Lady Redwings Advance to Section Championship

The Lady Redwings defeated Glen Ridge High School (6-14) on Monday to advance to the North Jersey Section II Group I Championship. They seemed to have the game locked up heading into the 7^th, but Glen Ridge refused to go down easy. They rallied for three runs off relief pitcher Jayla Vega before the Redwings managed to close out the 8-4 win.

The seniors led the scoring throughout the game, starting with a two out solo home-run off the bat of catcher Ashley Barron in the bottom of the first.

Hoboken starter Yaritza "J. J." Santiago allowed just one base runner – and no hit - over the first three innings. The Redwings left three runners on in the first three.

In the fourth, the bats came alive. Glen Ridge tied the game as Claire Naylor roped a high pitch to right center for a base hit. On the first pitch to the next batter, shortstop Amanda Spano bobbled a perfect throw-down from Barron, allowing Naylor to safely reach second. Clean-up hitter Anna Esposito followed with an infield single, to put runners at the corners for Marisa Lopes.

With the infield in, Lopes put down a perfect bunt. The Redwings made the play to first, allowing Naylor to score. The game was tied at 1-1. Santiago struck out the next batter to end the inning.

But the Glen Ridge girls weren't the only ones crossing the plate in the fourth. Twelve Hoboken batters came to the plate as they broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the inning.

Santiago led-off with a walk, advancing to second on Desiree Rivera's hard grounder to left. Samantha Maldonado bunted safely to load the bases, beating the throw at first. After an out, Vega took the lead with an RBI single to left.

Renee Zabaleta added three more, clearing the bases with a triple over the head of the centerfielder. Next up, co-captain Barron launched another ball deep to left, this time stopping at third with an RBI triple for the 6-1 lead.

On the next play, everyone was safe as Glen Ridge attempted to catch Barron at the plate on an Amanda Cruz infield single. The Redwings managed to load the bases, but that was the end of the rally as Maldonado flied out to end the inning.

Santiago retired the side 1-2-3 in the fifth and sixth. Hoboken stranded two in the fifth.  In the sixth, Hoboken added one more on a throwing error at first.

Glen Ridge rallied with three in the top of the seventh, but Hoboken (20-4) escaped the inning to advance to Thursday's sectional finals.

They will play the winner of Tuesday's match-up between High Tech and Whippany Park High School. High Tech has knocked off Hoboken twice thus far, including the Hudson County semi-finals.

Senior pitcher Santiago was blasted by High Tech in the counties. She says she isn't nervous at all heading into Thursday, no matter who they play. If High Tech does come to Hoboken, Santiago says winning is all about attitude. "We need hits, and we can't get nervous," she says. "For some reason, we always get nervous when we play them."

Santiago allowed two hits and one walk while striking out 11 in six innings. Barron was 2-2 with two walks and two RBIs; Santiago was 2-3; Rivera was 3-3 with a walk and three RBIs.