Softball Team Captures Cougar Tournament With Doubleheader Sweep

It didn't take long for the Cranford varsity softball team to show their character. After a tough opening day loss to Governor Livingston on Thursday, the Lady Cougars bounced back for a doubleheader sweep of Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Pope John to win the Cougar Classic Saturday at Adams Avenue Field.

A mixture of veterans and underclassmen played key roles in the victories.

Sophomore Melissa Moreno's two-run single in the third inning gave Cranford (2-1) a 3-1 lead in the championship game, while senior Kelly Hardman struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort to beat Pope John 4-3 for the title. Pope John advanced after shutting out Ridge 10-0 in their opening contest.

"It's nice to start off the season good," said Hardman. "Hopefully we can carry it into the next few games. I think we have something really good this year. I think we'll be okay."

In the first game, Cranford freshman Julie Siragusa struck out nine batters in seven innings without giving up a walk while helping the Cougars edge Scotch Plains-Fanwood 4-3. The hard-throwing southpaw enjoyed her first career win.

"It feels good, a freshman pitching varsity," said Siragusa. "I was comfortable. I felt that I could have done better. After the first pitch, the first inning, it was okay. It was a little nerve-wracking. I think we're going to be really good this year."

"I would say that Julie pitched well," Cranford head coach Bob Bruno said. "Nine strikeouts and no walks is super for a freshman in her first start. She pitched three innings on Thursday against a good-hitting GL team and shut them out.  She gave up one hit and had six strikeouts. Today I think she was a little nervous. She didn't have the pop on the ball that she usually does, but to her credit, she stayed in and made pitches when she had to make them."

"She showed a lot of poise," said senior third baseman Taylor D'Antico. "She's working really hard out there. She looked really confident. We're really happy to have her on our team."

Hardman slammed a first-inning homer to set the tone, a good start following a season in which she batted a solid .375.

"I think it was a fastball down the middle of the plate," Hardman said. "I just knew I had to drive it. You don't get a lot of good pitches at bat. So they're either mistakes on the pitcher or she wanted to throw that, so you have to jump on that."

"It was nice to see Kelly lead the game off with a home run, it helps her confidence," said Bruno. "Taylor hit the ball, Melissa hit the ball. We're just so young, when they get into these situations, you forget that they havn't played varsity softball. It's like every play, do this, do that, don't do this, don't do that. But so far, I'm pleased with our defense. We havn't committed an error. If they do the little things, and we keep talking about that, we'll be okay, so we'll keep preaching that."

And the Lady Cougars know that fundamentally sound defense wins the big game.

"I think our defense has been pretty strong all four years I've played," said Hardman. "We never had a problem. They're doing really well. It's good to have a defense behind you as a pitcher."

It's also nice to get a win against a local rival.

"Playing another team from Union County and beating them was good," said Bruno. "We hadn't played them in a few years and the kids, with the whole rivalry thing, that's a big deal. This could be a team we face in the county tournament somewhere down the road. I'm happy they decided to come to the tournament."

As for the future, team chemistry could be just as important as any other factor when it comes to a successful season.

"Senior leadership will be important the whole year," said Bruno. "They don't have the opportunity to take an inning off, a pitch off. Taylor has to run the infield when Kelly's pitching. Obviously she pulls the trigger on every pitch. She has to keep her composure on the mound. These kids look to them for that type of leadership, because we have only three kids out there who have any varsity experience. It's that learning process constantly."