Mountaineer Softball Team Opens with a Rout

The West Orange High School softball team has picked up where it left off last season and so has sophomore pitcher Greer Manton.

Manton carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh at Kearny Saturday and the Mountaineers cruised to a 9-1 win. Kearny pitcher Ashley Amadeo spoiled the no hitter with a one-out homer, but that was the only hit Manton allowed. She finished with four strikeouts and just one walk.

Manton, who won 14 games last season, also tossed a one hitter at Kearny last May in a 4-0 win in a North Jersey, Section 1 Group IV playoff game.

She also had a big day at the plate Saturday.

She and junior third baseman Lindsay Flores had three hits each. Manton had an RBI single in the first inning as the Mountaineers built a 4-0 lead.

Senior star shortstop Kim Reitmeyer who had nine assists and two putouts. She also drove in two runs with sacrifice flies.

"She had a huge day playing shortstop," said West Orange coach Jamie Galioto, whose team finished last season with a 20-9 record.

The Mountaineers hit the ball hard throughout the game, forcing several Kardinal errors.

"It was a good way to start the season," said Galioto, whose team opens its Super Essex Conference Liberty Division season Monday at Newark Academy at 4 p.m.