By: Carolyn M. Hartko
If there’s one positive trait that the Monroe High School girls’ softball team seems to have in abundance this year, it’s resilience.
After getting stomped by Bishop Ahr 13-3 in last Friday’s mercy-rule-shortened game, the Lady Falcons came back and fought the Lady Trojans (7-2) in a respectable 3-1 contest at home on Monday.
Falcon head coach Keith Hudak blamed Friday’s results partly on fatigue, as it was Monroe’s fifth game in as many days.
"It was a long week," the coach said. "We got over there, and the time of the game had changed from 10 o’clock to 11 o’clock. So, we were there early and just sitting around. It was not a good day."
Ahr overwhelmed the Falcons on Friday with a nine-run first inning, and Monroe (3-7) never recovered. Four more runs in the bottom of the fourth made the implementation of the mercy-rule certain. But instead of writing off the re-match ahead of time, Monroe gave the Trojans a good game the second time around.
"Five games in a week is tough," Hudak said. "Not just physically tough, but mentally tough. So, I think the rest helped the girls.
"We played OK (on Monday). We had opportunities earlier on with runners on base who were ready to score. We just didn’t take advantage of it. We gave up one run on an error, and then they put a couple of hits together, and had a couple of sacrifice flies that scored their other two runs."
According to Hudak, sophomore pitcher Brittany Salvatore recovered along with the rest of the team, pitching a good game against Ahr on Monday. Salvatore fanned five batters, and she went 2-for-3 on offense.
Cardinal McCarrick was expected in town on Tuesday of this week, but that game was postponed because of rain. Hudak was not disappointed with the cancellation, as this week was supposed to be another five-game marathon.
Instead, he was glad the girls had a rest before facing three division foes. Monroe expected to travel to Colonia on Wednesday, and to Sayreville on Friday.
J.F. Kennedy visited on Thursday. In the first round against those teams, Monroe beat Colonia 6-3, but lost to the other two. The Kennedy game was a squeaker. The Falcons were up 2-1 after their turn at bat in the last inning, but the Mustangs came back with two to win it in the bottom of the seventh.
"We’ve played fairly good defense all year," Hudak said. "But we’re still in that situation where we just have to get the timely hit. We don’t have to start hitting like gangbusters or anything, but we just need the timely hits. When we have bases loaded and one out, we have to score a run. We can’t waste that opportunity. And unfortunately, that’s what’s happened to us in a couple of games."

