Maroons Softball a Marked Team in 2011

Patti Auger knows that other teams are not going to take them lightly when the first pitch is thrown on Friday.

The Ridgewood High School varsity softball team surprised a lot of softball fans by making it to the Bergen County Tournament finals in 2010, only to fall to Indian Hills.

Despite graduating a sizable chunk of its starting lineup, the Maroons compiled a 24-6 record last season (its seventh consecutive 20-plus win for the program) and grabbed a share of the North Jersey Tri-County Conference Division B title.

“There is definitely a different sense of expectation going into this season compared to last,” said Auger, who enters her fifth season at the helm. “Last year, no one really expected us to do much, so we were able to sneak up on some people for a while. That will not be the case this year.”

The Ridgewood head coach knows that a loss in the state sectional semi-finals to Montclair has lit a flame under this team.

“Our loss in the state tournament last year was very disappointing and something that I hope we will build off of,” said Auger. “It is my hope that we will be stronger because of that disappointment. The county and state tournaments are always great challenges. You can't afford to have an off day and every team is aware that it is do or die. Those are the games that you can't wait for.”

Auger said that the key for the 2011 season is to take the situation in their hands, be it league, county or state tournaments. “Our goals for the year are to control what we can, which is our game,” said Auger. “We can’t worry about what anyone else expects or thinks. We need to play our game.”

With a new division and conference, the Big North Freedom, the expectations are high since this year they have plenty of players returning led by junior pitcher Nicole Hroncich who was first team All Bergen County last season after a 19-5 mark, 1.44 ERA and allowing only a .189 batting average against (BAA) for opposing hitters. “I believe the honor has inspired her to become an even better pitcher,” said Auger of Hroncich.

“I couldn't be more pleased with her off-season work this past year. Nic has improved her pitches and her conditioning. I have the utmost faith in her giving us a chance to win each time when she steps on the mound.”

Two other All-Bergen County players return this season in senior catcher Claire Dennis (Second Team All-County) and senior left fielder Christine Reynolds (Third Team All-County). Dennis hit .342 last season with a .494 on-base percentage (OBP) and 16 RBI. Reynolds hit .329 and had a .411 OBP.

Along with Reynolds and another returnee, senior second baseman Christina Bicks, Auger likes the mix of upper and lower classmen.

“I am excited about the leadership that my captains, Christina Bicks and Christine Reynolds, and the other upperclassmen are providing,” said Auger. “They have brought a great work ethic to our practices and a great desire for success.”

Bicks was first team All-NJTCC last season and hit .320 with a .473 OBP and 20 stolen bases. One of the top hitters on the team last season was senior third baseman Lauren Tom who hit .368 along with 25 RBIs.

The other seniors on the squad expected to make extensive contributions are first baseman Kat Bonelli, catcher/utility player Morgan Grunat, infielder/DP Jeanne Kircher, infielder/DP Kaitlin Mulroy and outfielder Kaitlin Mulroy.

While Ridgewood has a sequel to its battle with Indian Hills on April 17 at Emerson Tournament, the Maroons have a very difficult schedule that includes county powerhouses, Paramus along two games with Ramapo, IHA and Pascack Valley.


Ridgewood softball schedule:

April 1        at Hackensack
April 2        Nutley at Bergen/Essex Challenge, 4 p.m.
April 4        Ramapo
April 6        Passaic Tech
April 8        at Teaneck
April 11    IHA
April 12    Bergen Tech
April 15    Paramus
April 17    Indian Hills at Emerson Tourney
April 20    Hackensack
April 21    at Passaic Valley
April 25    Old Tappan
April 27    at Fair Lawn
April 28    Teaneck
May 2        at IHA
May 4        at Paramus
May 5        Pascack Valley
May 6        at Demarest
May 9        Bergen Tech
May 12    at Bloomfield
May 13    Pascack Valley
May 18    at Paramus Catholic