SPORTS

Softball roundup for Saturday, April 8

Includes analysis from beatwriter Simeon Pincus on CN-area games

Simeon Pincus
@SimeonPincus

SKYLAND CONFERENCE

Montgomery 2, Immaculata Heart 1 (11 innings): Junior right-hander Peyton Schnackenberg allowed no earned runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out 12 as Montgomery scored an impressive victory on the road against the two-time defending Non-Public A state champs. Scoreless throughout 10 innings, the Cougars broke through in the top of the 11th inning as Kira Ferraiolo drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, before Julia Loffredo added an insurance tally, scoring on a wild pitch. IHA managed a run in the bottom of the inning, but could not find the equalizer. Schnackenberg finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a walk, while Loffredo added two hits for the Cougars (2-0).
ANALYSIS: The whole #FearThePIneapple thing is all fun and games around here, as Montgomery is certainly one of the teams to beat in the conference and county races, but for the Cougars to take their act on the road and beat the state’s No. 1 team, well, that’s taking things to a completely new level. Montgomery plays host to Watchung Hills on Wednesday in a marquee local tilt, with its sights set on laying claim to the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Somerset County Tournament.  

Bridgewater-Raritan 9, Old Bridge 8 (8 innings): Katie Winchock delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth inning and Bridgewater-Raritan held on to complete an inspired rally at Old Bridge. The Panthers (2-1) scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Knights (2-1) put up a seven spot against Sammy Mazzagotti in the bottom of the second. But the junior did not relent, baring down and putting up five straight scoreless innings until Old Bridge got a run in the bottom of the eighth. BR, meanwhile, got two in the fourth and two more in the seventh to tie it. Mazzagatti contributed a double, triple and two RBIs, while Sam Ward added a single, double, run and two RBIs for Bridgewater-Raritan.
ANALYSIS: This is precisely what Bridgewater-Raritan needed after Wednesday’s shocking loss to Ridge. The biggest thing to come out of this game isn’t the comeback, per sey, but the veteran performance by Mazzagotti. The first-year ace struggled early, a seven-run pounding that normally would have gotten her the hook from normally-quick-triggered head coach Sandy Baranowski. But the skipper knows the junior is her best option in the circle and stuck with her, and Mazzagotti paid back her coach’s confidence immediately, spinning five shutout frames and allowing her squad to rally. Mazzagotti clearly doesn’t have the stuff graduated co-aces Megan Zinn and Dee Centi gave the Panthers the past few years, but if she can keep her team in games and step up when the chips are down like she did today, BR certainly has the offense to contend.

Watchung Hills 8, Lenape Valley 0: Freshman Sophia Cicchetti went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs and Izzy Definis collected three hits and two RBIs as Watchung Hills improved to 3-0. Lianna Meehan added a double, run and an RBI in the victory, as Robin McCabe posted her second shutout in three outings, allowing just three hits, walking four and striking out 11.
ANALYSIS: After escaping with wins in their first two games, the Warriors turned in a complete effort, as a pair of newcomers in Cicchetti and Meehan joined veterans McCabe and Definis in getting it done.

North Hunterdon 6, Hopewell Valley 0: Maggie Swan went six innings, allowing just four hits, a walk and striking out nine to lead North Hunterdon (2-1). Meghan Graham finished with two hits, a run and two RBIs and Claudia Maira singled twice and knocked in a run for the Lions.
ANALYSIS: North is off to a strong start, with its long loss coming in extra innings against top-ranked Watchung Hills. The Lions early-season surge takes on added importance after they suffered through their first sub-.500 season in 15 years. North has a tough week ahead with Warren Hills, Phillipsburg, Immaculata, Voorhees and Immaculate Conception all on the schedule.

Phillipsburg 3, Delaware Valley 1: Justin Walck singled twice and Sarah Zengal added a double, but Delaware Valley fell to 0-2. Zengel allowed just three runs on four hits, walked three and struck out five for the Terriers.
ANALYSIS: Nice to see a strong pitching performance from Del Val, despite ace Meghan Haff still being sidelined by injury. Despite the loss, it’s a good bounce-back performance after Monday’s 21-7 opening-day drubbing by Voorhees.

Millburn 8, Ridge 5: Kristin Miscia posted three hits, including a triple, and Alexis Soulias, Allegra DeCandia and Annabelle Hamilton each added a single and double, but Ridge fell to 1-2.

Metuchen 12, Mount St. Mary 0 (5 innings): Molly O’Connor fired a two-hit shutout, walking two and striuking out five over five innings to guide Metuchen. Brooke Bandola led the offense, posting two hits, three runs and four RBIs, while Alanna Benderly added two hits, a run and one RBI for the Bulldogs (3-1). Jacqueline McNulla doubled and Amelia Sidlowski singled for the Mount Lions (1-1).

Dunellen 18, Manville 8: Brianna Rivera went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and five RBIs, and Vanessa Ramirez and Mindy Sonnenberg each posted two hits and two runs for Manville. Victoria Schuyler tripled and scored twice for the Mustangs (0-2).

Manville 20, Franklin 1: Victoria Schuyler went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored to elad an 18-hit attack for Manville (1-2). Brianna Rivera was went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs. Mindy Sonnenberg added three hits in the victory.

Florence 15, Franklin 0 (5 innings): Oscariana Frias-Nunez singled for Franklin (0-2), which fell in the first game of a twin bill.

FROM FRIDAY

Somerville 6, Bernards 5: Haley Naftal singled in two runs to cap a four-run bottom of the seventh inning Friday and Somerville scored a victory in its opening game. Emily Markowski went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Pioneers, while Gillian Belkin, Natalie Babalis, Amanda Kim and Veronica Dobranski also scored in the victory. Caroline Baratta homered and drove in three runs, while Sammi Re posted two hits, a run and an RBI for Bernards (1-2).
ANALYSIS: Clutch victory for Somerville, which took advantage of some shoddy defense, as all of its runs were of the unearned variety, the product of four Bernards errors. This is exactly the kind of win the Pioneers needed out of the gate to prove they’re a contender in a wide-open Valley Division. For Bernards, the offense is not in question, as the Mountaineers should score plenty of runs, especially with one of the area’s best all-around players in Baratta in the middle of the lineup. But pitching, and, now, apparently, defense, is a concern.

UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE

Plainfield 21, Roselle Catholic 5 (5 innings): Junior Arianna Diaz allowed just two earned runs on five hits, walked four and struck out 12 as Plainfield opened its season with a victory. Diaz, Amara Swan and Karelis Acosta posted three hits apiece for the Cardinals, with Diaz, Swain and Ajaleen Frazier each scoring four runs.
ANLYSIS:First time Plainfield has opened its season with a victory in at least a decade. Second-year head coach Michelle Huff led the Cardinals to a six-win season a year ago, matching Plainfield highest victory total since 2007. The former Watchung Hills standout has already showed signs last year of getting the program turned around after decades of futility, and this is a great step as she opens her sophomore year at the helm.

Union Catholic 13, Rahway 1: Winning pitcher Justin Benvenuto singled, tripled, scored a run and drove in four to fuel Union Catholic (2-1). Leah DelNegro singled, drove in a pair and scored four runs for the Vikings.

Westfield 7, Morristown 1: Rachel Rothenberg homered and drove in three runs and Bridget Hyland posted the victory, allowing a run on six hits, walking one and striking out eight in six innings to lead Westfield (1-1). Erica Lawrence singled, tripled and drove in two runs for the Blue Devils.

GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE

Edison 7, Spotswood 5: Gianna Fresnedo doubled and drove in three runs and Bianca Newsom collected two hits, including a triple, and scored three runs for Edison (1-2). Tori Giordano chipped in a double, run and two RBIs in the victory, while winning pitcher Jessica Hoover helped her own cause with two hits, including a home run. Julie Raba collected three hits, including a double, and scored two runs, and Savannah Robinson finished 3-for-33 with a RBI and two runs scored for Spotswood (2-2).

Middlesex 7, South River 5: Kristie Tackach finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs, picking up the victory by allowing five hits, no walks and striking out 13 to fuel Middlesex (3-1). Candace DeNizo added two hits, including a double, run and two RBIs for the Blue Jays. South River is 1-1.

Bridgewater-Raritan 9, Old Bridge 8 (8 innings): Nicole Cashman finished with three hits, including a double, two runs and two RBIs for Old Bridge, but Katie Winchock delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth inning and Bridgewater-Raritan held on to complete an inspired rall. The Panthers (2-1) scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Knights (2-1) put up a seven spot against Sammy Mazzagotti in the bottom of the second. But the junior did not relent, baring down and putting up five straight scoreless innings until Old Bridge got a run in the bottom of the eighth. BR, meanwhile, got two in the fourth and two more in the seventh to tie it. Jessica Gaughan chipped in a double and three RBIs for Old Bridge.

Metuchen 12, Mount St. Mary 0 (5 innings): Molly O’Connor fired a two-hit shutout, walking two and striuking out five over five innings to guide Metuchen. Brooke Bandola led the offense, posting two hits, three runs and four RBIs, while Alanna Benderly added two hits, a run and one RBI for the Bulldogs (3-1). Jacqueline McNulla doubled and Amelia Sidlowski singled for the Mount Lions (1-1).

J.P. Stevens 11, Woodbridge 1 (5 innings): Brianna Zenderbaum singled and drove in three runs, and Julie Siecinsku singled, doubled, scored two and drove in two for J.P. Stevens (2-0). Brianna Miller also picked up two hits and an RBI for the Hawks. Casey Morrison doubled and scored a run for the Barrons (2-3).

J.P. Stevens 10, J.F. Kennedy 0 (5 innings): Emily Tavares tossed a five-inning shutout, allowing just four hits, four walks and striking out nine for J.P. Stevens (3-0). Tavarez also posted two hits, including a home run. Brianna Zanderbaum notched three hits, including a double, and drove in a run for the Hawks. Julia Sinatra picked up two hits for the Mustangs (3-3).

Mendham 8, Woodbridge 5: Casey Morrison singled, doubled, scored a run and knocked in two for Woodbridge (2-4). Jordan Cinelli also drove in a run for the Barrons.

Mendham 12, Colonia 10: Frankie Brock finished 4-for-5 with a double, home run and five RBIs, but Colonia fell to 1-5. Caitlyn Hroncich went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs for the Patriots.

North Brunswick 10, Colonia 2: Tara Jennings allowed just one earned run on nine hits, walked one and struck out nine for North Brunswick (1-4). Alyssa Contreras homered twice and drove in five runs for the Raiders, who also got two hits and two RBIs from Gabriella Puleio. Jessica Donovan notched two hits, and Samantha Fioravanti and Kelli Mulrooney each drove in runs for Colonia (1-4).

J.F. Kennedy 7, North Brunswick 6: Madison Buttitta singled, homered and drove in three runs to spark J.F. Kennedy (3-1). Julissa Lugo added a triple and two RBIs for the Mustangs. Kayla Scher singled, doubled, scored a run an drove in another for North Brunswick (0-3).

THE SOFTBALL INDEX:

Friday's softball roundup

Wednesday's softball roundup

Monday's softball roundup

The 2017 Courier News varsity softball preview

Tori Ferraiolo and Montgomery knocked off  the state's top-ranked team in Immaculate Heart in 11 innings Saturday