WEST CALDWELL - When the Livingston girls softball team faced Caldwell on Wednesday, it was looking to improve on its lone victory this season. But so was Caldwell. Both teams knew it would be a tough game.
In the end, the Lancers were victorious 8-5, but had to stave off a strong comeback attempt by Caldwell in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Livingston appeared to have the game heading into the bottom of the seventh inning with a convincing 8-0 lead, but the Lancers' defense showed some final inning jitters and the Chiefs came back to score all their runs in the last at bats in the seventh inning.
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"We took advantage of their mistakes and they took advantage of our mistakes," said Livingston head coach Jason Daily, whose team raised its record to 2-3. Yesterday's win was the school's first win in the new Super Essex Conference.
Caldwell head coach Mike Teshkoyan said he is going to take the loss as a "learning experience".
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"Absolutely, it is a learning experience," said Teshkoyan, whose team dropped to 1-6 on the season. "It's not about winning. It is about team unity and not giving up."
Before this season, both teams had been known for quality softball and posting a lot of victories. But with the new Super Essex Conference, the divisions are based on records from the last few years, so the Chiefs and Lancers are competing with the top teams in the county.
"We're doing the best we can," said Teshkoyan, whose team struggled against Livingston pitcher Alex Pizzoli for most of the day. "Our pitching and fielding has been consistent, but our hitting has been slow to coming around."
"Today, I was using everything that I could," said Pizzoli, who added that her best pitch on Wednesday was her curveball.
On Wednesday, Reid Singer and Rachel Wasilak led the Lancers with three hits each and the runs came easily at first. The Lancers scored a run in the second and three in the third inning to grab a 4-0 lead. In the third inning, Livingston's Alex Bell, Jess Icolari and Ally Boni scored.
But it was the fourth inning that gave Livingston the serious upper hand when a pair of walks from Heather Pence and Icolari set-up what appeared to be a base hit from designated player Jessica Peslak that scored Pence. But a throw by Caldwell catcher Paige Johnson went high to second base, letting Icolari and Peslak round the bases to give Livingston a 7-0 lead. Livingston leftfielder Singer then crushed a home run over the left centerfield fence for an 8-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
"It was right down the middle," said Singer, who is a first pitch hitter. "If it is not a ball, I am hitting it."
"They definitely have a very good hitting team," said Teshkoyan.
But Caldwell was not entirely out, even if it seemed that way. Livingston knew that.
"The game is never over with Caldwell, even when there are two outs in the seventh inning," said Daily.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Caldwell finally got on the board as senior second baseman Gianna Jamison out ran a throw from Livingston shortstop Bell that scored Alex Costa from third base. Junior shortstop Chelsea Columbo then sacrificed Gianna Jamison and Alex Sciaca over to second and third.
Caldwell first baseman Jennifer Toron smacked a pop-up that caused confusion between some Livingston defenders; when it dropped, both Sciaca and Jamison scored, closing the gap to 8-3. Johnson then got a base hit to give the Chiefs runners on first and second. Both Brittany Trivino and designated player Kasey Bohnert got on base because of Livingston errors that let Toron and Johnson score, narrowing Livingston's lead to 8-5.
In the end, though, the Lancers held on to the advantage and won.
Livingston will try to garner two wins in a row when it faces Glen Ridge on Friday. Caldwell will look for its second win of the season on Friday when it faces Wayne Valley at home in an independent game.
Livingston Softball Schedule
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
April 16 at Glen Ridge
April 17 Cranford at Black and Gold Invite at Cedar Grove, 11:30 a.m.
April 19 Nutley
April 20 West Morris Central
April 21 Montclair Kimberley Academy
April 23 at Bloomfield
April 27 at Belleville
April 28 Cedar Grove
April 30 at Mt. St. Dominic
