Clayton completes three-peat as South Jersey champ; Audubon plays with heavy hearts

CLAYTON – These are no longer uncharted waters for the Clayton High School softball team.

But that doesn’t mean the third time around has been smooth sailing for these Lady Clippers.

The two-time defending sectional champion overcame two deficits and wiggled out of potential danger several times to claim a 3-2 victory over the Audubon Green Wave in Sunday’s South Jersey Group 1 final.

More:Shawnee, Kingsway and Haddon Heights crowned champions, Northern Burlington falls short

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Clayton, which has amassed a 75-7 record over the last three seasons with this group of seniors, will embark on one more week as part of its final voyage.

The Clippers (26-1), winners in 25 straight, will host Central Jersey champion New Egypt in Tuesday’s semifinal (the time is still to be determined). A win there and Clayton will complete its season with a third straight trip to the state final on Saturday at Kean University.

“It’s insane,” said Kutztown-bound senior Allyson Koerner, who delivered two RBIs and earned a two-inning save in the game. “I’m not sure how many players can say they’ve been a part of three straight South Jersey championship teams, but I know it’s probably not many. It’s an honor for us.”

Clayton head coach Joe Moore knew his team was going to be tested and he was right.

“This never gets old, and it never gets easy either,” the coach said. “There’s really no concern with this group though either. It’s always the next batter or the next play. I don’t worry about them because they just pick up their lunchboxes and go to work.”

There was plenty of labor to be done against Audubon, which jumped out to a 1-0 early and took a 2-1 lead into the fifth.

Clayton rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the sixth as Koerner roped a RBI double and would later score on an error.

Clayton had some uncharacteristic mistakes on the base paths that took away two potential big innings, but they righted the ship when it needed it the most.

Rightfielder MacKenzy Holler and Meadow Lake, who had just moved to second base, combined for a great 9-4-5 play to turn an extra-base hit into an out and avoid potential danger in the sixth inning.

“Our team does its best under pressure,” said Holler, who will be studying nursing at Widener in the fall. “On that play, I just wanted to get the ball (to Lake) as quick as possible. I saw (the baserunner) rounding second, and I’m like, I’m sorry, but you’re out.”

Two game-saving grabs

Audubon threatened again in the seventh, putting its first two runners on and in scoring positions.

Junior Emily Bobo, who had two hits and a RBI sac fly, hit an absolute rocket to the right side, but right at first baseman Tyanna Davis for the first out. After pop-up in the infield was the second out, Brooke Felli hit a fly-ball down the line in right where Holler raced over and made the catch to end the game.

“I’m not the fastest, but I wasn’t going to let that ball drop,” Holler said.

Koerner said her heart was pounding as the ball left the bat, but she knew Holler would track it down.

“Our defense came up big when we needed it,” Koerner said. “That was a big catch and (the one in the sixth) was an amazing play. I don’t know if we win this game if we don’t make that play happen.”

‘I just wish he was here’

Audubon took the field with heavy hearts following a death in its family.

Chris DeValerio, a dedicated and respected softball coach in the Audubon Rec League, died in a motorcycle accident on Friday.

Audubon asked if the game, which was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday, could be moved back a day. Clayton obliged.

DeValerio’s daughter, Adrianna, is the starting rightfielder for the Green Wave and she was in the starting lineup for the game.

“My dad loves to see me play softball,” Adrianna said, fighting back tears as she spoke after the game. “He’s my biggest supporter, he’s always been there for me even in my downfalls. He’s been talking about this game for so long and wanted us to win it this time.

“I knew I had to play for him and I’m always going to play for him because I know that’s what he wanted me to do. So every single time I play a game and I’m going to win it for him and play my best for him.

“Even when he had to come from work, hurry up make dinner and take me to practice. …even when he was working forever and he’d go and help me practice if I had a bad day. I appreciate him so much.”

Adrianna made a big defensive game, erasing a runner trying to advance to third base in the fourth inning with Audubon up 1-0.

Adrianna said she thought about her dad often in the game.

“I was thinking sometimes what he would say. I knew he would be out here screaming the loudest, louder than all of us,” she said.

"I just wish he was here."

Audubon head coach Erin Small, who was notified during Friday’s practice of Chris’ death, said the team shared plenty of tears as they prepared for the game.

“It’s been a tough couple of days for us,” an emotional Small said. “I’m so proud these girls showed up and competed. They could have not, and they did.

“We told Adrianna from the get-go, we had her. We were going to play for her and her family. She played (Sunday) and I’m just so proud of the girls. No matter what the outcome of this game was, we’re just super proud of how they fought through.”

Audubon finished its season at 17-8, but with a young roster that included just one senior starter (Alyson Yurcaba) along with five freshmen and three sophomore, the future is bright for the Green Wave.

Freshman Emma Sperer had three hits in the sectional final, raising her team-leading to 39 on the season. She also lead the squad in runs scored with 27.

Her classmate Alaina Copsetta held a heavy-hitting Clayton squad to six hits and struck out eight.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.