Extra Bases: The Perfect Season — A look back at Indian Hills’ Historic 34-0 Year

Statistically speaking, this was the greatest season in the history of New Jersey softball. 34 wins, zero losses — and a ton of memories made along the way. There was no complacency from this Indian Hills team, though it returned all but two starters from last year’s Group 3 state championship-winning squad. They wanted more. From the moment they walked off the field as state champions in 2013, the Braves went to work — setting the bar even higher for 2014. Indian Hills wanted the Triple Crown…. and it ended up with perfection. It was the 18th unbeaten season in New Jersey, just the eighth from a North Jersey team, and the first time a New Jersey team has ever reached 34 wins. In the latest MaxPreps national rankings, Indian Hills came in at No. 13 in the country.

Here is a game-by-game look back and how the Braves did it. It was certainly one heck of a run.

GAME 1 (April 3) – Indian Hills 7, Northern Highlands 1 (at Northern Highlands) — Blog
The Highlights: Interestingly enough, Indian Hills scored its first run of the season on a perfectly-executed first-and-third play involving Karley Jo Greulich (and courtesy runner Kate Clancy)… exactly how they stole a run in the Group 3 state final vs. Ewing on Saturday. After winning this year’s state title, Durando said how she remembered this exact run and being so excited about breaking a scoreless tie vs. Highlands in top of the fifth. The Braves tacked on a run in the 6th, then five in the seventh in what was a closer-than-it-looks 7-1 victory. I thought Highlands looked really good this day (and they ended up winning 22 games and met Indian Hills again in the North 1, Group 3 final). Madison Levine went 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs; Durando went 2-for-4 with two RBI and tossed the complete game with four-hitter with 15 strikeouts.
The Quote: “It was good to be back out there. It’s a little different this year. People know who we are more than last year and coach says it all the time, ‘We have the target on our back now.’ Everyone wants us to fail. Everyone wants to beat us.” – Devin Durando
The Quote II: “Devin is inspired. She had success last year, she wants success again this year. She’s taken on more of a leader role and that’s helped big time. And she has also worked on her hitting. She’s a threat now. It’s almost like we traded for a hitter with her in the lineup now.” – Indian Hills coach Joe Leicht

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GAME 2 (April 4) — Indian Hills 6, Paramus 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Devin Durando fires a complete game, two-hit shutout, while Shelby Allen droves in two runs and Nicole Leocata, Madison Levine (2-for-3), Nikki Mellone (2-for-4) and Kelsey Coughlin (2-for-3) all add one RBI. The Braves break open a 2-0 game with four runs in the sixth.

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GAME 3 (April 6) – Indian Hills 1, High Point 0 (at IHA Invitational)
The Highlights: What a game this turned out to be in a game which featured two eventual state champions — Indian Hills in Group 3 and High Point in Group 2. Indian Hills’ Devin Durando (three-hitter, 21 Ks) and High Point’s Ally Frei (three-hitter, 20 Ks) combined for 41 strikeouts and the Braves’ Madison Levine delivered a walkoff double off Frei — over the High Point right fielder’s head — in the bottom of the ninth. The Braves manufactured a run off the Boston College-bound ace (and NJ’s career strikeout leader) when Nicole Leocata reached with a out-out single, was sac bunted to second by Nikki Mellone and driven home by Levine’s two-out blast. Didn’t we see a rally almost identical rally to this later in the year?
The Quote: “Yeah, it was a great game if you like strikeouts.” — Indian Hills coach Joe Leicht

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GAME 4 (April 7) – Indian Hills 11, Hackensack 1 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Shelby Allen gets the first of what turned out to be just two starts on the mound (probably next year’s No. 1 pitcher) and tosses a five-inning, two-hitter with eight strikeouts. Indian Hills jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first and received three RBI from Kelsey Coughlin (2-for-3). Nicole Leocata blasts a solo home run.

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GAME 5 (April 9) – Indian Hills 1, Ridgewood 0 (at Ridgewood)
The Highlights: It was the first of three thrilling games this season featuring Indian Hills’ Devin Durando and Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks. The Braves scored their lone run of the game on an RBI sacrifice fly (in foul territory) in the top of the fourth courtesy of Shelby Allen, after Madison Levine doubled with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch. Durando ended with a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts and one walk, while Parks allowed four hits and struck out four and walked none.

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GAME 6 (April 11) – Indian Hills 10, Ramapo 1 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: In the two team’s first meeting since their wild 2013 sectional semifinal, Indian Hills cruised in this one, getting two RBI each from Gina DeOliveira and Nicole Leocata, and six innings from Devin Durando (11 strikeouts, one hit allowed). Shelby Allen homered and DeOliveira and Durando each had two hits.

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GAME 7 (April 12) – Indian Hills 4, Park Ridge 0 (at the EDSAF Tournament in Emerson)
The Highlights: Billed as a Battle of Unbeatens, Indian Hills’ Devin Durando put on a two-way show on this day. Not only did she fire a complete game, one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts, but she went 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and one run scored. Her two-run single in the third to score Nicole Leocata and Madison Levine broke a scoreless tie. Leocata finished with three walks, two steals and one run and Julia Collins went 2-for-3 against a Park Ridge team that went on to have a very successful season. Karley Jo Greulich added one RBI against the Owls.

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GAME 8 (April 14) – Indian Hills 9, Demarest 0 (at Demarest)
The Highlights: Two days after firing a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, Devin Durando followed with an even better gem, tossing a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts against Demarest. The Braves pounded out nine runs on 16 hits, highlighted by Shelby Allen and Nicole Leocata’s three-hit days. Nikki Mellone and Karley Jo Greulich each added two hits and two RBIs — and this was the start of Mellone’s 21-game hitting streak.

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GAME 9 (April 16) – Indian Hills 8, Pascack Valley 1 (at Pascack Valley)
The Highlights: After taking on undefeated Park Ridge four days earlier, it was another test against unbeaten Pascack Valley on this day, but the Braves took a quick 3-0 lead after the first and led, 6-0, midway through the third. Devin Durando went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and one RBI and fired a four-hitter with 15 strikeouts, while Madison Levine went 1-for-3 with three RBI. Indian Hills improved to 9-0 and Durando extended her hitting streak to nine games — a streak that eventually ended at 14 games, though she hit safely in 30 of 34 games this season, while batting .436 (48-for-110).
The Quote: “She’s such a competitive person and it’s like, teams cant’ get her out right now.” – Indian Hills shortstop Nicole Leocata, who went 2-for-5 with a run and RBI vs. PV, on Durando’s hitting.
The Quote II: “Honestly, I just love hitting. Don’t get me wrong, pitching is awesome, too, and I love being out there. But hitting is something that I’ve always loved. I like getting up there and helping score runs to help my teammates, I like driving in runs. I love the term, ‘Help yourself.’ ” — IH’s Devin Durando

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GAME 10 (April 17) – Indian Hills 10, Mahwah 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: In what turned out to be a Bergen County Tournament semifinal preview, Indian Hills ten-runned the Thunderbirds in five innings, striking for five runs in both the third and fourth innings. Devin Durando threw a five-inning one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBI. Shelby Allen had a big offensive day, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. Julia Ferraro and Nikki Mellone each added one RBI.

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GAME 11 (April 19) – Indian Hills 6, Emerson 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Indian Hills’ Devin Durando and Shelby Allen combine on a no-hitter, with Durando going six innings with 12 strikeouts and Allen getting the 7th and striking out the side in order. For the second straight game, Durando went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBI, while Karley Jo Greulich, Madison Levine and Nikki Mellone all added two hits.

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GAME 12 (April 21) – Indian Hills 5, Holy Angels 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Sophomore second baseman Nikki Mellone leads Indian Hills’ 11-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, one run and three steals. Devin Durando picks up another two hits and two RBI for the third straight game, while Julia Collins and Julia Ferraro each add two hits. Durando fired a complete game, three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts — the 10th time this season she reached double-digit strikeouts and her seventh complete game, shutout of the year.

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GAME 13 (April 23) – Indian Hills 14, Old Tappan 3 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: It took until Game 13, but this was the first time Indian Hills trailed up until this point of the season after Old Tappan struck for two runs in the top of the first. But… the Braves rallied for three in the second, three in the third, two in the fifth and six in the sixth to end the game via mercy rule. Shelby Allen went 2-for-4 with a double, home run, four RBI and three runs… Julia Ferraro homered and drove in three runs… Madison Levine went 3-for-4 with three runs… Karley Jo Greulich went 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run… and Nikki Mellone added two hits and one RBI. Devin Durando went six innings and struck out 14, while allowing three runs.

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GAME 14 (April 25) – Indian Hills 6, Paramus 1 (at Paramus)
The Highlights: Indian Hills trailed, 1-0, after the first in this one, but responded immediately with two runs in the top of the second. Devin Durando (2 doubles) and Madison Levine each had two hits and drove in one run, while Shelby Allen, Julia Ferraro and Nikki Mellone all added one RBI, too. Durando allowed one unearned run in the first and finished with 13 strikeouts in a four-hitter.

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GAME 15 (April 28) – Indian Hills 1, Northern Highlands 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: A pitcher’s dual featuring Indian Hills’ Devin Durando and Northern Highlands’ Katie Duncan (5 IP, 6 hits, 3 Ks), with the lone run of the game coming on a solo home run from Braves leadoff hitter Nicole Leocata in the bottom of the fifth. Karley Jo Greulich had three of Indian Hills’ seven hits, including a double, Nikki Mellone added two hits and Durando fired a complete game, three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts. This game was very significant because it came at the 15-game cutoff for the county tournament, which all but guaranteed the Braves getting the No. 1 team (and, as a result, home-field advantage in the county final) — which ended up paying huge dividends in a walkoff victory over IHA in that BCT final.

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GAME 16 (May 2) – Indian Hills 8, Ridgewood 6 (at Indian Hills)
Indian Hills clinches the outright Big North Freedom Division title
The Highlights – In the past two years, I’ve seen probably between about 20 Indian Hills games. This ranks right up there with one of the craziest… probably third craziest — behind only the 2013 sectional semifinal game vs. Ramapo (The Wild Pitch Game) and the 11-inning, rain-delayed marathon game vs. Warren Hills in this year’s Group 3 semifinal. And Joe Leicht and I always laugh after every crazy game, because 1. Indian Hills always seems to win the crazy ones, and 2. I always seem to be there when they happen. If the Indian Hills-Ramapo state game last year was “The Wild Pitch Game,” I’m coining this one “The Kelsey Coughlin Game.” Part of why I love my job is because of days like the one Kelsey Coughlin had vs. Ridgewood on this day. Mainly a reserve player her first few years at Indian Hills, “Red” — as she’s called by pretty much everyone — finally cracked the starting lineup for good her senior year and here she was, hitting the two-run go-ahead home run off Parks in the bottom of the second and the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. If it hadn’t already, the magic and the Indian Hills mojo certainly returned this day, with the Braves rallying for four runs in the fifth inning  to tie the game at 6 (Karley Jo Greulich had a leadoff double, Gina DeOliveira had a one-out single, Nicole Leocata — 3-for-4, 2 doubles, two RBI — had an RBI single, Nikki Mellone — 2-for-3 —  walked, Maddie Levine had a key two-run double and Shelby Allen tied the game with an RBI sac fly) and then two more in the sixth to take the 8-6 lead. This was such a crazy game because it featured two star pitchers in Indian Hills’ Devin Durando and Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks, both of whom entered this one on fire in the circle. They had already played earlier this season with the Braves winning, 1-0, then played another 1-0 game later on in the year in the BCT quarterfinals. But this one? 8-6, with 19 combined hits and four lead changes.
The Quote: “On the home run, I could see my dad in center field going crazy. I’ve never hit a home run over a fence before, and to get my first one off an amazing pitcher like Nicky Parks was perfect.” – Indian Hills’ Kelsey Coughlin, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
The Quote II: “We’re an experienced team and we’ve been in these situations before. They don’t get to us as much. No matter how bad things might get, we’re going to fight until the end.” — Indian Hills’ Nicole Leocata
The Quote III: “We’ve been in a lot of tough situations over the last two, three, even four years with some of these guys. They’ve been in state final, county finals, a million tournament games, and for us, we treat every game like a tournament game. With the division we’re in, that’s pretty much what it’s like anyway.” – Indian Hills coach Joe Leicht

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Game 17 (May 4) – Indian Hills 2, Pequannock 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: A return to normalcy for Indian Hills at the exact halfway point of its perfect 34-0 season, as Braves pitcher Devin Durando fires a three-hit shutout against eventual 20-game winner Pequannock. Indian Hills’ Nicole Leocata goes 2-for-3 with one RBI and Shelby Allen provides the other RBI, as the Braves strike for one run in the third and fifth innings. Nikki Mellone and Kelsey Coughlin scored runs for Indian Hills.

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Game 18 (May 5) – Indian Hills 10, Ramapo 0 (at Ramapo)
The Highlights: 12 different Indian Hills players record at least one hit in the Braves’ 16-hit attack in the 10-run win, led by Madison Levine (2-for-3, two doubles, two RBI, two runs), Julia Ferraro (3-for-4, double, three RBI, one run), Devin Durando (2-for-4, double), Shelby Allen (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and Karley Jo Greulich (1-for-3, double, run, 2 RBI). And, Durando fired a no-hitter on this day with nine strikeouts.

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Game 19 (May 6) – Indian Hills 10, Wayne Valley 0 (at Wayne Valley)
The Highlights: Scoreless until Indian Hills broke out for nine runs in the top of the fourth inning. Devin Durando (3 IP, 5 Ks) and Shelby Allen (2 IP, 3 Ks) combine for the five-inning no-hitter — making it two straight games of getting no-hit ball. Durando also went 3-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBI, while Nicole Leocata added two RBI and Nikki Mellone added two hits, extending her hitting streak to 12 games.

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Bergen County Tournament First Round
GAME 20 (May 12) – Indian Hills 10, Wood-Ridge 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Indian Hills records its third shutout in a row, fourth in the last five games, and 13th of the season to advance to the Bergen County Tournament Round of 16 over No. 32 Wood-Ridge. Nicole Leocata had a huge offensive game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, one home run, three runs scored and four RBI, while Devin Durando fired a six-inning, one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts. Shelby Allen added two hits, including a home run and two RBI, and Julia Ferraro and Gina DeOliveira also each had two hits a piece.

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GAME 21 (May 13) – Indian Hills 13, Bergenfield 3 (at Bergenfield)
The Highlights: On a day when Devin Durando was given a day off in the circle, she made her impact felt at the plate, going 3-for-4, with three doubles, two runs, and three RBI. Meanwhile, the one who did get the start in the circle — Shelby Allen — also had a big offensive day, going 4-for-5, including a double, home run, two runs scored and five RBI. Nikki Mellone added two hits and one RBI, extending her hitting streak to 14 games. Indian Hills actually trailed, 2-1, in this one after the first and led, 4-3, after the third before striking for nine runs over the next three innings.

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GAME 22 (May 15) — Indian Hills 2, Tenafly 0 (at Tenafly)
The Highlights: Playing in its third game in as many days, Indian Hills was locked in a pretty good pitching duel featuring the Braves’ Devin Durando and Tenafly’s Megan Zaccario. Indian Hills broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth and added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, getting RBIs from Kelsey Coughlin and Karley Jo Greulich. Durando finished with a complete game, four-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts, while Zaccario ended with a six-hitter with four strikeouts.

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GAME 23 (May 16) — Indian Hills 7, Hackensack 2 (at Hackensack)
The Highlights: Indian Hills’ Shelby Allen and Gina DeOliveira each drove in two runs, while Julia Ferraro led the Braves’ eight-hit attack with a 3-for-4 game. Karley Jo Greulich scored twice and Devin Durando fired a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts, while allowing two runs — none earned.

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State Tournament: North 1, Group 3 First Round
GAME 24 (May 17) – Indian Hills 8, Mount Olive 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: The Braves begin their Group 3 state title defense with a shutout win over Mount Olive, getting at least one hit from all nine starters and a complete game, four-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts from Devin Durando. Nikki Mellone went 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the offense, while Shelby Allen, Gina DeOliveira, Julia Ferraro and Nicole Leocata (2 RBI) all picked up two hits. Indian Hills struck for one in the first and one in the fourth before breaking the game open with three in the fifth and three in the sixth.

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Bergen County Tournament Round of 16
GAME 25 (May 18) – Indian Hills 10, Park Ridge 2 (at Old Tappan)
The Highlights: In a rematch of an earlier season game, Indian Hills’ Madison Levine went 3-for-4 with four RBI and blasted her first home run of the season (her second HR was pretty important, too) to send the top-seeded Braves into the BCT quarterfinals. In the bottom of the third, Indian Hills broke a scoreless tie on an RBI single from Levine, though No. 17 Park Ridge responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Just as they did all season, the Braves rallied — this time striking for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Levine’s three-run blast over the left-field fence. Devin Durando allowed four hits, struck out 11 and walked none in six innings.

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State Tournament: North 1, Group 3 Sectional Quarterfinals
GAME 26 (May 21) – Indian Hills 9, Old Tappan 1 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Again, Indian Hills trailed, 1-0, until taking the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and breaking things open with three in the fifth and four in the sixth. Shelby Allen went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and a two-run home run in the sixth to cap the Braves’ scoring and Nicole Leocata added two hits and a run. Devin Durando allowed just four hits with 15 strikeouts — the 19th time this season she recorded double-digit strikeouts.

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Bergen County Tournament Quarterfinals
GAME 27 (May 24) – Indian Hills 1, Ridgewood 0 (at Immaculate Heart)  – Blog
The Highlights: Just a great, great game. Expecting a low-scoring pitcher’s duel with Devin Durando and Ridgewood’s Nicole Parks, both aces delivered gems — working out of several jams for the majority of the game, including Durando getting out of a 2nd and 3rd, no-out jam in the top of the first inning. Shelby Allen eventually broke the scoreless tie with two outs in the bottom of the sixth on what, if I remember correctly, came on a 1-2 pitch… blasting it deep over the left-field fence to ignite a wild celebration at home plate. Allen sure had some big hits this season for the Braves, including this one against a Ridgewood team that was considered a Top 4 team in Bergen County despite its No. 8 seed. Durando finished with the complete game, allowing four hits with 11 strikeouts, while Parks, in six innings, also allowed four hits and ended with 11 strikeouts.
The Quote: “I knew I had to stay calm, stay relaxed in the box. [Parks] kept throwing me risers all day, and she has one of the best risers I’ve seen. I tried laying off those and hoped to eventually get one near the middle of the plate. I think I hit an inside screw ball.” — Indian Hills’ Shelby Allen
The Quote II: “I wasn’t just going to go out there and lay down for them when they had second and third. We know it was going to be a close game, knew it was going to be low-scoring, and it was important getting out of that inning without allowing a run. That gave us momentum.” — Indian Hills’ Devin Durando on the first-inning jam.
The Quote III: “As with most pitchers who are outstanding, there seems to be an ability to amp it up when they really need to. We saw [Nicole] Parks do it, we saw Devin do it. There’s a mentality with them thinking, ‘I’ve got to get out of this.’ And Devin really did that for us in that first inning, and a few other times throughout the game.”

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Bergen County Tournament Semifinals
GAME 28 (May 26) – Indian Hills 8, Mahwah 2 (at Indian Hills) — Blog
The Highlights: This game was all about getting back to the county final and getting another crack at IHA. Though they could never really say so throughout the year, everyone on Indian Hills is super-competitive and no returning player who walked off the field after a 10-0 loss to IHA was happy with their performance one year ago. This win got them their highly-coveted second chance. Though it was an 8-2 victory over Mahwah, it was the defense that really stepped up in the early innings to get out of a few jams against upset-minded Mahwah, highlighted by a pair of double plays with shortstop Nicole Leocata in the middle of both. Offensively, it was Devin Durando (3-for-3, walk, four RBI) and Madison Levine (4-for-4, three runs) leading the way, with Durando giving the Braves a quick 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run single to the base of the center field fence. Julia Ferraro added two RBI.
The Quote: “I don’t think Devin struck out too many today [4]. We had to make 17 plays behind her and we did it unscathed. We showed that when it’s time to field, we can field. It’s always about defense. And I’ve always been that way, even with basketball. Everything starts on the defensive end.” — Indian Hills’ Joe Leicht
The Quote II: “There’s always some pressure this late in the year. We’re just going to go out there and play our game. That’s gotten us 28 wins so far, and hopefully a few more in the final weeks of the season.” — Indian Hills’ Devin Durando, who allowed two runs on three hits vs. Mahwah.

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State Tournament: North 1, Group 3 Sectional Semifinals
GAME 29 (May 27) – Indian Hills 4, Sparta 1 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: Twelth-seeded Sparta took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning and it would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Indian Hills broke out for a four-run rally. Devin Durando — who went 2-for-3 with two RBI — broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run home run, her fourth HR of the year in the fifth, and Maddie Levine and Shelby Allen each added one RBI for the Braves in their 29th win to start the season. The win clinched Indian Hills’ third straight trip to the North 1, Group 3 sectional final, after falling to High Point in 2012 and beating High Point in 2013. Durando improved to 27-0 in a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

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GAME 30 (May 28) – Indian Hills 7, Teaneck 0 (at Indian Hills)
The Highlights: After playing six straight postseason games in the Bergen County and state sectional tournaments, Indian Hills picks up their final regular season win of the year over Teaneck. Nicole Leocata and Devin Durando each had two hits and one RBI while Madison Levine and Shelby Allen each doubled and drove in two, as the Braves struck for six runs in the first two innings. Durando tossed three innings, Shelby Allen went three innings and even Leocata tossed an inning — the only inning she pitched all year.

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State Tournament: North 1, Group 3 Sectional Final – Preview
GAME 31 (May 30) – Indian Hills 4, Northern Highlands 0 (at Indian Hills) — Blog
The Highlights: In the third meeting between these two division rivals, Indian Hills captured its second straight sectional title and coach Joe Leicht picked up his 400th career win, though, to him, the team’s accomplishment far outweighed his individual milestone. One of the signature moments of the season that I’ll remember is cousins Devin Durando and Julia Ferraro hugging, in tears, moments after the game… just a couple of weeks after their grandmother had passed away, and how not only those two were affected by it, but the whole team was affected by it and were there for both of them. Durando talked afterward about how she was now playing with her grandmother’s prayer card in her back pocket and anytime she’d get be in a jam, she’d just reach back and not want to let her down. The Braves broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the fourth, getting a go-ahead RBI single from Durando to score Shelby Allen and a key two-run double from sophomore Gina DeOliveira. Nicole Leocata followed with an RBI single to cap Indian Hills’ scoring. Durando finished with a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.
The Quote: “Believe me, when you win team stuff like this, to see the kids’ hard work pay off like it has, that’s what it’s all about. Every team works hard during the season, but these guys … they pay the price in the off-season. They lift, they work out, they play, and to see it all come together like it has, it’s great. I could watch them jump around and celebrate forever. This never gets old.”

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Bergen County Tournament Final
Blog Preview – Paper Preview
GAME 32 (May 31) – Indian Hills 5, IHA 4 (at Saddle Brook) — Walkoff Magic — A swing for the fence, and for the ages
The Highlights: The full-length recap of this one can be found here. The Sparknotes version of it… it already is considered one of the all-time greatest games in Bergen County tournament history. There have been extra-inning thrillers and walkoff wins before in county finals — but none came in a matchup featuring two undefeated teams that, at the time, were considered the best two teams in the state. While it was not technically an upset (Indian Hills was the 1-seed; IHA was the 2-seed), IHA was regarded as the No. 1 team in the state and entered the game ranked No. 6 nationally in one poll — and this was the first loss IHA had suffered to a public school since early 2011. Throw in the fact that IHA — the three-time defending county champion — was going for the first-ever tournament four-peat, and Indian Hills pitcher Devin Durando transferred out of IHA after her freshman year… and you have one historic matchup, and that’s before even mentioning how the game ended — on Indian Hills’ Madison Levine’s two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. While it was Levine’s game-winning walk-off blast to center which capped a game for the ages, Shelby Allen’s two-run home run in the first got everything going, Nikki Mellone’s RBI single in the second was timely after IHA had cut the deficit in half in the top half of the inning and Devin Durando escaped a 2nd-and-3rd, no-out jam and bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the first was a huge momentum swing early on. You know, third baseman Gina DeOliveira made a great play on a tough-hop ground ball for the the second out of that 1st inning, getting a key force out at the plate before Durando induced an inning-ending groundout to herself.
The Quote: “Given the circumstances surrounding the game, I think this feels a little better than winning a state championship. Just considering what was going to happen if they won, what it’d mean if we won, and just the atmosphere of all this was amazing. There were a lot of people thinking IHA was going to win. They had the history on the line. And I don’t want to say people are shocked, but I think they’re a little surprised. Especially with how tough we fought after what happened last year. But we’re not surprised. We’ve never been so prepared for a game like we were today.” — Indian Hills’ Devin Durando
The Quote II: “We won a previous county tournament in eight innings against Ridgewood, and that was emotional because it was our first one. And we’ve won two state championships, including one on a bases loaded walk in 2010… and there’s nothing like a state championship. But today, it was just like, ‘Please come through, Maddie. Please come through.’ And then, bang. What else can you say? It was unbelievable.” — Indian Hills’ Joe Leicht

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State Tournament: Group 3 Semifinals – Preview
GAME 33 (June 3) — Indian Hills 3, Warren Hills 2 (11 innings) (at South Plainfield) — Blog
The Highlights: Hours after just about every other North Jersey team was rained out, Indian Hills’ Karley Jo Greulich sent the Braves back to Toms River for the second straight year with a ripped shot through the left-center gap for the game-winning RBI single after 11 innings and an 81-minute rain delay. In the 10th inning, with international tiebreaking rules in effect, Warren Hills took a 2-1 lead and in the bottom half of the inning, the Braves were down to their final two outs, until Madison Levine lifted a fly ball to right field to score Nicole Leocata and keep the perfect season alive. Indian Hills actually played one of its worst games of the year (5 errors, baserunning mistakes, failed sac bunts) but managed to find a way to beat a tough Warren Hills team with an impressive pitcher in sophomore Madey Smith. Her and Devin Durando were both excellent on this day. Indian Hills led, 1-0, for the majority of the game after Shelby Allen singled home Nikki Mellone in the bottom of the first, though Warren Hills would tie it on a two-error play in the top of the seventh. The first error came from Levine; the second came from Greulich… both of whom drove in the game-tying and game-winnings runs in the 10th and 11th innings.
The Quote: “After making that error, I put my head right down, which I shouldn’t have done. I just felt like I was giving away the game. I knew I had to come through and somehow get it back for my team. Whether it was just getting on base, getting a hit, an RBI, somehow I had to get that run back. The way it ended was just unreal. We all felt we were due. It just happened to be me, but it could have been anybody. Everyone’s been doing it for us all year.” — Indian Hills’ Karley Jo Greulich
The Quote II: ”Karley’s a little bit of the unsung hero with this team. Most people know our different players, but Karley keeps doing her thing a little under the radar. She’s a junior, a three-year starter for us, she caught the last out in the state final last year and she’s been involved in all these big games just like everyone else. I’m not surprised she was able to come through like this [Tuesday].” — Indian Hills’ Joe Leicht
The Quote III: “It’s not Indian Hills softball unless we make things interesting.” — Indian Hills’ Devin Durando

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State Tournament: Group 3 State Final
Preview Story – Preview Capsule – Ewing Scouting Report
GAME 34 (June 7) — Indian Hills 8, Ewing 5 (at Toms River North)
The Highlights: The Perfect Season — 34-0. The Triple Crown. Repeat State Champions. History.
After jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first — getting RBIs from Shelby Allen, Devin Durando and Julia Ferraro — Indian Hills made things interesting after surrendering four runs in the third. But as they did all season long, the Braves responded. In the bottom of the fourth, Indian Hills struck for four runs to take an 8-4 lead, highlighted by Allen’s bases-loaded, three-run double to put the Braves up, 7-4. Durando followed with a deep RBI double to score Allen and put Indian Hills ahead, 8-4. The numbers would suggest that 2014 Indian Hills may be the best public school team in the history of New Jersey. Playing a relentless schedule featuring a handful of some of the best pitchers in the state… playing in arguably the best county in the state… and winning every game? It really was a season for the ages. While Durando was in the middle of it all — both in the circle and in the lineup — this team was a perfectly-assembled group of great softball players, with everyone taking their turn in the spotlight. There were blowout wins, one-run wins, comeback wins, walkoff wins — and no losses. It was perfection. And it was unbelievable.

Team Leaders
Hits: Devin Durando 48; Madison Levine 41; Nikki Mellone 40; Shelby Allen 39; Nicole Leocata 38
RBI: Shelby Allen 46; Devin Durando 35; Madison Levine 26; Nicole Leocata 23; Julia Ferraro & Nikki Mellone 17
Runs: Madison Levine 30; Nicole Leocata 29; Nikki Mellone & Shelby Allen 28; Julia Collins 23
Steals: Nikki Mellone 23, Madison Levine 21; Nicole Leocata 11; Julia Collins 10; Karley Jo Greulich 6
Home Runs: Shelby Allen 7; Devin Durando 4; Nicole Leocata 3; Madison Levine 2; Kelsey Coughlin & Julia Ferraro 1
Doubles: Devin Durando 21; Shelby Allen 14; Karley Jo Greulich 10; Gina DeOliveira 8; Nicole Leocata & Madison Levine 7

Devin Durando Pitching: 32-0, 376 strikeouts, 215 innings pitched, 93 hits allowed, 19 earned runs, 0.61 ERA.