According to Coach Danielle Matlack, the members of the South Brunswick High School softball team have the talent to produce a very good season. Of course, finding out how many wins that talent can produce is why they play the games.
"It's up to the kids," Matlack said. "If we play consistent and focused, we'll be fine."
South Brunswick is coming off a season in which it went 14-9. That record included an 11-3 record and a second-place finish in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division.
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"We're a pretty good team," Matlack said. "We just lack consistency. We have a couple of good innings or games, but we don't keep up that level of play."
Obviously, that's an assessment almost any softball coach could make about their team. The teams that want to be among the elite, however, have to come up with a way to be good every inning, game after game.
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South Brunswick will send out either Rachel Vogel (senior) or Jill Blaine (senior) to the mound. Whichever girl isn't pitching will play first base.
"Rachel and Jill both have experience," Matlack noted. "They both have been through things and know what varsity play is like."
At the start of the season, the ball will be in the hands of Vogel.
"Rachel has a lot of heart," Matlack said.
South Brunswick has three seniors on its roster. In addition to Vogel and Blaine, there is Megan Grocholske, a center fielder.
South Brunswick has six juniors. Aaren Blair, Kira Goldin and Jen Resnick are outfielders. Chelsea Lee (short) and Danielle Rybinski (second) make up the double play combination. Ally Mischke is a third baseman/catcher.
"We have some returning starters and we also have a freshman starting," Matlack said. "We have a good blend of new and experienced."
Sara Finnegan (outfield) is the lone sophomore on the varsity. Kerry Miller (third base/catcher) is the lone freshman.
"I'm not sure what to think of the team," Matlack noted recently. "We were starting to look good, but then we had some injuries.
"We can score some runs and play defense, but we need seven innings of it."
Matlack is in her eleventh season as coach. Joanne Smith, Kim Ryan and Mike Dennehy are the assistant coaches.
South Brunswick will open the season today at Colonia. On April 7 -- the fourth game of the year -- South Brunswick will host its home opener.
"We definitely have the talent to win," Matlack said. "We'll just have to see how it goes."
