Softball pitchers dominate

RAIDER ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   It’s hard to imagine a more impressive string of pitching performances than those provided by Hillsborough High’s softball trio last week.
   Marissa Van Cleef started the week with 15 strikeouts in a fabulous two-hitter over Delaware Valley. Erin Murphy followed with her second perfect game of the season against Franklin. Chrissy Yard completed it with 13 strikeouts and another two-hitter in a victory over Old Bridge.
   The combined numbers were extremely dominating and almost unbelievable. Hillsborough’s three pitchers combined to allow only four singles while striking out 35 batters without a single walk. For the season, the HHS staff has 71 strikeouts and only three walks (one by each pitcher) and is sporting a microscopic 0.43 ERA.
   "It’s incredible," Raider head coach Cheryl Iaione said. "They just don’t walk people. I’ve always known that about them but when you’re talking about ratios, it’s pretty amazing."
   Friday’s 3-0 victory over Old Bridge was a big one for the Raiders, who had lost their other big test against a Middlesex County Group 4 school at Edison. HHS manufactured single runs in the second, third and fifth innings and finished the game with seven hits.
   Yard (2-0) singled to open the second and was replaced by courtesy runner Lisa Pancoast. Designated hitter Lauren Scrocca blasted a 3-2 pitch into the left-center field gap for an RBI.
   Van Cleef singled, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Candy Palumbo made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the third. Jess Szymanski walked with one out in the fifth, moved to second on a sac bunt and pinch runner Pancoast scored on Yard’s double to left to round out the scoring.
   "We executed well and got people in scoring position," Iaione said. "You can’t sit back and wait for that long ball. This was a big win for us."
   Palumbo led the assault in the team’s five-inning 10-0 victory over Franklin. The sophomore third baseman went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Yard ripped a two-run triple in the second inning when the Raiders took a 5-0 lead.
   Murphy and Kenzie Farneski each collected two hits and Van Cleef and Szymanski scored three times apiece for the winners. Murphy (2-1) fanned seven and got defensive help from Farneski at second base to complete her second perfect game of the spring.
   The Raiders (6-2, 4-1 in Delaware Division) were scheduled to play three divisional games on consecutive days this week. After playing at Watchung Hills and home vs. Bridgewater-Raritan in a makeup game, HHS will host North Hunterdon this afternoon.
Netmen roll to
lopsided victories
   
The HHS boys’ tennis team notched back-to-back shutouts to improve to 5-1 on the season. The Raiders manhandled North Hunterdon and Somerville, sweeping through all 10 sets in both matches.
   First singles player Thomas Kinrade posted 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4, 6-3 victories to improve his personal record to 4-2 this spring. Mohan Anand was tested early but posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over North’s Travis Miscia at second singles.
   Freshman Dan Cohen beat North’s Greg Darling 6-3, 6-2 at third singles but moved up to the No. 2 spot to defeat Somerville’s Zach Schuman 6-1, 6-0. Ravi Ramasamy slid into the third singles position in that match and blanked Mike Lang.
   In doubles action, Dan Chou returned from injury and joined freshman John Wu at first doubles against the Pioneers. They rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in their first match together. Will Daly and Ian Enterline won by a 6-0, 6-1 score at second doubles.
   Daly played with regular partner Kevin Cooper in the victory over North, while Ramasamy joined Wu at second doubles. Both tandems produced straight set victories.
   The Raiders were scheduled to face Montgomery and Warren Hills before today’s big showdown vs. Bridgewater-Raritan. Hillsborough will be playing on its home court looking to avenge a 4-1 loss suffered Apr. 16.
Golfers win at
difficult course
   
It’s never an easy day at Harkers Hollow, but the Raider golf team managed to leave Phillipsburg with a 237-247 victory to improve to 4-2 on the season. Hillsborough won its third straight match and second over the Stateliners this spring.
   Matt Simonik led all players with a medal round of 44, which translates to bogey golf on the par-35 layout. Joe Vulih (45) and Steve Cannon (46) were right there, while Chris Haas (51) and Dave Venanzi (51) rounded out the team scorecard.
   Hillsborough competed in the Somerset County Tournament at Raritan Valley Country Club Monday and finished tied for fifth in the 13-team field. Ridge dethroned five-time champ Immaculata for the team title with 321 total strokes. Montgomery, Pingry and Immaculata also finished ahead of the Raiders (362), who tied Bernards for fifth place with a 90.5 average per man.
   Golia placed ninth overall with a team-low round of 83, just six shots off the pace set by individual champion Kevin Foley of Immaculata. Cannon (90) finished tied for 22nd place, Vulih (93) placed in a two-way tie for 30th and Simonik (96) finished tied for 35th.
   The Raiders were scheduled to face Warren Hills and Franklin this week.
Bad starts hurt
boys’ lacrosse unit
   
The HHS boys fell behind 4-0 after one quarter and 9-0 at the half against Lawrenceville and spotted Ridge six goals and couldn’t recover in either lacrosse game last week. The two setbacks dropped Hillsborough’s record to 0-7.
   Tom Rose and Andrew Potts finally connected for the Raiders in the third period, with both goals assisted by Brett Russo, but it was too late to make an impact in the team’s 17-2 loss. Dan Glod made 19 saves in the game.
   Friday’s game was frustrating because the Raiders outscored their foes after the 6-0 first quarter run. Hillsborough wound up on the short end of a 12-7 score.
   Ryan Mahlstedt and Rose each completed hat tricks for the Raiders, who were scheduled to host Freehold Township and play at Moorestown before the Somerset County Tournament begins this weekend.