| |
 |
It was exactly the kind of game you'd expect in a softball sectional final. Both pitchers were impressive, and baserunners were at a premium.
In such games, the team that's able to manufacture a single run often comes out the winner. And the Pequannock Panthers showed that despite all of their hitting prowess in recent weeks, they still remember how to push across one run when they really need it.
|
Noelle Ramirez drove in the only run on a suicide squeeze bunt in the fourth inning as the Panthers defeated Indian Hills 1-0 in the North Jersey Section 1, Group II final. Megan Brain fired a three-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks.
The run came after the only Pequannock hit of the game, a leadoff double in the fourth by Kayla Lombardo. "I stuck my bat out on a pitch that was pretty much over my head," Lombardo said. "I just made a good swing on it and was able to hustle down to second base."
Seizing the opportunity, Pequannock coach Maryann Goodwin put in her best pinch-runner, Cara Bionde, then had Kristin Brain bunt Bionde over to third. There was no doubt on the Pequannock bench what would happen next; Goodwin told her team during practice Thursday that she would call for the suicide squeeze.
"In the Newton (sectional semifinal) game we had the exact same situation," Goodwin said. In that case, Goodwin let her batter swing away with the runner at third and one out, and the Panthers failed to plate the run. "I told them I wouldn't let that happen again, I would call for the suicide squeeze because that might be our only opportunity to score."
Ramirez's bunt was back at Braves pitcher Katie Enright, who hesitated briefly before throwing home, but it probably wouldn't have made a difference, as the speedy Bionde was flying down the line.
Pequannock only managed a total of five baserunners against the intimidating Enright, who hadn't allowed a run in two previous state playoff softball games. The single run held up because of the effort by Brain, who survived a couple of jams in the early going and got better as the game went along. "I didn't want to leave anything up that they could take over the fence," Brain said. "I just wanted to keep the ball low, mix things up. I wasn't really going for the strikeout, I was going more for the ground ball or the popup."
Brain was also helped by solid defense by the Panthers, who committed just one error. Center fielder Christine Zaher, playing despite a torn ACL in her knee, made a key play when she flagged down an Enright fly ball just short of the fence.
The Panthers add their sectional title to Morris County and Northern Hills Conference Suburban Division titles won earlier this softball season. It's been quite a ride for Goodwin. "Did I ever think we would win three titles? I knew we had a good team going into the season. They came to practice every day, they worked hard. I'm thrilled."
Now they'll gun for a fourth crown, the Group II New Jersey state title. Pequannock meets league sports rival (and North Section 2 champ) Caldwell in the state semifinals on Tuesday at Whippany Park High School; the Panthers won the teams' meeting earlier this season.
The winner of that game plays at Toms River on Saturday in the Group II softball final against either Cranford or Overbrook, the Central and South section winners. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now
|
