Never Say die

The first text message arrived from Whippany Park High School from my colleague, Keith Sargeant, at 4:32 p.m. Tuesday letting me know North Hunterdon was down 5-0 in the bottom of the third inning.

As I relayed the news to one of my co-workers sitting at a desk adjacent to mine, I added, "This one is far from over."

After watching the Lions' miraculous comeback against Bridgewater-Raritan in the sectional final last week, I knew North Hunterdon had plenty of fight left in it. And even after I got a phone call from Harry Frezza, who was at the Hunterdon Central baseball game and received a report that North now trailed Ridgewood 7-2 in the sixth, I again turned to my co-worker and said, "Watch. North's gonna tie it in the seventh inning."

At 5:36 p.m. I got the following text from Keith: "Down 7-2, North rallied w/ 5 in top of 7th."

My reply: "Deja-(expletive deleted)-Vu."

Sure, the Lions would eventually lose in nine innings, but for a team to turn in unlikely comebacks in back-to-back game this deep in the state tournament, well, that's just a phenomenal feat and it speaks volume as to the intestinal fortitude of the young ladies that wear the green and gold of North Hunterdon.

Kudos to the Lions and coach Jeff Steele, who has obviously instilled in his players that never-say-die attitude that is a must-have for a championship ballclub.

Three straight sectional titles is nothing to scoff at, and though North came two games short of a state title this time around, the Lions have to be very proud of their accomplishment as the senior-heavy squad wraps up their high school softball careers.

Well done, ladies. Well done.

For complete coverage of Tuesday's game, check out Keith Sargeant's game story HERE