Coach Iaione gets 100th career win
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High softball team has carried its "unfinished business" motto throughout the 2003 season. The Raiders took care of another part of that theme by winning their first state playoff game last week.
Hillsborough, which captured the Somerset County title the previous week to take care of its first piece of business, made a move toward completing another coveted transaction with a 2-0 victory over Howell in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs. After getting knocked out in their first state game the past two years, the HHS girls weren’t going to be denied this time.
"This is just another part of the unfinished business," said Cheryl Iaione, who celebrated her 100th career victory as the Hillsborough head coach. "Our goal is to win the states, but we have to get past that first round. This was pretty sweet. I can’t think of a better group of kids, parents and coaches to share this with."
Fifth-seeded Hillsborough was supposed to play its CJ 4 quarterfinal game at No. 4 Freehold Township last Thursday, but the horrible weather postponed it five consecutive days. Top-ranked Hunterdon Central, which survived a 13-inning quarterfinal against Old Bridge, is waiting for the winner.
NJSIAA rules require teams to play on the next possible day, so the entire CJ 4 bracket will be behind schedule due to the rain. The Raiders could wind up playing three tournament games in as many days if they continue to win.
While Iaione and her team didn’t enjoy playing a waiting game over the soggy weekend, they were more than happy to earn this predicament with a first round playoff triumph. While the 2-0 win over Howell wasn’t a work of art, the Raiders were never in serious trouble.
Junior right-hander Marissa Van Cleef was fabulous and dominant in the circle. Van Cleef allowed only two hits, a slap single in the first inning and a base hit to right field that nearly turned into an out at first base in the fifth. She struck out 11 batters and didn’t issue a walk in a masterful performance.
"Marissa is a gamer," Iaione said. "She was pretty dominant and stingy with the walks like she always is."
Van Cleef made the most of her shot at pitching a big tournament game. Staff mates Erin Murphy and Chrissy Yard picked up victories in the county semifinals and finals, respectively. Van Cleef took her turn and didn’t disappoint her coach.
"My drop was working well and I was going inside and outside," Van Cleef said. "We want to get deep in the states, but we have to take one game at a time."
The Raiders had action on the bases in every inning but settled for single runs in the first and third innings. Van Cleef led off the bottom of the first with a single and Jess Szymanski moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Van Cleef went to third on a wild pitch and scored when the Howell catcher threw to first after dropping the third strike on Candy Palumbo’s strikeout.
With one out in the third, Palumbo reached on an error by Howell shortstop Kristin Loriot, whose throw sailed well into foul territory. Palumbo sprinted all the way to third and scored on Lauren Scrocca’s groundout to short.
Hillsborough left two runners stranded in each of the next two innings but didn’t pay the price, thanks to Van Cleef and some solid defense behind her. Van Cleef mowed down 11 hitters in the first five frames, then let her defense do the work in the sixth and seventh.
Yard made a few great plays at first base, including two stretches and scoops that saved possible errors and kept runners off base. Palumbo was also impressive at the hot corner, cutting down Howell’s bunt attempts.
"The pitching and the defense on this team are unbelievable," Iaione said. "This whole team has been tough."
Senior shortstop Erin McKee led the eight-hit attack by going 2-for-3. McKee has been a big part of the program’s rise to prominence and finally enjoyed the opportunity to win a state playoff game.
"This is the next step," McKee said. "It’s a building block for the next few years. I’m very proud of this team. We all work together."

