Bucci, Stoltenberg pass every test in semifinal
By: Justin Feil
RAMSEY Katherine Stoltenberg and Tara Bucci worked through their early-season questions with the Montgomery High softball team, and the two freshmen starters have passed every test late in the season.
"Both were tentative early on," said MHS head coach Johnny Rooney. "Both felt that the first mistake they were going to make, we were going back to plan B and they were out. Little did they know, KB had the year to work out all those things. Tara, going in, it was a little different story. We platooned her. She just won the job. They both, every game, have got one step closer in confidence.
"We all still talk about that county loss (to Bernards) being a turning point, and they were still playing like freshmen then. After that, it was like, ‘Get over it, realize you’re a varsity player and let’s go,’ and it has worked."
The two looked like veterans in helping MHS reach its first Group III state final in program history. The Cougars were scheduled to play Hammonton on Monday after winning the Group III semifinal, 4-0, over West Milford on Thursday.
"Just from the beginning, we’ve been talking about that was one of our goals," Bucci said. "We wanted to make the state tournament and go as far as we could."
Thanks in part to the play of the two, the Cougars have gone to the state final. It almost seemed as though West Milford had their own ideas of testing the two freshmen, but each time they challenged Stoltenberg or Bucci they were turned away. It started early in the first inning when West Milford challenged Bucci, the Cougars’ freshman catcher, with a base stealer. She threw her out by five feet.
"I usually assume they’re going to try to test me," Bucci said. "I try to prove that I can shut them down on the bases. And I have confidence that KB will be right there for the throw.
"In the state tournament, it seems like more teams are testing our team more often. It’s a big burst of confidence that we know we can do it."
Bucci also threw out the first Raritan base stealer in the first inning of the Cougars’ 1-0 win for its first North 2, Group III sectional title the week before. Her arm is a weapon for the MHS defense.
"This year she hasn’t been tested that much," Rooney said. "It’s a tribute to her pregame, and between innings, how she’s throwing the ball. Our defense and Amanda (Heller’s) pitching doesn’t put people on base to start. Both Raritan and West Milford, both our scouting reports said that they love to play small ball and run the bases aggressively. We got to shut it down early. And it didn’t hurt to get some runs and get a lead. That shuts it down too."
In topping West Milford, MHS took the lead for good when, for the second straight game, a freshman runner scored after starting at first base. This time, it was Ali Tartacoff who drew a throw to first that bounced off her and out of play to move her all the way to third base. From there, she scored on a wild pitch, another big play by a MHS freshman.
"Most of my best friends are the freshmen," Stoltenberg said. "They’ve been so awesome. We all support each other. That’s what keeps us going. We’ve all been playing together for so long. It’s nice to keep moving up and we’re all getting better each year. It’s nice to see us all develop as one."
In the fourth inning, singles by Sarah Jensen, Joanna D’Ercole and a fielder’s choice for Bucci loaded the bases with one out before Renee Totaro singled off the pitcher’s glove for two runs and a throwing error brought home the Cougars’ final run. In all, three of the Cougars’ four runs were scored by pinch- or courtesy-running Cougars.
"Every kid on our team, one through 28, can run the bases well, can put down a sacrifice bunt and can field their position," Rooney said. "I’m looking to build a program."
Paramount in that is playing the best players, regardless of class. Stoltenberg, a shortstop good enough to move Totaro to third base, is a solid building block. She too was tested by West Milford. Three times they hit the first pitch of an inning at her, and three times West Milford’s batters returned to the dugout after Stoltenberg made the plays.
"The first couple games, I felt nervous," she said. "I didn’t want to mess up. Now, I’m so comfortable it’s second nature. I know what I have to do. They expect the same out of me, whether I was senior, junior or sophomore."
She’s made the plays look routine, even a tough one that started West Milford’s last inning. Hit hard in the hole, Stoltenberg ranged to her right, backhanded the ball, set and threw a strike to first for the out. When second basemen Tori Sensi and Totaro followed with strong plays to end the game, assistant coach Matt Varhley, who works with the infielders, was beaming.
"Ironically I missed three in practice the day before," Stoltenberg said. "Mr. Varhley and I talked about it, and it really helped out. He has helped us so much. He stays after practices and he’ll hit us ground balls until we can’t field them anymore."
Lately, the Cougars have been fielding everything, which made even their one-run lead look big to West Milford. In center field, D’Ercole made two catches and followed up with strong throws to strand West Milford’s best scoring opportunity, a lead-off triple in the bottom of the fourth.
"We were just really up and really excited for this game," Bucci said. "We knew if we played our game, we could do it. Nothing was going to stop us. We didn’t go into it worrying as much as about the other team as knowing we could do it."
It’s kind of like Bucci and Stoltenberg’s philosophy at this point in the season. They’ve both come on strong to help the Cougars climb to unexpected heights. They were 21-4 going into Monday’s game with contributions coming from every class as the team has come together.
"The only other thing I feared was how the chemistry would be," Rooney said. "Maybe on a guys’ team it would have been a little harder. Maybe there would have been a little bullying or too much pushing them. Some of the older girls really took them in. It’s been great. It’s been great for them socially, athletically, academically. For all freshmen, it’s been great."
It didn’t happen overnight. There were growing pains for the two as they adjusted to varsity softball after both played for Rooney last year when he was the Montgomery Middle School softball coach.
"The biggest difference going from last year to this year is the pitching," Stoltenberg said. "It’s a lot faster. I had to work on my swing, my bat speed. The first couple games, I wasn’t hitting the ball well. As I got more at bats, got more used to it.
"I think I am getting a lot more comfortable. Mr. Rooney even says, ‘You’re not a freshman any more.’ I have gone through a full season and I do feel more comfortable."
As the Montgomery High softball team prepared for the biggest game in its Group III existence, it’s nice to know that the future looks bright. Expectations will remain high for the Cougars in coming seasons as more and more from a top-notch freshman class are able to contribute.
"It’s really nice," Bucci said. "But we’re basically just concentrating on this season now."
Spoken like a true veteran