defense did the rest as the Lions edged out two-time defending state champion Haddon Heights, 1-0, in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 final. Gloucester moves on to the state Group 2 semifinal where it will take on Central Jersey champion Johnson on Tuesday. It was the Lions’ first sectional title since 2018 and first since moving from Group 1 to Group 2.
Gloucester coach Megan Mason said she brought Tina Londino, a member of the 2005 state championship team, out to give a speech a few weeks ago because this year’s squad has many descendants from that title-winning squad. “We talked about Gloucester grit, go take it, it’s what we do,” said Mason. “We said we’re going to get state championship No.
5 and we’re going after it.” Haddon Heights and Gloucester split a pair of 1-0 decisions this season so there was no surprise when Saturday afternoon’s game entered the sixth inning scoreless. Gloucester senior George and Haddon Heights senior Gracie Granate were locked in a pitcher’s duel with no end in sight.
But w.
