Lady Vikings off to slow start at 2-4.
By: Carolyn M. Hartko
The South Brunswick High School varsity softball team is off to a slow start this spring. After a win over Colonia at home on April 8, the Lady Vikings lost when they hosted Woodbridge the following day. The split has left South with an early season record of 2-4.
The 6-2 victory over Colonia was a cause for optimism. The Vikings had to come back from a 2-0 deficit to take that game. The Lady Patriots had scored two runs in the second inning, and South managed to even the score with two of their own in the fourth. The Vikings broke it open with a four-run fifth.
"I think we played better defense today," Viking head coach Danielle Matlack said after the Colonia game. "We were more consistent. And we were finally executing bunts, which we hadn’t been doing, and that made our game open up."
Senior second baseman Jen Luis went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Pitcher Colleen Cresci helped herself out by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. The senior right-hander fanned three to secure the win.
"Jen’s doing well," Matlack said. "She can hit with some power, and she can lay down some nice bunts."
The Vikings are looking to clean up some inconsistencies in their defense. They had two errors against Colonia, and three in the 5-2 loss to Woodbridge, continuing a disturbing trend.
"That’s why I wasn’t happy with the first three games," Matlack said. "We had nine errors in three games (against East Brunswick, Old Bridge and Lawrence)."
However, when everyone’s in the game mentally, the Vikings can put on a good show defensively. For example, Cresci made a spectacular save in the game against Colonia.
"The ball hit the edge of the bat and came off real funny," Matlack said. "It was really spinning, and Colleen smothered it and got a nice play at one."
The 2002 season is still young, and Matlack is confident that her squad will improve with each game.
"We’re working on things," the coach said. "We’re working on more confidence and more attitude. We want them to have a confident attitude."
Continuing the hectic pace, the Vikings will be at J.P. Stevens today (April 11), and they have three home games next week on April 15 (Piscataway), April 17 (Edison) and April 19 (Monroe). All games are set to start at 3:45.