Lady Aviators Seek More Wins Against Tough Teams

The Hasbrouck Heights softball team is looking to make some moves this season.

The Aviators head coach Jackie Ferranti is seeking to up its win total and to win a game in the state and county tournaments.

Hasbrouck Heights finished with a 10-13 record with seven players returning this season.

It was only a few years ago when Ferranti took over the post that the Lady Aviators only won five games. "I want to be .500 or above and win a round in the state tournament and the county tournament," said Ferranti.

In the state tournament Heights just missed upsetting Morris Tech before losing 2-1 in the first round of the Group 1 North 1 state section.

And the Aviators had a tough time in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament, losing 12-2 to Glen Rock. "I think we were nervous in that game," said Ferranti about the county game and believes her team will be better prepared for the county tournament this season.

For the first time Ferranti and the Aviators put together a UGALS team during the summer and played some of the better teams in the county.

For the Hasbrouck Heights head coach it was a good experience even though they did not have a good record. "It was an up and down and got to see girls in different positions," said Ferranti. "It made the kids more comfortable in different places and comfortable with me in a more relaxed atmosphere."

The Lady Aviators are led by senior pitcher Julie Sheridan who was second team All North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands. Sheridan struck out 204 batters and had a 2.81 earned run average. "If she is throwing the ball low in the zone, she is unhittable," said Ferranti.

The Aviators head coach added that if Sheridan is not on, it will not matter how well the team is hitting.

In addition to being the team's pitcher, Sheridan is the team's top hitter and cracked three home runs, collected 28 RBI and scored 19 runs. For the 2011 season she hit .420.

Along with Sheridan, Heights has a very good battery duo with senior catcher Jordyn Anderson. The pair has played together for several years aside from high school.

The other returning starters back for Ferranti are the double-play combination of sophomore Carolyn Clites and senior Daniella Castellanos at shortstop and second base respectively. Clites played third base last season before moving to shortstop.

The other slots in the infield could be young with sophomore Swati Shivkuma moving from right field to third base while newcomer freshman Stephanie Pagan could be starting at first base.

The outfield could include several players receiving time including sophomore Kayla Dickman, who saw time at first base last season, junior Gabby Hannah, junior Shanell Duran, freshman Natalie Garcia and freshman Diana Torres. Torres could also see some time in the infield.

Sheridan is expected to leadoff when the Aviators travel to Weehawken in the season opener on Monday. And Anderson is in the second slot of the batting lineup and can get Sheridan over to second or third when she gets on base. Clites is slated for third in the lineup.

Ferranti added that Pagan could progress to the fourth in the lineup in the next few weeks.

For Hasbrouck Heights they are unfortunately in one of the toughest divisions in the NJIC in the Meadowlands B with the likes of Immaculate Conception and Saddle Brook, two of the top softball programs in Bergen County. Both St. Mary and Wood-Ridge have quality programs. The Lady Aviators face both Immaculate Conception and Saddle Brook, back-to-back this week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hasbrouck Heights 2012 softball schedule

(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)

April 2 at Weehawken

April 4  - Immaculate Conception

April 5  at Saddle Brook

April 7 -  Dumont, 11 a.m.

April 10  at Verona

April 11 - St. Mary

April 13-Wallington

April 16 at Lodi

April 17 -Wood-Ridge

April 19  at Secaucus

April 23 at North Arlington

April 24 - Waldwick at Bergenfield, 7 p.m.

April 25 at Queen of Peace 7 p.m.

April 27 at Becton

April 30 at Lyndhurst

May 1 -  Harrison

May 4   -Weehawken

May 7   at Immaculate Conception

May 9  - Saddle Brook

May 11  at Hawthorne

May 14  at St. Mary

May 17  at Wallington

May 18  at Wood-Ridge