For the Ocean County Tournament, the Southern Regional softball team received the top seed for a second straight season – except this time the Rams didn’t exit early.

After getting bounced in the quarterfinal round a season ago, head coach Jamie Bernaldo’s crew on April 9 earned a spot in this year’s OCT semifinals with a 5-1 victory over eighth-seeded Brick Memorial.

While senior pitcher Elizabeth Gosse largely kept the Mustangs in check – she allowed just three hits and no walks while striking…