Softballers win three straight games

MUSTANG ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The Manville High softball team started a new winning streak last week, winning two close games and one blowout to improve to 14-3 entering the stretch run of the season.
   Manville was guaranteed at least a share of the Sky Division crown after Tuesday’s victory over St. Mary’s of Elizabeth in the regular season finale. The MHS girls could still win the title outright if David Brearley suffers another divisional loss before the end of the season.
   The Lady Mustangs almost slipped last Thursday but escaped Springfield with an 8-7 triumph to complete a sweep of Jonathan Dayton. The victory marked Manville’s first win in a one-run game after the team suffered all three of its losses by that deficit.
   Manville bolted to a 6-0 lead in the top of the third but Dayton mounted a comeback, scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh to make things very interesting. Senior shortstop Lisa Lavenia went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the offense, while junior third baseman Stefanie Bocchino delivered a big two-run single in the second inning when the MHS girls appeared on their way to an easy day.
   Senior right-hander Amy Ortman was rolling early but had to hold off a furious rally that nearly dealt the Lady Mustangs their second Sky Division loss.
   MHS opened the week with an 8-5 triumph at Dunellen in a non-conference road game. Once again, Manville built a big lead on the road and had to hold on in the final inning. Manville watched leads of 7-0 and 8-2 nearly evaporate in the seventh, but Ortman shut down the Destroyers.
   Senior second baseman Jenna Breslow drove in two runs. Bocchino smacked a double and Lavenia laced a triple to lead the way in the extra-base hit department.
   Manville’s only easy one of the week was a 14-0 drubbing of Hillside. Ortman only allowed two walks against Hillside, firing a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts for the winners.
   Breslow launched a solo shot in the third inning when Manville increased its lead to 7-0. Lavenia and Bocchino added doubles to the team’s 15-hit attack.
   The MHS girls will begin state tournament play today, hosting South River for the right to challenge No. 1 seed Middlesex in next Tuesday’s semifinal round.
Grzyeski dominates
Bound Brook again
   
Eddie Gryzeski baffled Bound Brook for the second time in eight days, improving his personal pitching record to a perfect 6-0 with last week’s 10-2 victory in Manville.
   Gryzeski, who flirted with a perfect game in the first meeting the previous week, was almost as dominant in the rematch. The junior right-hander scattered six hits and one walk but struck out 11 Crusaders while the MHS offense had another big day.
   Manville was clinging to a 4-2 lead but busted out for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to give Gryzeski more than enough breathing room. Ten Mustangs came to bat in the frame, with Justin Jurkowski starting and ending the inning.
   Jurkowski was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Sean McCarthy. Steve Anderson followed with an RBI single and Jon Pfoutz reached on an error to put runners on second and third. Jon Gangwer ripped a two-run single to make it 8-2. Jimmy Thomaszfski and Robert Snyder drove in runs with two-out base hits to cap the surge.
   Anderson led the offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate. The sophomore second baseman also scored twice. Gryzeski, Thomaszfski, Snyder, McCarthy and Gangwer all had hits, with Thomaszfski and Gangwer driving in two runs apiece.
   That fifth inning paled in comparison to the team’s 24-run outburst in the first inning the previous day in Hillside. Manville wound up cruising to a 30-1 rout of the Comets.
   Jurkowski belted two home runs, scored three and finished with four hits overall. Gryzeski also smacked a home run as part of his 4-for-5 day that included four runs. Snyder reached base six times in as many trips with three hits and three walks. Anderson and Gangwer each went 4-for-5, Glen Liszczak was 3-for-3 with three runs and Thomaszfski went 3-for-4 with three runs. Gangwer led the Mustangs with five runs scored.
   McCarthy started and Anderson pitched the final three innings to pick up the victory. The MHS duo combined for 11 strikeouts in the five-inning contest.
   Manville was scheduled to play at St. Mary’s of Elizabeth in the regular season finale, needing a victory to clinch at least a share of the Sky Division title. The Mustangs begin state playoff action tomorrow at home.