Bats Come to Life as Caldwell 12U Softball Advances

Despite scoring six first-inning runs, the typically upbeat Caldwell 12U softball team was a bit quiet at the beginning of Monday's game against Madison.

But the Chiefs' chirping reached a fever pitch when Nikki Tufano and Shannon Johnson laced back-to-back hits in the decisive fourth inning of the team's 10-7 win in the first round of the Bi County Softball League playoffs at James Caldwell High School.

"It was a good game for us, because we haven't won a big game like this," said Tufano, who finished 2-for-4.

Caldwell (5-6) advances to face West Essex Tuesday night at Kilroy Field in Wayne at 8 p.m.

The Chiefs set the tone in the bottom of the first inning Monday with six runs as 10 batters came to the plate and Tufano, Johnson, Jordyn Ferrante, Shannon Ward, Anna Rowland and Ally Duren-Lubanski each scored in the frame for a 6-1 lead.

But Madison rallied to grab a 7-6 advantage in the top of the third inning.

Caldwell coach Mike Giordano said the key was rebounding after falling behind.

"We answered back and kept chipping away," he said.

Tufano and Johnson began the rally by leading off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double and a single, respectively. Both runners came around to score following a perfect sacrifice by Hannah Rothstein and a couple of passed balls to take an 8-7 lead.

Caldwell's defense and the relief pitching of Hanna Keeshen made the lead stand up, while the Chiefs padded their advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Meg Kinsella recorded an RBI, while Rowland and Duren-Lubanski each crossed the plate in the frame.

With some on vacation, Giordano praised some of his bench players for stepping up, like Johnson at first base and Gillian DiMasi behind the plate.

In addition, before Keeshen took the ball in the fourth inning, Kinsella provided several quality innings in the circle for the Chiefs, who were led offensively once again by Tufano.

Tufano, who also plays basketball, has even dropped soccer to concentrate more on softball year-round.

"I really want to hit the ball," Tufano said of what she thinks about when coming to the plate. "Getting a hit makes me feel good."