GMC Softball: South Plainfield's Ratti poised for big senior season

If the numbers South Plainfield High School softball star Caroline Ratti put up at the plate last season weren't gaudy enough, than watch out for what she might do this season.

As a junior last season Ratti hit .511 with 11 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 37 RBI, and 34 runs scored while playing a fine defensive third base.

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Now in his 34th season at the helm and the holder of a career 658-186 record, South Plainfield skipper Don Panzarella, the man affectionately known as "Panz," expects even bigger things from his star third baseman as the Tigers look to make deeper runs in the state and county tournaments after disappoint early exits in both last season.

"They (the expectations) are always there. She's a competitor, she works hard," said Panzarella of Ratti. "We're looking for big things from her, I'm even looking for bigger than last year. She just wants it so bad and you don't have a lot of players like that and she's a one of a kind right now. I just hope she has a great year."

GMC SOFTBALL:Red Division team-by-team preview

GMC SOFTBALL:White Division team-by-team preview

The Tigers have won three state titles in Panzarella's tenure, most recently in 2005, and also have won three Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament titles, the most recent coming in 2013 to end a 15-year drought.

Ratti played a big part in the 2013 county title as a sophomore, going 8-for-12 over the four games including a two-out first inning home run in the final that put the Tigers ahead 1-0, as they went on for a 3-0 win over Sayreville.

Now coupled with her brilliant junior year and the stage is set for Ratti and the Tigers in 2015.

"I feel great, I feel like it's going to be hard to try and get better than last year, but I'm always trying to be a better player and I'm always working hard," said Ratti, who is going to Kean University next year and will likely play softball there. "Just trying to help the team out."

GMC SOFTBALL:Blue Division team-by-team preview

GMC SOFTBALL:Gold Division team-by-team preview

Surrounding Ratti are two other sound, experienced infielders who can do damage at the plate in senior second baseman Holly DeLair and junior shortstop Meghan Hughes as the two hit .338 and .325, respectively, last spring.

Also among the key players back for South Plainfield is sophomore pitcher Katherine Vill, who struck out 124 and walked 29 over 145 innings last spring as she pitched to a 1.45 ERA and now has a year of varsity experience under her belt.

South Plainfield is expected to compete for the White Division title and is poised to make deep postseason tournament runs after coming up short in that department last season, and Ratti will need to come up big again to make that happen.

"Our goal every year is first is the division – with Monroe and Bishop Ahr, if we can do well there, I think that can prepare us for that state and counties," Panzarella said. "We just have to learn to finish. When you get to the end of the year, a lot of times you got to have the same drive you had from the start of the season. We don't want to have the year's over and we don't worry about that; I think we can get deep into those tournaments if they want to, and that's what's going to happen. They got to play the whole season out, and we have the players and we can do it. I believe we can do it."

Staff writer Mike Becker: mbecker@mycentraljersey.com