Nutley HS softball team falls to Cedar Grove in ECT quarterfinals

NUTLEY – The third-seeded Nutley High School varsity softball team’s quest for the Essex County Tournament title came up short as the Raiders lost to sixth-seeded Cedar Grove, 2-1, in the quarterfinals on May 14 at Yanticaw Park.

The Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI by Alanis Concepcion to score Danielle Pomponio.

But Cedar Grove answered when Olivia Spinella hit a two-run double in the fifth inning.

The Raiders defeated Cedar Grove in both Super Essex Conference-American Division meetings this season, 4-0, April 11, at Yanticaw, and 9-1, April 29, in Cedar Grove.

Breanna DeMaio, Sydney Kunz, Samantha Eccheveria, Pomponio and pitcher Emily Holden each had a hit for the Raiders, who moved to a 17-5 record. Cedar Grove improved to a 13-10.

ECT quarterfinals

(9) Montclair defeated (1) Mount Saint Dominic, 4-3, nine innings

(4) Livingston defeated (5) Newark Academy, 6-3

(7) Bloomfield defeated (2) West Essex, 3-0

(6) Cedar Grove defeated (3) Nutley, 2-1

ECT semifinals, Friday, May 20, at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park, Newark

(6) Cedar Grove vs. (2) West Essex, 5 p.m.

(9) Montclair vs. (4) LIvingston, 7 p.m.

ECT final, Saturday, May 21, at Sheppard Sr. Field, 7 p.m.