July 6, 2025
By Alissa Noe
WESTMINSTER — Triple plays are a rarity in softball at any level, but a triple play to end a game? Now, that’s lightning striking a pot of gold — the NJ Heist Gold 18U, in fact.
On a hot Sunday afternoon at Christopher Fields, the Heist, in keeping true to their name, stole the show and the crown in the 18U Triple Crown Sparkler Mount Elbert title game, beating the Washington Ladyhawks 5-4. Reliever Juliana Piano caught a bunt attempt from the Ladyhawks’ Elle Sexton, and then her defense took care of the rest.
“I knew they were going to bunt because, obviously, (head coach Sergio Rodriguez) prepared us for that,” Piano explained. “I knew to get the runner at first after that, and then my teammates had my back and got to second and we triple played that. I don't know how, but I'm really glad we did that because that was really stressful.”
Rodriguez beamed in the immediate aftermath of his girls’ victory, even if it stressed him out a little in the moment.
“I don't remember the last time a team of mine had a triple play, let alone end a game in a triple play. That was very unique,” he said. “Honestly, I didn't even want my kid from first to throw the ball to second, because the center fielder was streaking in. That's a dangerous throw. If it gets by there, the game's going to be tied, but I guess they know better.”
It couldn’t have been a better ending for such a tenacious team, which had curveball after metaphorical curveball thrown at it over the past few days.
“We’re exhausted, especially since a lot of our kids participate in (last weekend’s) International Challenge, which is another spectacular thing that Triple Crown does,” Rodriguez said. “I mean, look, yesterday we had a rain delay, so we moved our four o'clock game back, and we didn't end until eight o'clock. And then we had to be here at 6:45 and win four, so it was rough. We're tired. We're tired and beat up, and we were playing short-handed. We had a couple of kids go down.”
They didn’t play like it. The Heist faced a deficit from the very first inning, then methodically worked their way into the eventual 5-4 final score in the top of the fourth. Amelia Flood’s fly ball to right field, and a subsequent error, allowed Katelyn Mikros and Kacey Dipasquale to cross home plate.
The Heist finished the championship game with six hits, and Piano didn’t allow a single run in the three innings that she manned the circle for. Flood, a junior, joined the Gold team just this year.
“Being on Gold, I mean, it's expected that we make it this far but winning it was just the best feeling ever,” Flood said. “Being on this team with this specific group has just been so rewarding, and I'm so happy that I got to experience this.”
