CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK
Lady Blue Devils’ Late Push Skins Cardinals for UC Track Title
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Crusaders Intentionally Top Blue Devil Softballers, 4-3
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single by Carrick and an error loaded the bases with two outs. Burns drilled a liner toward the gap in right-center but Corbett grabbed the ball on the run for the third out.
McKeon singled and Thornton walked in the fifth. The Blue Devils pulled off an alert catcher-to-first-tothird double play, then followed by forcing a ground out to escape the fifth inning. A single by Guerriero and an error in center placed runners
MISTRETTA DOUBLES, SINGLES
Diamond Farmers Halt Blue Devil Boys, 4-1 By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Blue Devil pitcher Jeff Johnson and Farmer pitcher Kevin McCarthy both turned in fine performances but the Union High School baseball team got the upper hand, 4-1, over the Westfield High School boys in Westfield on April 28. Luke Mistretta led the Blue Devils with a double and a single.
After Blue Devil Kevin McCormack singled but was left stranded in the first, the Farmers scored the first run in the top of the
second. Rob Sakowski bashed a double to center, then scored on Jason Periera’s RBI single.
The Blue Devils answered in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Doerr drilled a double to center, then later scored on an error by the shortstop.
Both pitchers ruled the third and fourth innings, although Mistretta doubled in the third and Jason Merritt smashed a triple in the fourth. But, the Farmers chinked the Blue Devils’ armor with two in the fifth. Joel Cruz lobbed a fly to right field which was dropped and cruised to second after the error. Graig Badger tapped a single to score Cruz, the McCarthy lashed an RBI single to left.
Mistretta hit his single in the fifth but the Blue Devils failed to score. An insurance run was added by the Farmers when Periera singled, then scored on Cruz’s RBI single to center.
After Johnson struck out two of the three Farmer batters in the seventh, the Blue Devils returned to bat and managed to get the tying run to the plate. With two outs, Mistretta launched a long fly ball which was chased down by the Farmer right fielder for the final out.
The Blue Devils’ record lowered to 10-4 while the Farmers’ record elevated to 11-4.
Union 010 021 0 4 Westfield 010 000 0 1
second in the high jump. The Blue Devils also showed some strength of their own in the field events. Allison Checchio whipped the javelin 97’, Grau had a toss of 81’ 10” and Laura Avdey had a throw of 70’ 7” to take second in the event with a total of 249’ 5”. Julie Elmuccio at 15’ 5”, Heather Dennis at 15’ 0.25” and Susan Hinds at 14’ 6”
landed second in the team long jump with a distance of 44’ 11.25”.
Nicole Herttua at 4’ 6”, Oslislo at 4’ 3” and Avdey at 4’ 3” teamed to place fourth in the high jump with a height of 13’. Liz Sweeney at 28’ 11.5, Dana Grau at 26’ 7.25 and Alison Westerhold at 25’ 4.5 placed fourth in the shot put with a distance of 80’ 11.25.
Blue Devils Tara Bhandari at 2:32.6, Sara Carpenter at 2:40.9, Blauvelt at 2:32.6 and McMahon at 2:31.3 totaled 10:17.4 to grab second in the 4x800-meters. Raiders Erin Brandt at 2:36.6, Holly Oates at 2:42.6, Kate Bereznek at 2:40.7 and Erin Kelly at 2:32.8 finished third with a time of 10:32.7.
Elmuccio at :28.6, Hinds at :30.6, Dennis at 1:02.7 and Shutts at 2:23.96 teamed to place second in the sprint medley relay with a time of 4:25.9. Hinds at :18.1, Oslislo at :20.2, Elmuccio at :16.7 and Stefanie Bistak at :18 took fourth in the shuttle hurdles with a time of 1:13.5 and the Raiders took fifth with a time of 1:15.6. Constandis at 1:07.4, Bhandari at 1:07.8, Shutts at 1:04.5 and Dennis
on first and third, but the Blue Devils failed to score in the sixth.
After silence by both teams in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, Brazaitis golfed a one-out triple over the right fielder’s head in the bottom of the seventh. Lynn was intentionally walked, then an attempt to intentionally walk Burns was made. The second pitch was a bit too close and Burns stepped forward and tapped the ball to center to drive in the winning run.
“It was a well-played game by both teams. Very few errors were made,” said Blue Devil Head Coach Maggie McFadden. “We did what we had to do, but the ball was too close to the plate.”
Westfield 300 000 0 3 A. L. Johnson 210 000 1 4
at 1:00.97 totaled 4:20.6 to place fourth in the 4x400, edging out the Raider girls who placed fifth with virtually the same time.
The Raider girls placed fourth in the 4x200 and the 4x100 with respective times of 1:51.1 and :53.1. They also finished fifth in the shuttle hurdles with a time of 1:15.6.
After falling to the Raider girls in a dual meet there may have been doubts about the Blue Devils’ chances to win the title. “We thought that it
could be a definite possibility,” commented a delighted Coach Carpenter. “But you never know when you go up against Plainfield and Elizabeth. You never know how things are going to work out.”
Carpenter continued, “We lost to Plainfield by two points last year and this year we beat them by two. So, it’s always close. The county relays are a big meet for us.”
During pre-season, coach Carpenter stressed the importance of team balance and her goals were reiterated. “When sitting down with the girls earlier, one of the goals that I have had was to try to develop every aspect of the team. In the past two years, we haven’t really had any jumpers. This year we have three long jumpers and four high jumpers who can keep us in the meet.”
Carpenter also pointed out and reiterated, “Our throwers came through. We haven’t had a well-rounded team in past three or four years. Now, for the first time, we have high jumpers, long jumpers, hurdlers and throwers.”
Carpenter added, “It is so nice to have such a good core group who are so used to working together. They pull each other through during practice and they pull each other through during a race.”
TOP 10 TEAMS: 1. Westfield 68, 2. Plainfield 66,
3. Scotch Plains-Fanwood 54, 4.
Elizabeth 44, 5. Union 42, 6. Linden 32, 7. Roselle 29, 8. Tie Governor Livingston and Cranford 28, 10.
Roselle Catholic 23.
Diamond Raiders Humble Lady Minutemen, 8-3 By DAVID B. CORBIN
Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times
Senior second baseman Diana Mendez bashed a two-run double in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School softball team went on to humble the Lady Minutemen, 8-3, in Elizabeth on April 28. Sophomore pitcher Alicia Piniat continued to hone her control by allowing no walks en route to the victory.
After getting the first two Lady Minutemen out, the Raider defense stumbled in the bottom of the first and four errors allowed the Lady Minutemen to take a 3-0 lead. From that point Piniat buckled down and shut them out.
Relief came when the Raiders knotted the score with three runs in the top of the third. Jen Stewart led off with a single, Mendez followed with a single, then Katie Church blasted a two-run triple. Megan Miller grounded out to bring home Church.
Jill Saradecki and Stewart both singled in the fifth, then Mendez brought them home with her double. Church drew a walk, then Jan Weiner, Piniat and Jen Vanderhoff all tapped RBI singles to push the Raiders to their 8-3 lead.
Stewart finished with three hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Mendez had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Church finished with two hits, two runs scored and one stolen base. Sardecki had a single, a run scored and a stolen base.
“We had a bad first inning. Other than that the kids played great,” said Raider Head Coach Frank Butz. “We hit the ball well and, after the first inning, we fielded well.”
Aside from allowing no walks, Piniat finished with seven strikeouts.
“She is coming around very well. She seems to be staying ahead of the
count. She doesn’t get behind on the count,” said Butz of Piniat’s pitching. “She throws the ball pretty hard and moves the ball in different spots. And, she can change speeds pretty well.”
Butz added, “What is really good is that she does not walk people. As a result, you have less base runners and less chance of mistakes. Basically, the kids are playing pretty well behind her.”
The Raiders lifted their record to 7-5. Elizabeth slipped to 6-8.
Sc PlnsFanwood 003 050 0 8 Elizabeth 300 000 0 3
APRIL 26: North Plainfield 19, New Providence 3
The Canucks scored 11 runs in the third and held the Pioneers to only one hit.
New Providence 30 0 00 3 North Plainfield 21 (11) 6x 19
Roselle Park 4, Roselle Catholic 0
Holly Swick thumped a bases-loaded triple for the Panthers in the fourth inning. The Panthers improved to 6-3.
Rahway 4, Cranford 0
Indian Dana Sides fired a four-hitter and struck out seven Cougars. Nicole Scotti had a double and a single and knocked in two runs for the Indians who improved to 6-4. Cranford slipped to 8-4.
APRIL 27: Roselle Park 13, Manville 1
Holly Swick whacked a home run and Sarah Hartley had three hits for the Panthers who upped their record to 7-3.
Manville 001 0 0 1 Roselle Park 003 (10) x 13
Dayton 14, New Providence 10
The Bulldogs got home runs from Lauren Belliviau and Tracy Saladino.
APRIL 28: Westfield 8, Union 5
Kristen Leonardis whacked a threerun homer in the fifth to boost the Blue Devils past the Farmers. Westfield upped their record to 9-7 while the Farmers stumbled to 12-4.
Westfield 102 130 1 8 Union 010 040 0 5
Linden 10, Plainfield 5
Chanice Reid blasted a three-run homer for the victorious Lady Tigers and Shante Jenkins had a three-run triple for the Cardinals.
Linden (46) 230 001 4 10 Plainfield (28) 005 000 0 5
Cranford 17, Newark East Side 3
Sam Morano and Megan Zambell combined on a five inning no-hitter for the Cougars who improved to 9-4. Morano also had four hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
APRIL 30: Scotch Plains-Fanwood 1, Bayonne 0
Sophomore Alicia Piniat fanned eight Bees and walked only one en route to the Raiders’ eighth victory. The Raiders scored in the first inning on a wild pitch.
The Raiders jumped to 8-5 while the Bees lowered to 9-5.
Sc PlnsFnwood 100 000 0 1 Bayonne 000 000 0 0
Bound Brook 5, Roselle Park 0
The 12-2 Crusaders accomplished their mission and defeated the 8-4 Panthers in Roselle Park.
Bound Brook 301 010 0 5 Roselle Park 000 000 0 0
Union County High School Softball Results: Montclair Rattles
Devil Laxers, 8-2
The Westfield High School boys lacrosse team could not adjust in Montclair and lost, 8-2, on April 28. Brad Gillin and Mike Todd scored the only Blue Devil goals. Ricky Lang provided an assist and Chris Driscoll had six saves for the Blue Devils who fell to 5-6.
Westfield 1 0 0 1 2 Montclair 0 3 1 4 8
Devil Laxers Swamp Hillsborough, 11-3
Sophomore Conner Mulvee flicked in four goals and led the Westfield High School boys lacrosse team to an 11-3 swamping of the Hillsborough boys in Hillsborough on April 26. The Blue Devils broke the game wide open with six goals in the second quarter.
After Hillsborough took a 1-0, first quarter lead, Mulvee went to work and scored three of the Blue Devils second quarter goals. Attackman Ricky Chang scored two goals and assisted in two others. Mike Stotler, Brad Gillin, Chris Dodge, Alex Lau and Sean Joffee added one goal apiece for the Blue Devils.
Mulvee and Gillin also had two assists each and Stotler, Matt Krug and Mike Todd had one apiece. Goalie Chris Driscoll had 11 saves for the Blue Devils who boosted their record to 5-5. Hillsborough tumbled to 5-2.
Westfield 0 6 2 3 11 Hillsborough 1 1 0 1 3
Camp Directors: Ed Tranchina of WHS Steve Ciccotelli of SPFHS
Athletic Balance 908 • 232-1919
Sponsored By
KEHLER’S YOUTH FOOTBALL
CAMP
Held Daily Across from Gary Kehler Stadium
July 12 – 16
9am Noon each day
For Boys 3rd 9th Grade
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
SAILING OVER THE BAR…Blue Devil Patty Oslislo clears the bar at 4’ 0” at the beginning of the high jump event.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
REACHING FOR HIGHER HEIGHTS…Raider Christina Hillman clears 4’ 6” in the high jump event at the Union County Relays.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
SQUARING OFF TO BUNT…Blue Devil Jen Hayes squares off to bunt in the game against the Johnson Crusaders.
David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times
EXERCISING HIS POWER…Blue Devil Brandon Doerr puts his power to work when hitting the baseball against the Farmers. Doerr drilled a double then later scored the Blue Devils’ only run.
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