Marc Narducci: Black kept Eagles in it until the end

Michelle Black couldn't conceal the disappointment, but the lefthander from West Deptford knew deep down that her career had ended with yet another outstanding performance on the mound.

This is the other side of the one-and-done state tournament, in which the losing team goes home and, in Black's case, the uniform will now be worn by somebody else.

Black's valiant effort wasn't quite enough as third-seeded Kingsway beat No. 6-seeded West Deptford, 2-0, in a South Jersey Group 3 softball quarterfinal.

Kingsway did more than enough to live another day, which is a common occurrence this time of year for the defending state Group 3 champions.

Sophomore righthander Dominique Ficara was outstanding for Kingsway, allowing just one hit, striking out 10 and walking just two.

It took that type of effort to get the better of Black, who had shut out The Inquirer's No. 1 South Jersey team through five innings.

"It's going to take a few days to get rid of this feeling," Black said quietly, beginning to realize that this was her final high school game.

Next season, Black will take her talents to Rowan. But after the sting of the loss dissipates, she will realize what a tremendous job it was to keep South Jersey's top team off balance for virtually the entire game.

"All I was thinking when I was out there was that I didn't want them to score," she said.

Black kept fighting, but when Jesse Minix reached base on a passed ball after striking out with one out in the sixth inning, things started to unravel.

Minix stole second and scored on a pinch-hit single up the middle by freshman Kelsey Dominik, who specializes in these situations. Dominik had a pinch-hit double in an earlier 4-3 loss to Williamstown, when the Braves were the No. 1 team in South Jersey.

Ficara gave herself some insurance with a sacrifice fly, and that was more than enough of a cushion.

"[Black] pitched a great game, but we just got the hits when we needed them," Ficara said.

So while Black didn't earn the win, she certainly gained the admiration of yesterday's opponent.

"Michelle Black is a terrific pitcher," Kingsway coach Tony Barchuk said. "It's a heartbreaker for her."

Black was a four-year starter and as much as she will miss being part of the program, West Deptford will likely feel the void even more.

"Michelle isn't overpowering, but she is smart and always kept us in the games," West Deptford coach Mandy Schramm said. "We wouldn't have had the success the past two years without her."

And now all her memories will be looked at through the rearview mirror.

"It has meant a lot playing for West Deptford, and I have loved every team I've played on," Black said. "Every year we were a team that took the field hoping to come out on top."

Of course, not all teams can turn that hope into reality, but the Eagles always felt they had a chance with Black on the mound.

That is the definition of a true competitor, one who showed a tremendous will to compete and gave her team hope up to the very last inning of what has been a stellar high school career.