Buena wins South Jersey Group 1 softball title
The young Chiefs shut out Audubon, 3-0, in yet another upset.
A Buena softball team that was considered maybe one year away has sped up the championship process.
Freshman righthander Natalie Ampole shut down one of South Jersey's hottest offenses as fourth-seeded Buena defeated No. 2 seed and host Audubon, 3-0, in the South Jersey Group 1 championship game Wednesday.
Buena (19-6) will meet Metuchen in a state semifinal Thursday at Rowan.
Audubon (21-4) had won each of its first three South Jersey Group 1 tournament games by 10-0 scores.
"We came in knowing they had a great offense, but I was able to hit my spots and my teammates did a great job," said Ampole, who was among five freshmen in the starting lineup.
Senior shortstop Kat Arbelo provided all the offense Buena needed with a two-run double to right field in the fourth inning
"In that situation, I was just trying to do my job," Arbelo said.
Arbelo continued doing her job by stealing third and scoring on the errant throw.
Audubon shortstop Deanna Pineiro, among the top players in South Jersey, almost hit one out, flying out to deep center field in the fourth inning.
The Green Wave threatened in the seventh when Pineiro led off by crushing an opposite-field double to right field. McKenzie Yurcaba then walked and was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by pitcher Samantha McErlane.
While Buena was throwing the ball back to Ampole, McErlane hustled into second, putting runners on second and third with one out.
Ampole then got a fly- out to deep center and a groundout that she fielded and ran to first to tag the bag for the final out.
The celebration then began.
With so many young players for Buena, few were predicting a championship at the beginning of the season. Still, Pam Pickett, now in her 30th season guiding the Chiefs, had a good feeling about this team.
"We saw early on that we had great athletes, kids who loved softball and were willing to work hard," Pickett said. "When that happens, anything can happen."
And it has for Buena, which earlier ousted top-seeded Maple Shade, 3-2, in the semifinals.
So the Chiefs earned this title.
"It's been a great run so far," Ampole said.
And it's not over yet.
Buena 000 300 0 - 3 4 0
Audubon 000 000 0 - 0 4 1
WP: Natalie Ampole. LP: Samantha McErlane. 2B: B-Kat Arbelo, A-Deanna Pineiro.
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