Cougar Softball Geared Up For County Tournament Run

At the beginning of the season, the members of the Cranford varsity softball team hoped that success would follow their hard work.

And has it ever. The Lady Cougars copped the top seed in the 2010 Union County Tournament, exactly where they expect to be.

Cranford has captured three of the last four titles and five county championships overall. They've been the top seed the past three years.

"We talked about how important it is to be the No. 1 seed," said Cranford head coach Bob Bruno. "They changed some of the rules around to accommodate a No. 1 seed. We've been the top seed for three years in a row and we finally got to the point where we'll be the home team all the way through the tournament, so that's important. Being the No. 1 in our bracket, we're pretty confident that we'll do well.

"Being the top seed was very important, not only for our seniors and our older girls, but the younger girls too," said Siragusa. "This is our first year. It's awesome."

"We definitely expected it," said freshman Jess McCoy. "We knew we could make it to the top. And when we finally got it, it felt right, like we were supposed to be there."

Leading the charge this season has been four-year starter Kelly Hardman, who once again has proven her status as the top pitcher in the county, and one of the best in the entire state. She sports an 8-1 mark and has the all-important experience factor with the big games on the horizon.

"We just have to take one game at a time," said Hardman. "We can't take any team for granted. Even though we got a bye in the first round, it doesn't mean that the next team we play is going to be any worse or better than us. We just have to beat them."

The seniors would love to cap their careers on a high note. Hardman, along with third baseman Taylor D'Antico, are the only senior starters and they won't be satisfied unless the trophy comes home to Cranford.

"It would be nice going out with counties and hopefully states because we've been so successful in the past, just finishing up this year would be awesome," Hardman said.

A big key to the Lady Cougars season has been the maturity of the underclassmen, who are playing more like seasoned veterans than first-time varsity starters.

"They've all been great this year," said Hardman. "Everybody has stepped up one game or another, one play or another. They definitely picked up their game and they've been doing really well for me with defense and hitting."

Freshman pitcher Julie Siragusa came into the 2010 season with high expectations riding on her powerful left arm. Her 4-1 record is proof positive she's the real deal. She for one wants to keep the tradition going.

"We know that Kelly and Taylor and all the girls, they've been winning counties and states and doing so well for the past four years, that the younger girls want to keep that going,"

"Kelly and Taylor are really good players," said McCoy. "They're very focused, very determined. They always get us pumped up."

That's exactly what they did last week versus Governor Livingston in a game that determined the No. 1 seed in the county tournament.

On the road, under the lights, and trailing 5-0 entering the sixth inning, Cranford posted seven runs and then blew the doors off the highly-touted Lady Highlanders by crossing eight more in the seventh to win 15-5 in a stunning comeback. That locked up the top-seed and home field advantage throughout the entire tournament.

"We had a tough game with GL until our bats came alive," said Bruno. "The kids really hit the ball well, and Julie Siragusa came through in relief for us, didn't allow a base runner in 2 1/3 innings. It was contagious. Kelly started off the sixth inning with a triple, they threw the ball out of play, we scored and you could just see the momentum was starting to change. I think we're peaking at the right time."

Last year, the Lady Cougars came up short when losing in the county semifinals to Linden. Most of this team didn't get to feel the disappointment on the field, but for a proud program such as this one, even those in waiting are ready for their chance to make amends. They would like to get the job done for Hardman, who despite all of her success, knows there's no reason to leave any stone unturned.

"I think, everyday, I need to work a little harder," said Hardman. "I think the peak of my career was last year's states, I had 16 strikeouts, no-hitters, I did really well last year during states. There's always room for improvement every game. Every day I just need to go out and work my hardest."

"We just have to mentally prepare and get ready," said Nicole Ravetier. "We have to hit, because we know we'll have our pitching behind us. I think that it's great to come out and be the top seed and have people want to beat us. The pressure is good because it makes us know that we have to play well to maintain our success."

"I think we have a good shot at winning the counties," said freshman Jess McCoy. "We've come so far, and we can go really far."