The Rams lost their first two games, 1-0 and 5-1.
By: Neil Hay
Terry Brookwell’s first game as new head coach of the Hightstown softball team is one she will remember for a long time.
All for the wrong reasons.
It would have been nice to report that Brookwell’s debut was a winning one. Instead, the Rams were defeated, 1-0, Tuesday afternoon by visiting Nottingham. The game’s only run was tallied in the first inning, thanks to three Hightstown errors. Offensively, Hightstown batters were struck out 12 times by Nottingham’s Christina Duncan. She also threw a no hitter.
On April Fool’s Day.
Meghan Dolan, who nearly matched Duncan’s no-no, deserved a better fate. The Hightstown pitcher went all the way, allowing one unearned run with one hit (a seventh inning single), two walks and five strikeouts. She also kept the Rams in the game with her fielding as well.
"She pitched well and played great defense," said Brookwell. "She stopped a lot of balls hit up the middle and made some nice plays."
After the first inning, when the wet conditions made the ball slippery and tough to handle, the Hightstown defense settled in a played well behind Dolan. But the Rams’ lack of results at the plate against Duncan was disheartening.
"She’s a good pitcher. Fast. We were swinging late." Duncan did issue five walks. The Rams left two runners on base in the third inning, and stranded the tying runner on third to end the game.
"It was discouraging."
One bad inning proved to be the Rams’ downfall in a 5-1 loss at Hopewell Valley Wednesday. Toss out that fateful, four-run second inning and the Rams are competitive against the Bulldogs.
Hightstown actually led 1-0 going into the bottom of the second. Lisa Merrill singled, stole second and rode home on Jen Scheman’s RBI-single.
But the lead did not last long. Marissa Falitz, the Rams’ starter, allowed a one-out single, then hit the next two batters. The defense also let her down with two errors. By the time the inning was over, the Valley girls were ahead 4-1.
"The second inning killed us," said Brookwell. "Falitz struggled in the inning. Mentally we struggled. We lost our composure a little. After that, she pitched well. We played better against Nottingham."
Falitz went the distance and finished with a two-hitter, with two strikeouts and three walks. All runs were unearned as the Rams committed five errors. The Rams managed three singles with no bases on balls and six strikeouts.

