Gov. Livingston Secures Top Seed in Union County Tournament with Thrilling Victory over Dayton

SPRINGFIELD, NJ - The battle for the Union County Conference Watchung Division title reached its climax in a thrilling showdown between Governor Livingston (GL) and Dayton, a contest teeming with Union County playoff implications. Coach Erin Lanigan, reminiscing on GL's last title triumph in 2017 under former head coach Mike Roof, described the significance of this pivotal clash.

"The game against Dayton was huge for so many reasons," Lanigan remarked. "Not only did we have the Watchung division title in sight, but I'd say we were also both battling to secure the number 1 seed in the Union County Tournament."

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Amidst the anticipation surrounding the impending seeding rankings deadline, Lanigan expressed the uncertainty looming over the final verdict. "Coaches had to enter their seeding rankings by noon on Sunday May 5," Lanigan noted, "but there was still that lingering thought that maybe the final seeding wouldn't come out until after the GL v. Dayton game."

In this thrilling eighth inning showdown, Gov. Livingston emerged victorious with a 5-4 win, clinching the coveted No. 1 seed in the upcoming Union County Tournament, while Dayton secured the No. 2 seed.

As the game unfolded, Lanigan commended her team's readiness for the challenge. "These girls came out ready," she affirmed. "It's tough going to play a game like that away, and Dayton was certainly just as ready. The game was loud, the chanting was nonstop, the energy was high. My girls feed off that."

Highlighting standout performances, Lanigan singled out Alyssa Monaco's stellar contributions. "Alyssa Monaco was tremendous," Lanigan praised. "She's really been an ace for us. It's a lot of pressure as a sophomore but she is quietly confident, and handles the pressure well."

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Reflecting on key moments in the game, Lanigan emphasized the pivotal role of players like Chelsea Kiesewetter and Emma McElroy. "Chelsea set the tone," Lanigan said, "first at bat, running it out and reaching on an error... Emma McElroy then SAC flies out to center field, scoring Chelsea to get the first run on the board."

The tense back-and-forth affair saw GL building an early lead, only to be matched by Dayton's resilient response. "In the top 3 Lily Sandholm hits a home run, giving us a 4-0 lead," Lanigan recounted. However, Dayton clawed back, leveling the score at 4-4 by the sixth inning.

Amidst the nail-biting drama, McElroy's remarkable catch in the bottom of the seventh inning proved to be a game-changing moment. "One of the best catches I've seen in my many years of coaching; it was incredible," Lanigan exclaimed.

Heading into extra innings, GL seized the opportunity to reclaim the lead, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory. "Lily Sandholm leads off with a single... bringing Vanessa Popola to the plate with a single RBI to put us ahead 5-4," Lanigan detailed. "Monaco striking out the next two batters to officially give us the win and secure the conference title."

Up next, Gov. Livingston will travel to Columbia High School in Maplewood on Thursday, May 9 with a 4 p.m. start.

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