Upset PDS upset in Prep B softball

Disappointment for departing Panther seniors

By: Justin Feil
   When the third-seeded Princeton Day School softball team lost to Saddle River Day, 10-3, in the Prep B quarterfinals on Wednesday, it wasn’t just an upset. It was upsetting, particularly because the Panthers had played so well to win their outbracket game Monday.
   "I feel bad for my seniors," said PDS head coach Trese Lang after her team slipped to 5-6 this season. "They shouldn’t have gone out like that."
   Seeded third, the Panthers had grand visions of a Prep B title. Monday, they seemed on track when they controlled Kent Place, 6-1, to set up Wednesday’s quarterfinal match. Lisa Laudenberger, who is closing in on 400 career strikeouts, whiffed seven Kent Place batters, and provided some offense herself with a pair of hits. She allowed just three hits, and had solid support from her fielders. Cait McFadden led PDS with two runs batted in.
   "In Monday’s game," Lang said, "we didn’t have any errors. We ran the bases well. We hit well. And Lisa had seven strikeouts and I think she was 2 for 3.
   "It was a totally different team. Today (Wednesday) it was nightmarish. My worst nightmare came true."
   It wasn’t all Bad News Bears for the Panthers. Twice they had two runners on base, only to leave them stranded while scoring a single run in each of those innings. It was how they lost it that perplexed Lang.
   The Panthers did everything from being thrown out stealing, to swinging at bad pitches to attempting a two-on, two-out bunt. The surprise play didn’t work as it was popped up to the charging third baseman.
   "I’m a little upset," Lang said. "Saddle River played great. They ran the bases well. Their team played really well.
   "We came out flat. We made errors. The other part of the game is hitting and we just forgot it. Our baserunning wasn’t there. It’s one thing if they had beat us, 2-1 or 3-2, and it was a big hit. But these are things we talk about in practice."
   After one inning, PDS trailed, 3-1, and Saddle River never looked back. They scored at least two runs in four of the first five innings to threaten the 10-run rule. The Panthers, regardless of not being as sharp as Monday, did not quit. They scored a run in the fourth on three straight hits with McFadden scoring on a single up the middle by Laudenberger. In the sixth, Rachel Scarpato drove home Cat Tomasulo for the Panthers final run.
   PDS has two games left on its schedule. The Panthers play Gill-St. Bernards on Monday and are supposed to make up a postponed game with Rutgers Prep, who would have been their Prep B semifinal opponent, on Tuesday. Depending on the Prep B tournament action, however, the PDS softball team might have missed both of its opportunities to play Rutgers Prep, and that’s upsetting.