O.B. softball team looks to improve on last year
Lady Knights open against Woodbridge Monday
With solid pitching and a good defense, the Old Bridge High School softball team can be a contender in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division, if its hitting comes around.
A year ago, coach Sue Klein’s team managed to hang tough behind the pitching of Amanda Meatto and excellent glove work in the field to go 11-13. Of the 13 losses, however, nine were by just one run.
"We were right there last year," said Klein, whose team opens the season Monday at home against Woodbridge. "The girls were in every game, but offense was a problem for us. We didn’t help ourselves at the plate."
Collectively, the Lady Knights batted .223, with Meatto pacing the attack with a .341 average. Unfortunately, no other Old Bridge players could come near the .300 mark.
Klein thinks that will change this year. Sophomore third baseman Lisa Petillo is coming off a .247 season and should be even better this spring.
Shortstop Jaime Capra ended up at .205, but showed promise at the plate, as did senior second baseman Debbie McKim.
In addition, senior outfielder Cori Edley has been hitting the ball well this spring.
If the Lady Knights can cobble together some runs, they should win their share of games in the competitive Red Division, which also includes J.P. Stevens, East Brunswick, South Brunswick and Edison.
As usual, East Brunswick is likely to be the team to beat, although graduation took some of their key players from last year’s championship squad.
Meatto, who pitched every inning a year ago, keeps her pitches low, moves the ball around and generally keeps opposing hitters off balance. A fine fielder, she also had a .958 fielding percentage and 81 assists.
The infield defense, augmented by Stacey Swider and Paige Coppola at first base, is top-notch.
Catcher Brianne Regan, a junior who played right field last season, has looked good in practices and has thrown out six would-be base stealers in scrimmages.
Edley will provide a good glove in center field; she’ll be flanked by either junior Jen Moran or sophomore Dana Hadzimichalis in left field, and either Shannon Halstead or Ashley Kalbach, both freshmen, in right field.
"We’ll have a few new players in the field, but I think they’ll get the job done for us," Klein said. "The key for us will be hitting. If we can get some timely hitting, we can play with anyone."