Drop opening round state playoff game
By: Kyle Moylan
LAWRENCE — The Allentown High School softball team, injuries and all, nearly pulled off its second tournament upset in less than a week.
On May 10 Allentown was able to pull off an upset win in the Shore Tournament. Playing at Lawrence in the Central Jersey Group III Tournament this past Tuesday, however, one bad inning was enough to do in Allentown, 5-3.
“We’ve had a season filled with injuries,” Allentown High coach Mary Ellen Clemencich noted. “We did the best we could. We played well. Give the credit to Lawrence.”
Through the first four innings, Allentown was able to stay even with Lawrence, at 1-1. In the last of the fifth, however, Lawrence was able to manufacture a run and it never trailed or was tied again. With one out, Jen Dalle Pazze struck out, but was able to reach first base when the ball went to the backstop. Allentown catcher Hannah Smythe made a great recovery and throw to first, but Dalle Pazze knocked the ball free when she collided with the first baseman.
“She hustled down there,” Lawrence coach Keith Fithen said. “That was key because it kept the inning alive. Dalle Pazze advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to center by Colleen Busch.
Lawrence added three runs in the last of the sixth. A pair of walks and a bunt single loaded the bases with one out. Diane Van Arsdale scored one run with a single. Dalle Pazze picked up a RBI the hard way, getting hit by the pitch. Colleen Busch then walked to force in another run.
“Abby Cotrell is a quality pitcher that shouldn’t be 10-9,” Fithen noted. “We only scored one run against her in a scrimmage.”
Cotrell regrouped and got Theresa Citale on a comebacker to the mound. She also got Kelly Mangine to ground out to first.
Cotrell’s clutch pitching to close out the sixth almost paid huge dividends the following inning.
Allentown started the seventh with two huge breaks. Nicole Stanke reached when the left fielder dropped a pop. Alli Van Horn then went in to run and advanced to third on a steal and a wild pitch.
Kelly Harchetts followed with a liner to center. The center fielder dove for the ball and, unsure whether it was caught or trapped, Van Horn came back to the base. The ball was ruled a trap, but Van Horn scored on the play anyway when the throw from center went over the third baseman’s head. Harchetts advanced to second on the play.
“We got up 5-1 and then it got crazy,” Fithen said. “I had to tell the girls not to worry about the baserunners. Luckily we got the lead and could play an out for a run.”
Harchetts advanced to third on one groundout and scored on another. There were now two outs, though.
“We never gave up,” Clemencich noted. “We kept trying to come back. I’m proud of the girls.
“This is a growing process. We had a sophomore pitcher and catcher out there today. You’re looking at a team without any seniors. This will be a team to watch next year.”
It was also a team that was one shaky inning away from turning a few heads this season.
NOTES: Maria Ambio scored the first run for Allentown in the fourth. She singled and stole second. Two outs later, she scored on a single by Nicole Hopkins. The fourth and seventh innings were the only ones in which Allentown put a runner on base. Allentown had four baserunners in the game, three of which scored.