CN softball roundup for Monday, April 24

Watchung Hills 7, Hunterdon Central 1: Junior Robin McCabe allowed just a run on three hits, walked two and struck out four, and freshman Sofia Cicchetti singled, homered, scored twice and drove in three runs to fuel second-ranked Watchung Hills. Lianna Meehan finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Erin Bean singled, walked twice and scored two runs for the Warriors (9-3). Maddie McKevitt drove in a run for third-ranked Hunterdon Central (10-2).
ANALYSIS: Huge Skyland Conference Delaware Division win for Watchung Hills, which lost twice last week. That’s Central’s first conference loss, leaving the Red Devils at 5-1 in conference play, just a half game up on Watchung Hills and Bridgewater-Raritan, who are each 4-1 in conference. Nice to see McCabe back to full strength after she felt under the weather last week, and nice to see Cicchetti back in the swing of things after a mini slump followed her torrid start. Another big game on tap Wednesday for Central, as the Red Devils visit North Hunterdon.

Hillsborough 13, Immaculata 2 (5 innings): Alexa Penna collected three hits, two runs and four RBIs and Courtney Wengryn allowed just two runs on five hits, a walk and struck out one over five innings to boost No. 10 Hillsborough (2-6). Alissa Saverino and Kelsey Galevich each notched three hits for the Raiders, with Galevich adding three RBIs. Fran Torraca singled, doubled and scored a run for Immaculata (2-8).
ANALYSIS: That’s two straight victories for Hillsborough – and both via mercy rule – so that’s hopefully a sign of things moving in the right direction. The Raiders are at Hopewell Valley on Tuesday, weather permitting.

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Delaware Valley 4, Gill St. Bernard’s 2: Justina Walck posted four hits, including a double, and drove in a run, and Annalise Rohrbough allowed just three hits, no walks and struck out three to fuel Delaware Valley (9-4). Meghan Haff and Alexa DeWire each singled twice for the Terriers. Maddie Bedrock picked up two hits and Grace Beveridge and Claire Chestnutt each knocked in runs for Gill St. Bernard’s (4-4).
ANALYSIS: Gill, reportedly, had a seventh-inning rally short circuited by a double play on an interference call, but it’s still a nice job by the Mountain-Division leading Knights to stay with surging Del Val, which claimed its ninth straight win.

Manville 10, South Hunterdon 6: Vanessa Ramirez went 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored and Sam Zuza was added three singles and two runs scored as Manville used a five-run second inning to pull ahead and hold off South Hunterdon. Briana Rivera, Mindy Sonnenberg, Emme Vornlocker, Melany Solis and Sioni Robinson each had two hits for the Mustangs (4-7). Emma Bacon finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Taylor Farlee recorded a single, double, two runs and an RBI for the Eagles (4-5).
ANALYSIS: Great Mountain Division victory for Manville, which suffered a disappointing conference loss to Rutgers Prep last Thursday, the Argos’ only win of the season.

Westfield 4, Elizabeth 3: Julia Romano and Ally Gulla each finished 3-for-4 with a double, run and RBI as Westfield rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to grab the victory. Erica Lawrence added two hits, including a double, a run and an RBI for the Blue Devils (8-2).
ANALYSIS: That sound you heard was a giant bullet zipping past Westfield’s proverbial ear. That would have been a BAD loss for a team that has designs on bigger and better things. Nice job by the Blue Devils stepping up when the chips were down.

Somerset Tech 17, Woodbridge Academy 11: Brianna LaFace went 3-for-5 and picked up the victory, going the distance and striking out seven for Somerset Tech. Liliana Gomez tripled in three runs and Sarah Yagual added two hits and two RBIs for the Runnin Jags (2-3).
ANALYSIS: A much-needed victory for Somerset Tech, which had dropped three straight, all by mercy rule.

Montgomery 13, Warren Hills 0 (5 innings): Kira Ferraiolo went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, and Peyton Schnackenberg allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out 10 over five innings as No. 1 Montgomery stayed undefeated. Julia Loffredo added a double, RBI, two runs and two stolen bases for the Cougars (10-0).

North Hunterdon 21, Franklin 1 (4 innings): Kady Johnson singled, doubled, scored three runs and drove in four, picking up the victory in the circle, allowing a run on four hits, no walks and striking out two for No. 4 North Hunterdon (9-2). Emily Radican doubled twice, scored four runs and drove in three, while Erin Provines added two hits, three runs and three RBIs for the Lions. Molly Swayne picked up two hits and an RBI for Franklin (0-9).

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 13, Morris Tech 2 (6 innings): Quinn Kekelis went 3-for-4 with a triple, run and three RBIs and Hannah Lyman added three hits, including a double, and two RBIs to fuel Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Julia DiGiacomo went 2-for-3 with four runs and an RBI for the Raiders (3-6).

Rahway 6, Plainfield 5: Laniya Vargas singled twice and Shantel Stradford, Chantel Winstead and Angela Peters drove in runs to send Rahway (6-4). Arianna Diaz went 3-for-4 with a double, run and an RBI, and Glorianni Mercado singled and drove in two runs for Plainfield (3-4), which scored twice in the seventh inning but came up a run short.

Blair 7, Pingry 2: Maddy Shilts drove in a run and Kayla Stass picked up a hit and a run scored, but Pingry fell to 1-8.

Belvidere 9, Bound Brook 8: Megan Tomaselli tripled twice and drove in four runs, and Heather Tomaselli singled, doubled, scored two runs and knocked in another for Bound Brook (2-5). Elizabeth DeFazio collected two hits for the Crusaders.

Phillipsburg 9, Ridge 8: Annabelle Hamilton went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs and Kristin Miscia singled, doubled, scored two runs and drove in two runs for Ridge (4-6). Phillipsburg scored a run in the sixth to tie it and one in the seventh to win.

From Sunday

Highlander Showcase at Governor Livingston

Governor Livingston 4, Summit 1: Jamie Belfer went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Alanna Namit singled and knocked in two runs to send host Governor Livingston in the opening round. Christine Pacheco went the first 5 1/3 innings to pick up the victory, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out five. Namit allowed an unearned run on one hit, a walk and struck out four over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Governor Livingston 11, Columbia 0 (5 innings): Alanna Namit posted a five-inning one-hit shutout, walking one and striking out 13, adding a single, homer and four RBIs as host Governor Livingston grabbed the title. Katie Debbie doubled and drove in three runs for the Highlanders (10-2), while Jamie Belfer went 3-for-3 and scored three times.