Sports
Dolinko Fires No Hitter to Lead Mountaineer Rout
Reitmeyer's grand slam sparks 17-0 conquest of Verona
West Orange senior standout shortstop Kim Reitmeyer wasn't exactly in a slump, but sought out coach Jamie Galioto for some advice to help her stance.
The tinkering resulted in a very productive day for her in Wednesday's game with Verona in West Orange.
Reitmeyer went 3-for-3 with seven RBI, including a grand slam in the second inning.
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She scored three runs to help support senior righty Jill Dolinko's five-inning no-hitter in the Mountaineers' 17-0 rout of Verona in West Orange. The Mountaineers, who have won four straight, are 6-1.
Reitmeyer was a single away from hitting for the cycle. She doubled, tripled and homered. She was also hit by a pitch.
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"I was struggling a little bit, so I went to the coach and helped fix it," said Reitmeyer, who'll attend the County College of Morris in Randolph next year. "I feel a lot stronger now at bat. In the beginning I was over-anxious. Galioto told me to swing the bat like a pendulum and pull back. He told me to stand straight up. I'd been leaning in too much.''
Dolinko (2-0) struck out three and walked two in the game that was stopped after 4 1/2 innings because of the mercy-rule.
"She got ahead in the count and worked her pitches in and out," said Galioto.
Junior left fielder Ariel Stanziale's two-run homer in the fourth was followed by freshman catcher's Kaitlin Machuca solo blast. It was Machuca's first varsity hit.
Everybody seemed to have a hand in the rout.
Junior third baseman Lindsay Flores went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a triple; Stanziale went 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Senior right fielder Nora Crann went 3-for-4 and sophomore designated hitter Greer Manton was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Junior catcher Alissa
Catanzarite went 2-for-2 with two RBI and junior first baseman Molly Rich went 2-for-2.
"The last few games we have played very well," said Galioto. "We keep plugging away."
The Mountaineers will get a test Friday when they play host to Nutley at noon. Nutley is ranked among the top 15 teams in the state in some polls.
"We're very excited for that game," said Reitmeyer.