Softball Team Off To a 5-1 Start

A mix of senior leadership and rising young talent are helping the girls' varsity softball team raise the stakes this season after winning five of their first six games.

Tuesday, senior right-hander Kelly Hardman was sensational, striking out 14 while giving up just one hit and one walk in their 7-0 victory over Union Catholic, winning their fifth straight contest.

Sophomore Stephanie Bagnewski highlighted a four-run fourth inning, connecting on a two-run single which handed Union Catholic their first loss.

"Everybody's doing great, I can't complain," said Hardman. "In the beginning we had to work harder because we had everyone but three starters returning, and that's big for a team, so we just had to hang in there. Everybody's doing really great, doing their part, hitting, fielding, everything."

Last Friday against rival Arthur L. Johnson, no one would give an inch. That was the story for 11 innings, before Bagniewski came up with one of the biggest RBI's of the season so far. The right-handed batter drove one far enough in the outfield to allow Nicole Ravetier to tag up at third and score the winning run to give the Lady Cougars a thrilling 1-0 victory over rival ALJ n in a game that could turn out to be one of the biggest games of the season.

"The kids always come more prepared to play against Clark,' said head coach Bob Bruno. "Playing 11 innings in a see-saw game, two good pitchers on the mound, the good thing was we didn't make any mistakes on the field."

The Lady Cougars won their fourth straight game, as Hardman tossed 11 innings of shutout ball while giving up just two hits, striking out 10 and walking two.

"Her last two starts, against Pope John and against Johnson, you can see that Kelly's a superior pitcher," said Bruno. "I told her so. That game against Pope John, which is a powerhouse from Sussex County, I thought that might be the best game I've seen her pitch in four years, considering one through nine they had athletes there. She's developed another two pitches so she's not just a change-up, curve ball kid anymore. Now she's going inside, she's going up with a rise, so she's someone they have to contend with."

"This is not my first time doing this," said Hardman. "In the county tournament versus Linden we also went 12 innings. We all wanted the win. I can't let my team down, me taking off an inning, anything can happen, every single pitch, you just have to concentrate and stay in there."

Ravetier and freshman Julie Siragusa had the lone hits for the winners, and were instrumental in crunch time.

"Julie Siragusa bunted me over to third base," said Nicole Ravetier. "So we had a runner on third with one out and Steffie Bagniewski got up and hit a high fly ball to centerfield, so I tagged up and scored the winning run. It was real exciting. It was definitely a humongous victory for us. We have a big rivalry with Johnson in every sport. Before the game we were really pumped, It was really awesome to have such a close game and a good game on both sides against such a team. I think it will carry us through the next couple of games."

"Once Julie bunted Nicole over to third, I felt it was my responsibility to get Nicole home," said Bagniewski. "Coach even told me, just do what you have to do, just bring her in. It was one of those feelings you get, I felt it and I was really excited when I realized she came home."

Even bigger tests are on the horizon, as Cranford steps back into tournament action this Saturday.

"We have a tough tournament this weekend," said Bruno. We play Livingston and we play Immaculate Heart. IHA were state champs last year and Livingston has a really good squad."