Ramundo dominant as DePaul wins 6th straight PCT title by Chris Iseman of The Record
WANAQUE — DePaul didn’t focus on winning its sixth consecutive Passaic County title.
The Spartans just focused on winning this season’s championship.
The previous five titles didn’t matter.
“The only thing that matters is West Milford, they’re sitting in front of you,” coach Sue Parler said. “So we didn’t go for six in a row. It’s always somebody’s first. It’s always somebody’s last.
“We went for this one. We went for 2017.”
Now DePaul is the champion once again.
Summer Ramundo was dominant in the circle to finish with 18 strikeouts as the top-seeded Spartans defeated No. 2 West Milford, 6-0, in the Passaic County tournament final Monday at Back Beach Park.
Senior centerfielder Amanda Ayala went 4-for-4 with two stolen bases and an RBI, while senior DP Morgan O’Neill hit a solo home run.
Junior catcher Dominique Coiro was outstanding, going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBI.
The Spartans scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth behind an RBI single from Ayala and Coiro’s homer.
It was a big game from Ayala in a what’s been a huge season for the Tennessee-bound senior.
She missed half her sophomore season and her entire junior season because of injuries, but capped her high school career with another county title.
“We’ve been in a position that not many people have been the opportunity to say they’re in,” Ayala said. “We’ve had the target on our backs all season. Coach Parler always talks about that. I think we did a phenomenal job of wearing it proudly.”
Ramundo, meanwhile, was stellar to shut down a strong West Milford lineup.
“It’s history,” Ramundo said of DePaul’s sixth straight county title. “It’s great. I couldn’t be happier. I’m really proud of my team.”
The junior struck out the first five batters she faced before issuing a pair of two-out walks.
But she then got another strikeout to end the top of the second inning.
Jessica Utter had a one-out single for the Highlanders in the third, but Ramundo fanned the next two batters.
Then Kayla Yuhas hit a one-out double to right in the fifth, but Ramundo got a lineout and strikeout to end the inning and escape further trouble.
Those were the only two hits Ramundo surrendered.
“The good thing about it was she didn’t try to overpower people,” Parler said. “She pitched. She didn’t try and muscle. She pitched and she was smart. A well-called game by our catcher. …By far that was Summer’s strongest performance to date.”