West Orange Softball Team Looks Set for Another Strong Spring

A new era of West Orange High School softball has arrived.

The evidence?

Last year's 20-9 record, second-place finish in the Super Essex Liberty Division, an upset of two-time defending county tournament champ Mount St. Dominic — the first time the Mountaineers beat the Lions. That milestone win in the county quarters propelled the 

Mountaineers to their first-ever county semifinal appearance.

A program on the rise showed it had turned into a contender. There's a feeling that was just the start.

The Mountaineers open a new season this weekend with games at Columbia (Friday, 3:45 p.m.) and Kearny (Saturday, 11 a.m.).

Jamie Galioto, entering his sixth year as head coach of the Mountaineers, said he expects a solid season, but quickly adds it has to ultimiately be done on the field. 

Expectations are indeed now part of the program.

"All the pieces started falling together last year," said Galioto, whose team was 12-13 in 2009.

He added: "We should definitely do well and be very good again, but saying it and doing it …"

West Orange lost standout catcher Emily Rich and first baseman Kelsey Meehan to graduation.

But a lot of experienced players return.

All state senior shortstop Kim Reitmeyer, also the team's cleanup hitter, is coming off a solid basketball season. Reitmeyer will play at the County College of Morris in Randolph next year. Senior right fielder Nora Crann, who bats immediately behind Reitmeyer in the order, will play at Southern Connecticut.

Reitmeyer hit .370 with two homers, five triples, six doubles and 32 RBI along with a .642 slugging percentage.

Among her many highlights was game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 6-4 upset of Montclair.  It was Montclair's first conference loss of the season.

"Kim is a competitor," said Galioto. "She can hit for average and power, has soft hands, has a strong arm and runs like a deer."

All Essex pitcher Greer Manton, a sophomore, pitched a two-hitter with three strikeouts and a walk in leading the Mountaineers to a 12-0 win over Glen Ridge, the team's 20th win. Manton, who bats third in the lineup, was 14-6 for the season.

"She pitched some big games for us," said Galioto, adding that Manton shut Kearny out in a North Jersey, Section 1 Group IV first-round game.

The Mountaineers will have a very good 1-2 punch on the mound. Senior Jill Dolinko pitched a seven-hit, complete-game to beat Montclair the day of Reitmeyer's game-winning homer. She was 6-1.

Junior third baseman Lindsay Flores, who's brother is a freshman third baseman at William Paterson, bats third. Sophomore second baseman Gabby Badurek returns after a productive freshman season. She'll bat sixth, protecting Crann.

"We're pretty stacked one through nine (in the batting order)," said Galioto.

Speedy junior centerfielder Allison Mejia also returns as the leadoff hitter. Mejia, a soccer player in the fall and guard for the basketball team in the winter, is  also an outstanding defensive player. She and Crann took home runs away from Montclair in the comeback victory.

Junior left fielder Ariel Stanziale, who's started since her freshman year, is another of the experienced players. Junior Molly Rich, who bats left handed, will take over for Meehan at first base.

"She's a power hitter," said Galioto.

Junior Alissa Catanzarite, a sub the last three years, gets the chance to be the team's starting catcher. She's getting competition for the job from freshman Kaitlin Machuca. Freshman utility player Jahnaya Howard will get a lot of playing time and looks like she'll replace Reitmeyer at shortstop next year.

"She can play a lot of positions even center fielder," said Galioto.

The coach has racheted up the schedule. Perennial tough squads North Bergen, Hanover Park and West Essex will face the Mountaineers this year. One thing that was disappointing about last season was the North 1 IV playoff loss to 13th seeded Bloomfield. West Orange was the fourth seed. Beefing up the schedule should help the Mountaineers eventually move on in the post season, said Galioto.