TOMS RIVER -- Madison McDougall has not forgotten about the first time she faced Donovan Catholic. The St. John Vianney pitcher was on the mound in last year's Shore Conference final as arguably the best softball rivalry in New Jersey went to extra innings in what was ultimately another classic matchup between the two powerhouses.

"The first time I ever played Donovan was my freshman year in the Shore Conference championship. At the beginning, first pitch, I was very nervous," said McDougall. "We battled hard that game, unfortunately we had a tough loss."

The second time McDougall faced the Griffins was in this season's Shore Conference championship, and again the nerves creeped in. McDougall conceded nine runs, but answered at the plate with a clutch home run before the Lancers eventually won 10-9.

"The second time was still a little jitters. Not as bad but still jitterish," McDougall continued. "Then the third game, I came in here not scared."

That third game was arguably the biggest of them all, as the fates of both teams' seasons hung in the balance during the semifinal of the South Non-Public A sectional playoffs on Friday. McDougall, unfazed by an early home run by Donovan freshman Isabella Cino, got out of several jams and held the Griffins' explosive offense to just two runs. She powered through early frustrations at the plate to have a crucial single in the top of the seventh that set up Elisabeth Figliolino's go-ahead home run to propel the Lancers to a 5-2 victory.

The pitcher-catcher duo were on the same joyful wavelength on both offense and defense as they sealed the win in the latest chapter of the iconic rivalry.

"As soon as I see that smile," said Figliolino of McDougall on the mound. "As soon as she started smiling, she gets in her groove. And it's written: 5-2."

McDougall chimed in as her catcher spoke about their rapport.

"She loves my smile," McDougall said with a laugh. "Me and Figs have a great connection. We always have and we hopefully always will."

'We want to be in these big games'

The second battle of the 2024 season between St. John Vianney and Donovan Catholic was already being anticipated in the aftermath of the first one. As previously noted, the Lancers were already champing at the bit for a rematch and didn't shy away from that possibility in their postgame interviews after winning the Shore Conference championship.

By contrast, Donovan Catholic had mostly downplayed the stakes of the rematch.

Regardless, both teams came ready to play on Friday at the Donovan Catholic Athletic Complex. It was the Griffins who struck first as wunderkind freshman Cino hit her solo home run to center field in the bottom of the second. The following inning, SJV sophomore Gabby Gonzalez responded with a laser line drive home run of her own.

"Honestly, we love the competition. We want to be in these big games and I don't think we get nervous," said SJV coach Kim Lombardi-McDougall. "I knew (Donovan Catholic) was going to be well prepared. That's a fantastic team. Debbie (Schwartz, Donovan's coach) always gets the most out of all her players."

The game remained tied at 1-1 through the fifth inning, as both teams eluded dangerous situations with solid pitching and defense. In the sixth, the Lancers used some creative small ball play to get runners in scoring position for Nicole Giglio, who had an RBI groundout to give SJV a 2-1 lead. It was short-lived as Olivia Kurth hit an RBI double to tie things up at 2-2 heading into the seventh.

But it was Figliolino who had the last word with her three-run homer, set up by singles from Gonzalez and McDougall.

"I just had all the confidence in the world because I have my team behind me," said Figliolino. "I got up there, just short approach, base hit swing and ended up working this time."

And just as they did after the first victory, the Lancers did not shy away from acknowledging the significance of beating Donovan twice in one season as the team is now only a state championship away from winning a "triple crown" of Shore softball as the conference, county and state tournament champions.

"It's amazing because it's always like the rival, like Donovan Catholic and St. John Vianney," said Figliolino. "It's so great to be able to fight till the end against a really, really good team. And it's a battle 'til the end and I'm just really glad we got this one."

'St. John Vianney is here'

Although St. John Vianney certainly has its sights set on even bigger prizes, the team will first have the chance to repeat as section champs in the South Non-Public A final against top-seeded Notre Dame.St. John Vianney not being the No. 1 seed was a surprising outcome under the state's power points system and could be perceived as a slight against the defending champs, but the ever-candid Lancers are looking forward to the challenge and have thrived on the road this season.

"We do like playing on the road," said Lombardi-McDougall. "We're kind of happy to be playing on the road, I don't know why but (the players) don't like our home field."

Notre Dame got the 3-1 home win over another Shore Non-Public power, Red Bank Catholic, in the opposite semifinal matchup on Friday. St. John Vianney will head to Lawrenceville on Monday to face the Irish and further indulge the team's appetite for great competition.

"We always play competition better," said Madison McDougall. "When we get higher competition and we really compete, there's really no game we lose."

That confidence was reiterated by the team's peppy and positive catcher who was the hero of the semifinal. Figliolino took particular pride in the team's Shore Conference and Monmouth County titles, and alluded to the possible significance of completing the trinity of titles.

"It is amazing to win all three," said Figliolino. "Just to show you're like here. St. John Vianney is here."

But SJV is not looking past Notre Dame.

"We are very much looking forward to a competitive game against Notre Dame," said Lombardi-McDougall. "They are well coached and have a very good pitcher and hitters and defense."

The Lancers have been a relentless force this season and have shown no signs of letting down since winning the state title last year with a 27-1 record — the lone blemish being the defeat to Donovan Catholic. With that now remedied, the team is ready to make its final push.

"Winning over Donovan twice was definitely something we're very excited for," said McDougall. "We're excited to go to practice tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. We'll be out on that field practicing for two-and-a-half hours like we always do, and then we'll be prepared to play Notre Dame on Monday."

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ softball: St. John Vianney beats Donovan Catholic in NJSIAAs