Early Struggles Continue for RHS Softball Team

The Ridgewood girls varsity softball team continued its early season struggles by falling to neighboring Paramus 9-0 on Friday in a Freedom Division matchup. It's not exactly as the preseason darlings of North Jersey envisioned the season starting.

Pitcher Nicole Hroncich (2-4) allowed eight hits, walked five, and struck out three.

Ridgewood (2-5) managed five hits–all singles–against Paramus’ Tori Feorenzo (5-1), but could not come up with any clutch hits once runners were on base. Feorenzo struck out six Maroons.

The Spartans took a 3-0 lead after three innings and used a five-run fifth inning to put the game out of reach. Paramus (7-1) avenged last year’s loss to the Maroons. 

Spartan first baseman Victoria Vergona took Hroncich yard in the fifth, hitting a grand slam to right center. Vergona (2-for-3) also hit an RBI double in the first. She now has eight RBI in her last two games.

The Spartans shone at the top of the order as the 1-through-4 hitters went a combined 6-for-12 (.500) with six RBI, seven runs and three walks.

Ridgewood became Paramus’ third consecutive shutout victim. The Spartans blanked Old Tappan 6-0 on Monday and Teaneck 10-0 on Thursday.

Ridgewood second baseman Christina Bicks went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Third baseman Lauren Tom picked up two hits on the day. Shortstop Courtney Pedalino and right fielder Margo Tanner each got a hit for the Maroons.

“I think we’ve just been flat,” Ridgewood head coach Patti Auger said. “Confidence is a big thing. Unfortunately the girls don’t have a lot of confidence.”

“We have to work even harder and make up for our [poor] start,” the coach added.

The Maroons entered the season with high expectations, including being ranked No. 1 in The Record’s North Jersey Preseason Top 25 poll.

“I have no doubt that these girls, if they set their mind to it, they’ll come back,” Auger said. “They need to be hungry and they need to want it badly enough and honestly not feel sorry for themselves.”

Along with Bicks and Tom, the Maroons possess talented seniors Claire Dennis (C), and centerfielder Christine Reynolds, who also plays soccer at RHS.

“I have no doubt we’ll work our way back from this and end up in a much better place than we’re in now,” Auger said. “We have too much skill.”

Looking ahead, Auger said that the team needs to bounce back quickly heading into a matchup versus Indian Hills on Sunday.

“I’m a firm believer you have to do it one at a time, one at a time,” said Auger. “We can only look at this game right now that’s coming up and try and make it a better game than what it was today and that’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna work our way to get back into this and only focus on Sunday.”