Cline, Warriors Come Up Short Against Top-Seeded Red Devils

The Watchung Hills Regional High School softball team's bid for a berth in the state finals fell one game short Tuesday, as the Warriors fell 4-0 to Hunterdon Central.

The Warriors faced one of the state's best softball pitchers in Courtney Yard, who nearly pitched a perfect game.

IN SHORT

The Warriors had a hard time finding Yard's speedballs throughout the game, with most innings only seeing three batters at plate. But Abby Cline, pitching for the Warriors, didn't give the Red Devils much to work with, either, and kept the Warriors competitive.

The game was close, with the Red Devils threatening to score more but leaving runners on base, thanks to the Warriors fielding and Cline's pitching.

A couple of missed plays led to the Red Devil's advantage, and with the Warriors unable to get base hits, the game ended a loss for Watchung Hills Regional.

WARRIOR of the GAME

Jamie Schoenbach—The centerfielder made a smart double play to close out the third inning as Hunterdon Central threatened to score. At her next at bat, she also popped one of the few solid hits for the Warriors.

Other Key Performances—Cline's solid pitching kept the Warriors in the game even with the lack of offensive punch; Grace Hurley, playing at first base, made several heads-up plays to stop runners.

They Said It

"I felt like we were competitive—against a team like this, you really have to play well."—Head Coach Mike D'Alessandro

UP NEXT—As fate would have it, the regular season ends with Warriors hosting Hunterdon Central Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.