Kinnelon Softball Keeps Rolling vs. Hopatcong

softball team has now won seven of its last nine games after defeating Hopatcong, 5-3, on Friday afternoon. The Colts are building momentum as the state tournament approaches in a little more than a week. 

Hopatcong

(3-14)

Kinnelon

(11-9)

IN SHORT
Kinnelon's Clare Spies delivered a first-inning triple that drove home two runs as Kinnelon got out to an early 4-1 lead after two innings. Hopatcong cut into the lead, making it 4-3 after first baseman Courtney Stillwell's single in the top half of the fifth.

But Kinnelon responded right back as Sarah Galese's base-hit drove in a run to make it 5-3 after five. Kinnelon's relief pitcher Grace Carvalho shut the door on the Chiefs, closing out the next two innings while allowing no runs and striking out three to earn the save.

COLT OF THE GAME
Grace Carvalho—Three innings pitched, one run allowed (unearned) on two hits to go along with four strikeouts.

Grace helped protect the Colts' 4-2 lead as she entered in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn the save. She kept the Hopatcong hitters off balance by mixing speeds extremely well.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
Clare Spies (Kinnelon), 1-for-3 with a triple, two runs driven in and two runs scored; Alyssa Schwed (Kinnelon), 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run scored and a stolen base. Schwed also locked down the left side of the infield with her superb defensive play at shortstop ; Sarah Galese (Kinnelon), 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Courtney Stillwell (Hopatcong), 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.

THEY SAID IT
"This group has been together for about three years and this is the first time we're ending up around .500. We had some tough losses at the beginning of the year, but they have grown tremendously, not only physically playing on the field, but mentally as well, they have been maturing as players. This is the first time we have made the states in years and it's a big accomplishment for them, even to get that far."–Head Coach Danielle Patlin

Up Next— Morris County Tech next Friday at 4 p.m. at Morris County Tech High School