Lineup Changes Bring Softball Team Success

Collingswood's varsity softball team improved its overall record Monday to 3-5, with a 6-4 win against Overbrook High School.

And although you wouldn’t know it by looking at the box score, Panthers dominated their way to victory.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Williams threw her eighth complete game of the season on Monday, throwing two shutout innings before allowing two runs in the third.

Williams walked eight batters and allowed eight hits, but more than redeemed herself by striking-out eight of the batters she faced.

Lineup changes, which were made the weekend before Monday's win, could be responsible for the success.

In the game against Cherry Hill East High School this past Saturday—which led to a 12-10 victory for Collingswood—Panthers head coach Abby Adams made a few position changes. 

Senior Liz Herrera, who started the season in right field, moved infield to second base. Arguably the biggest change was replacing the team's catcher, junior Stephanie Fultano, with sophomore Melissa Cunningham. Fultano was moved to first base, a spot she admitted is a more natural position for her. 

“We made the switch about a week ago,” said Fultano. “We had a little bit of confusion with what was going on at first, and so coach moved me back there. I love playing first base. I’m a left-handed, so that’s definitely an advantage I have.”

And Adams decided to stick with those changes two days later, when the Panthers played the Overbrook Rams Monday.

Fultano went 1-3 in her plate appearances on Monday, with a ground-rule double—with nobody on base in the bottom of the first inning—being her lone hit.

Three batters earlier, junior centerfielder Nicole Hall led-off the game by recording a double of her own, then stealing both third base and home plate on a wild pick-off attempt. Hall went 2-4 on Monday, ending the game with two doubles, three stolen bases, and one run batted-in (RBI).

“I do like batting lead-off,” said Hall. “Last year, I led off, too, so I’m comfortable in that spot. When I do well there, I guess I motivate the rest of the team. I try to get everybody started.”

But with spring break in full effect, the Panthers found themselves meeting the end of Monday's game with a weeklong hiatus from softball. The team won't compete again until Tuesday, April 26, when players travel to Lindenwold.

“I’m hoping we practice every day (during spring break),” said Fultano. “We need to keep getting ready and getting better.”