Lancers Shut Out Caldwell

LIVINGSTON - It's been an uncharacteristically tough year for the Livingston and Caldwell softball teams.

Since both teams joined the Super Essex Conference, the Lancers and Chiefs have faced a slew of other top teams that have challenged their winning records. As a consequence, when Livingston faced Caldwell on Friday, neither had earned an automatic bid into the state tournament, although both were hoping to do so.

By the end of the day, things looked better for the Lancers after they shut out the Chiefs, 10-0.  Livingston's freshman pitcher Jessica Peslak threw a one-hitter and struck out 12 batters in the five-inning game. 

"I did not see who else was in the running," said Jason Daily, Livingston's head coach about about trying to figure out if with the win his team had qualified for the state tournament.  "If we get the call (from the NJSIAA) great, if we don't we will move on."

This year, for the first time, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association will allow teams with a record under .500 into the state tournament.  The under .500 teams will fill out the 16-team bracket if there are not enough .500 or better teams in each section.

In previous years, both Livingston and Caldwell would have easily qualified.

But after Friday's game, Caldwell head coach Mike Teshkoyan knew that his team would not get a bid.

"We applied, but we did not make it," said Teshkoyan, whose team is, ironically, the defending Group 2 North 2 state champions. "We wanted to go for it (state playoffs)."

If the Lancers get the nod from the state, they'll hopefully have more games like Friday's.  The Lancers combined the power pitching of Peslak with an offensive attack.   

"That was the most dominating pitching performance that I have seen," said Caldwell coach Teshkoyan about Peslak. Peslak, who started her third game of the season, struck out Caldwell's first six batters.

Before the contest with the Chiefs, Peslak had been 1-1, with a victory over Sparta and a loss against Cedar Grove.

"I felt really good and was comfortable," said Peslak, who was told just before the game that she was pitching. "My riser was working well and  I was working my curveball and screwball in and out."

Peslak also got offensive support from her teammates, too, throughout the game. In the fifth inning alone, Livingston scored seven runs.

Some highlights include Jessica Icolari's performance.  Icolari, Livingston's catcher, was 2-for-3 against Caldwell, with two runs scored and two RBIs.  

"I really like to stay back in the count and it makes me feel like I have to hit the ball," said Icolari, who hit a double in the seven-run fifth inning. "It was a hit and run, so I knew that I had to hit the ball."

In addition to Icolari's offense, first baseman Melissa Pence went 2-for-3 with one run scored and right fielder Becky Herman was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

For the Caldwell offense, it was just right fielder Gabby Roselle's single to left field that opened up the third inning. Roselle made it to second base on a stolen base, but Peslak shut the door and struck out the next three batters.

"We haven't had any luck at all and that is frustrating," said Teshkoyan. "I think the whole team is frustrated."

Livingston travels to Montclair in the Essex County Tournament today while Caldwell faces Hackettstown away.  Caldewell will play rival West Essex on Monday.

* This story has been updated