Steinert softball coach Jenn Melker isn’t afraid to use the “L” word with her players. In fact, she prefers it to the “D” word.
“We educate them on this program that everyone wants to call a dynasty but what I consider a legacy,” Melker said. “We tell them ‘Now it is your time to make your path in this program and to not worry about what was done before you.’”
The coach wants the past to serve as inspiration for the present.
“Our coaching staff makes sure to let them know about it and that there is a standard set, but to also understand that this is their own story that you’re going to build,” said Melker, who is assisted by Michelle Walsh, her dad Mike Melker, Geri “Bear” Laird and Sam Dice. “They’re carrying the weight of every girl that has played in that uniform in years past with Spartans on their chest.
“We try not to put the pressure on like ‘You have to live up to the expectations of what was.’ We just tell them ‘You have to play Steinert softball.’ That’s the focus every game. When they step on the field don’t worry about the game before or the year before or what’s ahead. I tell them ‘Play where your feet are.’ We have to prioritize what’s happening in the moment, and that’s what works.”
It worked again this year, as Steinert made program history June 7 with an 8-1 win over Morris Knolls in the NJSIAA Group III championship game at Seton Hall University.
And they did it without a senior on the roster.
Now that’s scary.
But it wasn’t unexpected, at least where Melker was concerned.
“I don’t want to come off sounding arrogant or cocky, but after graduating five, once we saw the talent that came in, me and coach Walsh looked at each other and were like, ‘We have talent here,’ Melker said. “From there, we needed to figure out the lineup and what works.
“It wasn’t a ‘Wow, we never thought this could happen!’ thing. It was a matter of making these young ladies understand the culture of this program and striving for that goal.”
The players thought it was possible.
“From the beginning, we knew we would be under-estimated because of how young we were,” super sophomore shortstop Mia Pope said. “That kind of motivated us to want it even more. We knew that we had the talent to make it back again and win it.”
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With its victory over Morris Knolls, Steinert:
Won its fourth state title in eight years after reaching the championship game for the sixth time during that period;
Became just the third softball program in Mercer County history – along with Notre Dame and Robbinsville – to win consecutive state titles;
Became the third program in school history – along with baseball and boys soccer – to win consecutive state crowns;
Improved to 23-3 in state tournament games under Melker since she took over an already successful program from Jean Ruppert in 2019;
Whether it’s a dynasty or legacy, it’s something to be proud of. And it fuels Pope.
“I find it to be inspiration to play better,” said the All-County performer, who led Steinert with a .531 average, 51 hits, 15 stolen bases and 36 runs scored. “We still play relaxed, we’re just playing the game of softball. But I think (the tradition) does make us want to win each game even more.”
Pope doesn’t know much about losing. Since she and Bianca Walsh became the starting keystone combo as freshmen last year, Steinert has gone 45-10 overall and 12-0 in states.
Is that something Pope could have ever imagined?
“I didn’t really think about it that much,” she said. “I came in just wanting to have fun. I knew Steinert was a great program and they have a big reputation to uphold and I was very excited to play with these girls.”
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If there was ever an example of “team” it was the Spartans. Every player took turns being a hero during a state run that featured five come-from-behind victories.
It started with Lawrence when Pope had three hits and sophomores Brooke DeWitt and Bianca Walsh and freshman Francesca Castellano each had two hits and two RBI. Sophomore Ellie Miller made it stand up with 3-2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Junior Addison Hassan took the baton in the next two games, collecting two RBIs against Matawan and providing one of the biggest hits of the season with a sixth-inning, three-run double to provide a 3-1 lead in what would become a 4-3 win at Middletown North. Freshman Aleiya O’Neal chipped in with two hits and an RBI against Matawan.
DeWitt and Walsh stepped up again against Allentown, when Steinert won its sixth CJ III title in eight years. DeWitt had two hits and three RBI and Walsh had a clutch two-run double.
Then came Moorestown in the state semis, when the Spartans had just two hits and trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh. Three walks were followed by O’Neal’s RBI single. One out later Pope won it with a two-out RBI single. The whole thing was made possible by junior centerfielder Gia DiMeglio robbing Moorestown of a two-run homer in the third with a leaping catch at the fence.
In the state final – played against Morris Knolls for the second straight year – Walsh drove in four runs and junior Katie Simonka twirled a five-hitter for an 8-1 victory. DiMeglio saved another run with a diving catch while the game was still close.
“We came together throughout everything,” DiMeglio said. “We just backed each other up no matter what happened. We played for each other, not for ourselves.”
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The common thread throughout the six games was often dominant and sometimes gutsy pitching by Simonka, backed by a rock solid defense.
Pope, arguably the top defensive shortstop in the CVC, anchored an infield that made every routine play and several outstanding ones.
Freshman Danica Spak displayed sterling glovework in right field, as did Miller in left; and DiMeglio typified what Steinert was all about. Despite struggling offensively and being the flex who only played the field during states, she found ways to win games with her glove rather than mope about it.
“I just know that there’s other people on the team that can do better in that aspect, but I can do my part in whatever way I can,” DiMeglio said. “Everyone has their own important role on the team.”
Her role was never more noticeable than when she made the spectacular grab against Moorestown
“It was really just instinct,” DiMeglio said. “I was tracking the ball the way I normally would. When I got to the fence I jumped and timed it right.”
It will go down as one of the great moments in program history, as there likely would not have been a title without it.
“We take a lot of pride in our defense,” Pope said. “It’s one of the biggest things we work on. We’re very good as a team communicating. We very much grew in the defensive part of the game and it helped us a lot.”
At the post-season banquet, Simonka was named Defensive Player of the Year after going 17-4 with a 1.25 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 128-2/3 innings. The left-hander became famous for getting in and out of jams during some of the game’s tensest moments. After a talk from Melker or her catcher, Hassan, Simonka refocused and dropped the hammer.
“She just always comes through in the biggest moments,” DiMeglio said. “She doesn’t give up no matter what. She stays strong throughout the game.”
One thing was certain. When Simonka was completely focused, she was lethal.
“She’s incredible,” Melker said. “Pitching is such a mental position that once she overcomes that part of it and really locks in, in my opinion she’s one of the top pitchers in the area.”
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Other post-season team awards went to Pope (Most Valuable Player), freshman Nikki Donovan (Most Dedicated, 14 runs scored), sophomore Zoey Ricigliano (Love of the Game, 4 runs), Spak (Most Valuable Teammate, 7 runs, 3 RBI), O’Neal (Rookie of the Year, .365, 18 RBI, 24 runs, no errors at third base), Castellano (Brightest Future, .329, 17 RBI), DiMeglio (Clutch Catch), DeWitt (Team Before Self, .281, 13 RBI, 15 runs), Hassan (Coaches Award, .352, team-high 27 RBI), Walsh (Scholar-Athlete, .322, 13 doubles, 25 RBI, 30 runs, team-high grade-point average) and Miller (Offensive Player of the Year, .396, 19 RBI, 30 runs; also had 7-1 record, 0.68 ERA and 66 Ks in 55-1/3 innings).
“As soon as we hit the state run every single girl did something big or was part of a big moment,” Melker said. “All 12 girls deserved to be recognized up and down the lineup. Every girl put their little spin on things and had a moment. They are all state champs.”
And they became champions convincingly in the title game. After Morris Knolls scored a run in the top of the first the Spartans responded with one in the bottom of the inning, tallied two in the third and never looked back. After the gut-grinding win over Moorestown, the Spartans seemed free and easy.
“I still felt pressure, Morris Knolls is a very good team,” Pope said. “But I was very excited to play them in the championship and I was more relaxed to do that after Moorestown. We know we always play better when we play relaxed. Everyone was calm and everyone wanted to have fun and get another state title.”
Added DiMeglio: “I think we were just very confident going in, knowing we had the ability to come back as we showed in the previous two games.”
Prior to the game, Melker was pleasantly surprised at the mood she sensed.
“When they took the huddle before Morris Knolls, the vibe they all had was just so relaxed,” she said. “I can’t say they had that through the first rounds of the states. All of them felt they were trying to prove themselves then and there was always that little bit of tension. But in that state final they were just having so much fun. They took every opportunity given to them.”
And during the tournament, they took a lot of punches in early innings but knew how to counter-punch their way to a knockout.
“We don’t really care what the score is,” Pope said. “When we’re behind we use it as motivation to come back and get that big win. I think that’s what Steinert softball is all about. Don’t ever give up and don’t let it faze you.”
Next sprint, the Spartans will attempt to equal the 1969-71 boys soccer team and 1998-2000 baseball team as the only programs in school history to win three straight state championships. They would become the first CVC softball team to do that.
Pope is certain the hunger will still be there.
“After we won it last year, we wanted to win it even more this year,” she said. “And now with everyone coming back and new girls coming in, that bond will be even stronger. We’ll have fun next year and do really well.”
And maybe keep adding to the legacy.
Steinert softball players rush the field after the final out is made in the Group 3 championship win over Morris Knolls on June 7, 2024 at Seton Hall University. (Photo by Amanda Ruch.),
Steinert’s Katie SImonka delivers a pitch in the NJSIAA Group III championship game against Morris Knolls at Seton Hall University, June 7, 2024. (Photo by Amanda Ruch.),
