Monroe softball seeking a big-time victory

By: Rich Fisher
   Every team at every level needs it. That break-through win to get over the hump.
   The Red Sox got it in Game 7 against the Yankees, the Eagles got it by beating Atlanta in the NFC championship game, North Carolina got it for coach Roy Williams by beating Illinois in the NCAA final.
   And now, Monroe High’s softball team is looking for it.
   The Falcons have consistently fielded good teams that win plenty of games. But Monroe has had trouble coming up with that signature victory that moves it from good to great.
   MHS had a chance for just such a victory Tuesday, but fell flat in a 6-1 loss to visiting Colonia, the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division leader. Monroe’s usually stellar defense allowed three unearned runs in the second and third innings. With a 3-1 lead in the seventh, as opposed to a 1-0 deficit, the loose swinging Patriots had a rare big inning against Brittany Salvatore and teed off for three hits and three runs to put it away.
   "If it’s a 1-0 game at that point, they may be a little tight, they may not be taking those swings so freely," coach Keith Hudak said. "You have to be disappointed in the effort and how we started. Once we got through those bad plays at the start we held our end, but again, we didn’t hit. You can’t score one run against the best team in the division and the fourth ranked team in the county, plus give them three runs.
   "You try to forget what happened in the early innings during the game. But now you look back, and it was the whole difference."
   The loss, in which Monroe had five hits, left the Falcons at 6-3 and still looking for that big win.
   "This is the third year where we’ve had some good games and we’ve been over .500, but we need to go out and get that one big game that we have to have," Hudak said. "Don’t be afraid to lose it, but go out and win it. If we do that, who knows what can happen? We have a lot of games in our division coming up, so maybe it will be on of those games."
   One important thing the Falcons have going for them is cohesiveness, according to senior second baseman Jill Chen.
   "We’re a pretty close team," she said. "We hang out after school, things like that."
   Anyone hanging out with Chen should hope her hot hitting rubs off on them. Chen is hitting .500 with two home runs this year.
   "Jill’s been very consistent this year," Hudak said. "Whatever work she did through the fall and summer coming into the season she’s worked really hard at it. She’s gotten her hands faster and her hands and bat gets through the zone a little more. When she makes contact, she’s a strong girl, she’ll hit the ball pretty good."
   Chen went to the batting cage every day over the winter, working with an assistant coach from Edison, and also doing some work with Salvatore’s father.
   "She had me coming around with my hips more, she fixed where my hands were a little bit," said Chen, who is also a second-degree black belt in karate. "Brittany’s dad has been working with me too, trying to get me to stand up a little more. I was crouched down a little bit, he got me to stand up, bring my feet closer together. I can get more power behind it now. I’m more comfortable."
   Chen’s softball prowess has not gone unnoticed. She received a scholarship to play at George Mason University after sifting through offers from several other schools. The deciding factor was Mason’s physical education department, as Chen would like to pursue a career in Adaptive Physical Education.
   Until then, she will keep trying to help the Falcons adapt to winning some big games.
   EXTRA INNINGS: Salvatore doubled in Lisa Cosentino in the first inning for Monroe’s only run against Colonia. Katie Merrick, Cosentino, Emma Bossard and Chen had the other Falcon hits. . .last Thursday, Monroe beat John F. Kennedy, 3-2, as Kelsey Shobert had two hits and Chen had a single and double. Salvatore left a Mustang runner stranded on second base to end the game. "That was a good all-around effort," Hudak said . . .Monroe is in the midst of a flurry of home games, hosting North Brunswick Thursday, Metuchen today (Friday), McCarrick Saturday and South Plainfield Monday.