Hillsborough girls hit summer softball mode

Senior League teams open with victories

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   Hillsborough’s extensive summer softball program will once again operate with a double mission this year. While all the teams hope to be competitive and contend for their league titles, they’ll be looking to develop players to enhance the future of the booming high school program.
   "We always go in with the same attitude," said Hillsborough High head softball coach Cheryl Iaione, who oversees the program but works most closely with the 18-and-under Elite squad during the summer. "We’re looking at kids and we want to give them opportunities. We’re looking to develop some players and fill some holes."
   Last summer, the Hillsborough Elites got hot and never cooled off en route to their first league title. The girls maintained that momentum throughout the fall and produced the high school program’s finest season in over two decades this past spring. HHS won its first Somerset County title since 1975 and advanced to the semifinal round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs before being eliminated.
   Most of the varsity team will return in 2004, but Iaione must find a way to replace shortstop Erin McKee and pitcher/second baseman Erin Murphy. The Raiders still have rising senior Marissa Van Cleef and incoming junior Chrissy Yard to dominate hitters from the circle, but they need a new starting shortstop.
   Auditions are underway to fill that key position on the diamond. HHS jayvee players Vanessa Tumminia and Nicole Johnson, who are participating on both the Elite and Senior League clubs this summer, are the current front runners.
   "We lost two outstanding leaders in Murphy and McKee, so this is a good time to see who’s going to step up," Iaione said. "I do a lot of evaluating in the summer. We want to see what people can do."
   Iaione will carry 19 players on her Elite squad — 10 veterans and nine newcomers. The veterans all received varsity letters in 2003. That list includes pitchers Van Cleef and Yard, catcher Christine Rash, first basemen Erin Cowen and Lauren Scrocca, second baseman Kenzie Farneski, third baseman Candy Palumbo and outfielders Alicia Swickle, Lisa Pancoast, Jill Vazzano and Jess Salem.
   Palumbo and teammate Jess Szymanski, a top-flight outfielder and first baseman, were injured in an automobile crash in early June. Palumbo is expected back soon, but Szymanski will miss the summer and fall campaigns after breaking her leg in the collision. Iaione is looking forward to having both players ready to lead her varsity squad to another stellar season in the spring.
   Tumminia and Johnson, also an accomplished pitcher, lead the list of nine Elite rookies. Marissa Conard (C/3B), Christine Murphy (P/OF), Kristen Derewicki (OF/1B), Courtney Barkey (P/2B), Becky Sullivan (2B), Katie Yard (C) and Stephanie Soffer (OF).
   The team will play 12 games, starting with this week’s road games vs. Delaware Valley and Flemington. After a July 7 bye, the Raiders will host Clinton on July 9 at Ann Van Middlesworth Park, the site of all their 8 p.m. home games.
   Iaione likes the mix of veterans and youngsters on her summer roster. The other teams feature comparable combinations of players and the competition will provide opportunities for several players to shine.
   "I like to see what they’ll do under pressure against some good hitters," Iaione said. "It’s not about winning as much as seeing what we’re made of and what we can do with different people."
   The Senior League opened its season in successful fashion, sweeping two games last Thursday night at AVM. League coordinator and coach Bill Foelsch watched his pitchers allow just one run in a combined 12 innings of work.
   "The pitching was outstanding all the way through and we didn’t even get through all the ranks," Foelsch said. "We had a lot of strikeouts and not too many walks."
   Hustle Team No. 2 took the field first and posted a 5-1 victory over Dunellen. Johnson fired an impressive complete game two-hitter with 17 strikeouts and three walks. Johnson allowed a run in the first inning and blanked Dunellen the rest of the way.
   Lauren Salvatore singled, stole second and scored on a double by Kelli DePaul to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning. Hillsborough broke it open with four runs in the fourth.
   Valerie Buccino singled, Julie Biancini reached on an error and Soffer grounded out to score the go-ahead run. Celia Maccini reached on an error to produce another run. Nicole Derkacz delivered the clinching blow, a two-run double to left-center for a 5-1 lead.
   Barkey, Christine Murphy and Megan McInaw combined on a five-inning shutout of Franklin in the Hustle Team No. 1’s 15-0 romp over Franklin. Barkey fanned five in two innings, Murphy whiffed three in two innings and McInaw struck out the side in order in the fifth to complete the shutout.
   After Hillsborough No. 1 took the lead with three runs on passed balls in the second inning, the team erupted for six more in the third. McInaw and Jen Zakowski set the table with base hits and Tumminia delivered a two-run single. Katie Yard reached on a walk and Conard smacked an RBI hit. Derewicki ripped an RBI double and Michele Cilente added a run-scoring single.
   Hillsborough capped the assault with six runs in the fifth inning. Conard stroked a two-run single and Kim Arbonies belted a two-run double to highlight the spurt.
   "Everyone was hitting the ball," Foelsch said. "We were just swinging away. I was really impressed with our hitting."
   The Hillsborough Hustle No. 1 roster includes Barkey (P/2B/OF), Conard (C/3B/SS), Jamie Birckholtz (1B), Arbonies (IF/OF), Ashley Grandell (IF), Christine Murphy (P), Tumminia (SS/2B/OF), Derewicki (1B/OF), Cilente (2B/SS), Michelle Farrell (OF), Zakowski (C/OF), Kelly Gewain (IF/OF), Jessica Abate (IF/OF), McInaw (P/3B) and Katie Yard (C).
   Hillsborough No. 2 consists of Johnson (P/OF/IF), Jenna Wolff (IF), Soffer (IF/OF), DePaul (OF), Rachel Tom (P/OF/IF), Biancini (C), Derkacz (IF), Buccino (2B/OF), Maccini (1B/OF), Nicole Modlewski (OF), Kelly Bloom (P/IF/OF), Courtney Fedor (IF/OF) and Salvatore (IF/OF).
   The league includes seven teams, which play Tuesday and Thursday nights at AVM until the end of July.