Woo, Bagniewski Named Patch Athletes

Congratulations to this week's Cranford Patch Athletes, Christian Woo, a recent addition to the boys' tennis team, and Stephanie Bagniewski, a sophomore responsible for a thrilling softball sacrifice win.

Woo, just a freshman, is making his presence felt on the tennis court, where he's worked his way up to third singles with his stellar play, winning his first two career matches at the varsity level on his way to an impressive 4-2 mark.

His biggest victory thus far came against Connor Kastenbaum of Summit, closing out an exciting 7-5 third set with a beautiful forehand winner.

"Towards the end, I really pumped myself up and just went for the final kill there," he said. "After the second set, I was pumped up that I won that. Watching everyone else cheer me on really got me going to finish it off."

With each match, he's finding out there's solid competition on every team.

"I just realize there's going to be some tough players out there who are really going to beat down on me and I'm actually going to extensively try for it."

"Christian's record is fantastic," said Cranford tennis coach Richard Goldstein. "He plays in the off-season and that helps his game out tremendously. He knows where to place the ball, he knows how to read his opponent, and he takes our advice when we tell him and I think that's helping him out on the court."

Woo has been sharpening his skills over the years by taking private lessons, going to numerous clinics and just by hitting around with his family. Now it's all starting to pay off.

"I started playing tennis maybe eight years ago," said Woo. "I think dad handed me a racquet, and I just kind of went with it. I've been practicing for so long. It's just been building up with all the experiences, playing in tournaments, playing other people, getting taught by coaches. It's really built up to where I am today."

Our girls' Athlete of the Week is just a sophomore, but she's making plenty of noise for the girls' softball team.

Stephanie Bagniewski hit the "sacrifice fly heard 'round Cranford" when her long fly ball allowed teammate Nicole Ravatier to tag-up and score the winning run in a thrilling 1-0 victory over rival Arthur L. Johnson.

"I felt it was my responsibility to get Nicole home," said Bagniewski. "Coach told me, just do what you have to do, just bring her in, and so I just went up to the plate with an open mind, to try and get her in, and I did. It was just one of those feelings when you hit it and you just feel it. I was really excited when I realized she came home."

It was scoreless into the 11th inning, but there was plenty of motivation in the Cranford dugout.

"The other team talks smack back to you, so you know you have to go in there, beat the other team and play as hard as you can."

The sophomore followed up her game-winning sacrifice fly with a 2-for-4 effort in a 7-0 victory over Union Catholic. Highlights included a two-run single. She then added a hit, an RBI and a run scored when the Cougars whitewashed Roselle 10-0.

"In the beginning of the season, I thought I struggled a little bit, just getting in with everyone else," said Bagniewski. "But after practicing a lot with coach, and him telling me some things to fix, I think I can do a good job."

The team has gone through quite a few changes this year, but the machine is still running smoothly.

"We lost a lot of seniors last year and it's like a whole new team now. So we're all trying to stick together and mesh as a team. We're doing a good job. We're winning games, so it's good."

With the team now 6-1 on the season, Bagniewski and her teammates have a lot to look forward to.

"We just need to keep practicing as hard as we can, keep it in our mind that we have to go in strong to win every game."