Clutch Hitting Will Be Key For Cutters' State Playoff Hopes

Pitching and, to a lesser extent, defense have been the strengths of Sue Benjamin’s softball team this year. Hitting, not so much.

So when rival Ramapo put up a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead heading into the game's final frame last Wednesday, things looked grim.

Down to their final three outs with a division title hanging in the balance, the Cutters’ bats finally came to life.

Marissa Spinuzzi doubled to lead off the inning and Ashley Sudol kept things going with a bunt single that put runners at the corners for the team’s leading hitter, Alexis Bush.

When Bush lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field that brought home Spinuzzi with the game's tying run, the Cutters were only getting started.

Sophomore Sam Colca continued the rally with a single and junior Jen Calabrase walked to load the bases with one out.

Designated player (DP) Jackie Schor, the Cutters’ only senior starter, then strode to the plate and lashed a two-run single to put the Cutters back on top by a pair.

In the bottom of the seventh, Spinuzzi, the team's starting pitcher, shut the door on the Raiders and Fair Lawn (12-12) prevailed to earn a share of their second consecutive Big North National Division title.

Benjamin said she wasn’t pleased that the girls gave Ramapo four runs in the sixth, but acknowledged that the come-from-behind win showed a lot of heart and character. She’s hoping the victory will give the Cutters some momentum heading into their first round state playoff matchup with Hudson County power North Bergen (20-4) on Tuesday. 

While the second-seeded Bruins are heavily favored, Benjamin believes her young Cutters have what it takes to spark the upset.

“I saw [North Bergen] play in their Hudson County tournament and I definitely think that we have a shot,” she said. “They’re a good team, obviously, but I feel like if we play to our potential like we have in some of our games this season, we definitely have a good shot at being very competitive in that game.”

Benjamin is confident that with her ace Spinuzzi taking the mound, she’ll have the pitching edge on North Bergen. It’s the hitting, she said, that will need to re-emerge if the Cutters are to pull the upset.

“It’s a matter of getting up the run production -- timely hitting.” Benjamin said. “We’re hitting, but we’re just not hitting at the right times.” 

She chalks up the team’s season-long hitting woes to her younger players’ lack of confidence at the plate. Many of her underclassmen have excelled at practice, but struggled in games. 

“When push comes to shove and we’re up in the batter’s box,” Benjamin said, “instead of attacking that pitch, we’re hesitant and we look at the first pitch. You need to be more aggressive and more confident, and that comes with experience.”

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The majority of Benjamin’s young team – she starts a freshman, three sophomores and five juniors – did not crack the team's starting lineup last year. Only four girls on the current squad played every day last season.

“Those three or four can’t consistently carry the team,” she said. “The other kids have got to step it up a little bit more.”

The Cutters’ two top contributors this season are junior battery mates Marissa Spinuzzi and Alexis Bush, both three-year starters.

Benjamin said that what the 5-foot-3 hurler Spinuzzi lacks in size, she more than makes up for in smarts and nasty breaking stuff. 

In addition to a solid fastball, Spinuzzi mixes in a tailing curve, screwball, drop ball and a changeup to keep hitters off balance.

“As a freshman, she just threw fastballs and not much mix,” Benjamin said. “Now, as a junior, she’s developed a lot where she’s able to get those moving pitches in.”

On the season, the crafty righty has given up only about five hits per game while striking out well over a batter an inning, Benjamin said.  Spinuzzi, a great all-around athlete, also excels on the basepaths and sports the team’s second highest batting average 

Her backstop, Alexis Bush, is the team’s leading hitter.

Bush, an imposing slugger who towers over Spinuzzi when the pair huddles to talk strategy on the mound, leads the team in batting average, home runs and intentional walks.

“She’s definitely known in the softball community for her power and her offense,” said Benjamin, who also complimented Bush’s pitch framing behind the plate.

The Cutters’ other top players are junior third baseman and cleanup hitter, Jen Calabrase, slick fielding junior shortstop Ashley Sudol, and sophomore second baseman, Samantha Colca.

Sophomore Keana Rehrer, who’s moved all over the diamond in search of a position that best utilizes her cannon of an arm, has settled into center field.

An upset over North Bergen on Tuesday would go a long way toward making up for what Benjamin said has been a season that's fallen somewhat short of expectations. If the Cutters aren't able to outhit the Bruins, however, at least they'll be able to look forward to next season.

Without a single senior position player graduating from this year’s team, Benjamin is hopeful that next year’s squad of seasoned veterans will prove a force to be reckoned with in the Big North National Division.

“If everyone stays healthy and continues to improve,” Benjamin said. “We should be very strong next year.”

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