Correction: The Second Team and Honorable Mention is for All-SEC-Independence Division.
EAST ORANGE (Updated Tuesday June 14, 11:16 a.m.) – The East Orange Campus High School varsity softball team, which finished with a stellar 15-3 overall record, including winning the co-championship of the Super Essex Conference-Independence Division with an 11-1 divisional record, boasted eight players who have earned All-SEC-Independence Division honors.
The EOCHS players on the All-SEC-Independence Division First Team are Kiara Cruz, Kayla Cruz, Cindy Gnawa and Marilyn Mejia. The Second Team players on the All-SEC-Independence Division are Brittany Alicea,
Navia Altenor, and Josie Pascual.
Jamilah Stevenson has been selected All-SEC-Independence Division Honorable Mention.
In addition, Kiara Cruz, Kayla Cruz, Gnawa and Mejia made Worrall Media All-Area First Team. Alicea, Altenor, and Pascual made Second Team and Stevenson made Honorable Mention on the All-Area.
The Jaguars, under head coach Dana Sprague, finished as co-champions in the SEC-Independence with Saint Vincent Academy.
The Jaguars defeated host St. Vincent Academy, 17-15, in Newark, after losing to St. Vincent in the first meeting.
The Jaguars then defeated Technology, the second-place team in the division, at home to clinch the co-championship in their final league game.
Sprague praised her team’s determination, which paid off with the SEC-Independence Division co-championship.
“Although we took a fall to St. Vincent, the girls rallied and didn’t let this loss defeat their spirit and determination to still have a winning season and a conference (Independence Division) championship,” said Sprague in a email. “I was very proud of how they stuck together and kept their composure during heavy competition. The special thing about our team is that each player did their part when needed to help the team take home the wins. Our motto this year was ‘Only one way…. TOGETHER’ and they did just that. No all-stars carried our team. All girls from the starters to the subs did their part when needed. They won together! I loved seeing them celebrate on the field after clinching the co-championship. That’s something they will always remember. I couldn’t have been prouder.”