West Orange Softball Team Getting a Boost

West Orange High School softball has experienced some recent hard times.

The Mountaineers lost junior third baseman Lindsay Flores for the season May 5 with a broken ankle in the first inning of a 5-4 road loss to Columbia. Two days later, they were upset 7-0 at home by Bloomfield in the first round of the Essex County Tournament. The Mountaineers then lost an 8-7, eight-inning game last Tuesday to Governor Livingston in the Millburn Tournament final.

But the storm may have passed, and the Mountaineers find themselves with much to play for as the season heads toward the post season.

If the Mountaineers can beat Belleville this afternoon at home, they can earn a share of the Super Essex Liberty Division crown, something they just missed out on last year. West Orange, 16-6, beat Belleville 7-1 April 20. It seems that the team has regained some of its balance since sophomore third baseman Kerry Bolen took over for Flores. 

Bolen, newly arrived from the junior varsity, hit a RBI double in the third, and a three-run homer in the sixth to lead the Mountaineers' 14-2 rout of Glen Ridge last Wednesday. Junior first baseman Molly Rich went 4-for-4 with five RBI; Sophomore Gabby Badurek had three hits and three runs scored with a solo homer in the fourth inning. Senior righty Jill Dolinko went six innings for the win on the mound.

The next day, the Mountaineers avenged an early-season loss to Millburn with a 4-2 victory behind sophomore righty Greer Manton, who truck out eight and allowed one earned run. Bolen had a single to left.

Her addition to the lineup allowed senior Kim Reitmeyer and freshman Jahnaya Howard to return to their regular positions. Reitmeyer, who played a game at third, moved back to shortstop. Howard, who briefly replaced Reitmeyer at short, returned to center field.

"It's just nice to see an every day lineup," said head coach Jamie Galioto, who had also used first baseman Rich at third base for a game.

Her addition has been welcomed by the team, who have been very impressed with her.

"She has a lot of confidence; she's doing very well," Reitmeyer said.

The Mountaineer baseball team has split their last four games. They will have a very busy week. The Mountaineers (13-6) will play host to Livingston Monday,  are at Montclair Wednesday and Caldwell Friday. The Mountaineers then prepare for the North Jersey, Section I Group IV sectional playoffs a week from Monday.