CN-area softball roundup for Monday, May 1

North Hunterdon 9, Bridgewater-Raritan 0: Junior lefty Maggie Swan fired a five-hit shutout, walking none and striking out 14, adding a double, triple and four RBIs, as fifth-ranked North Hunterdon scored a road victory over the second-ranked Panthers. Meghan Graham chipped in a single, two doubles, a run and three RBIs, while Jensen Macaulay contributed two hits, two runs and an RBI for the Lions (12-2). Sarah Karmazyn picked up a pair of singles and Kiersten Farrell doubled for Bridgewater-Raritan (12-3).
ANALYSIS: Swan has turned in some impressive outings this season, but this might top the list. Bridgewater-Raritan is an absolute offensive juggernaut, so to hold that outfit to just five base runners is pretty incredible. North has come out of nowhere to go deep in the state tournament before in recent years – once resulting in a state title – and this is starting to look like it could be one of those seasons.

Ridge 7, Delaware Valley 2: Annabelle Hamilton singled and drove in three runs, and Amanda Leitz added a singled, double and two RBIs to fuel Ridge (6-7). Maya Bharatiya notched the victory, allowing no earned runs on three hits and four walks, striking out two over five innings. Sophia Berger finished up, allowing one hit and one walk over the final two frames. Meghan Haff and Alexa DeWire each singled and scored on wild pitches for Delaware Valley (10-7).
ANALYSIS: Another very impressive victory for Ridge, which has had its stumbles, sure, but I still can’t get over this turnaround. I’ve already been eyeing Ridge for a spot in the Top 10 – would probably be the first time in more than 20 years the Red Devils have been ranked – and it’s time to take a closer look.
Del Val had won nine straight before dropping games to Montgomery and North Hunterdon, and have now lost three of its last four. Another big game on tap, at home Tuesday against Somerville.

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Montgomery 10, Hunterdon Central 0 (5 innings): Kylie Karsay posted two hits and three RBIs and Kira Ferraiolo went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs as top-ranked Montgomery stayed undefeated. Peyton Schnackenberg tossed a two-hit shutout over five innings, walking one and striking out six, while Abby O’Connor added two hits, two runs and two RBIs for the Cougars (13-0). Madison McKevitt and Kate Chasmar each singled for Hunterdon Central (10-5).
ANALYSIS: Very impressive victory for Montgomery, which has surpassed even the lofty expectations it carried into the season. Central getting 10-runned at home doesn’t happen very often. I can remember Hillsborough doing it about three or four years ago, but I’d have to scour my records to find any other instances. Still, that came during, shall we say, the dark years for the Red Devils (2013-14), during the previous coaching regime, so this is a far more impressive feat.
Fourth straight loss for Hunterdon Central, which is eye-opening, but considering they’ve come to the area’s three top-ranked teams and powerhouse Sparta, it’s not shocking. Still, the Red Devils are going to need to get their act together with Hillsborough due in for a Wednesday visit.

Manville 10, Somerset Tech 0 (5 innings): Sam Zuza spun a twirled a two-hit shutout, walking three and striking out eight over five innings as Manville improved to 5-9. Zuza helped her own cause with a single, triple, two runs and three RBIs, while Mindy Sonnenberg added three hits and an RBI.
ANALYSIS: That’s Manville’s fifth victory, first time the Mustangs have eclipsed four runs in a season since 2006, which was also Manville’s last winning campaign.

Phillipsburg 17, Hillsborough 14: Alissa Saverino collected four hits, including a double, scored three runs and drove in two, but Hillsborough fell at home. Julia Kwiatek collected a single, double and home run, knocking in three runs, and Delaney Smith singled, homered and drove in three runs for the Raiders (5-7).
ANALYSIS: The loss snaps a five-game Hillsborough winning streak with games at Hunterdon Central and at North Hunterdon on tap for the Raiders next two outings.

Watchung Hills 22, Franklin 0 (4 innings): Izzy Definis posted three hits, including a double, scored three runs and drove in four, and picked up the victory with four one-hit innings, walking none and striking out seven, as Watchung Hills rolled (11-4). LIanna Meehan added a singled, double and three RBIs for the Warriors, while Shelly Zoppi singled twice, scored a run and drove in two others. Molly Swayne singled for Franklin (0-12).

Kent Place 14, Plainfield 1 (5 innings): Deniesha Green singled for Plainfield (3-7).

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Somerset County Tournament second round

Somerville 10, Pingry 0 (5 innings): Christina Tonks went 3-for-3, scored three runs and drove in two others and Natalie Pinho tossed a five-inning one-hit shutout, walking none and striking out nine, as fifth-seeded Somerville advanced, earning coach Kathy Dailey her 100th career victory. Natalie Babalis and Veronica Dobranski each chipped in two hits and an RBI for the Pioneers (7-4), who will visit fourth-seeded Ridge in Saturday’s quarterfinals, 7 p.m. at Mountain Park. Jillian Bahr notched the lone hit for 13th-seeded Pingry (1-10).
ANALYSIS: A hearty congratulations to Coach Dailey on her milestone. There is no coach that is more dedicated to her squad. A well-deserved milestone.

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Immaculata 10, North Plainfield 0 (5 innings): Becca Zayle finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Rileigh Glynn allowed just four hits and struck out six over give inning to lead eighth-seeded Immaculata (3-9) into the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals. The Spartans will visit top-seeded Montgomery on Saturday. Sheila Nunez went 2-for-2 for ninth-seeded North Plainfield (6-2).

Union County Tournament second round

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 4, Roselle Park 1: Julia DiGiacomo singled twice and scored two runs and Zoe Cardenas allowed just a run on four hits, walked one and struck out three as 13th-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and toppled the No. 4 seed. Quinn Kekelis and Lexi Brunetto each chipped in a single and an RBI for the Raiders (5-6), who will visit fifth-seeded Cranford in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

Westfield 16, New Providence 6 (6 innings): Danielle Rinaldi went 4-for-5 with two triples, an RBI and three runs scored, and Lauren Fernandez added two singles, a homer, three runs and three RBIs as second-seeded Westfield (10-2) rolled into the quarterfinals and a Wednesday meeting with 10th-seeded Elizabeth. Genevieve Howell and Jordan Sacher each contributed two hits, including a double, and two RBIs to the Blue Devils’ cause. Megan Mohan notched two hits for 18th-seeded New Providence (3-5).

Staff writer Simeon Pincus can be reached at CourierSoftball@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus and at www.Facebook.com/SimeonPincusCN.