Homer helps softball reach semifinals
By: Justin Feil
The Montgomery High softball team appreciated Anu Rimal’s contributions from the bench in the beginning of the season.
The Cougars are really enjoying her recent contributions as a starter. The MHS sophomore delivered her second home run of the season to break a 1-1 tie as the Cougars beat Mount St. Mary’s, 3-1, in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday.
"It’s nice coming from a sophomore that understands her role," said MHS head coach Johnny Rooney after his team improved to 13-6. "She knows she’s going to be a huge part of Montgomery softball as a junior and senior. She hasn’t questioned at all the fact that she wasn’t playing at all at first. She is now a big part of Montgomery softball as a sophomore.
"We don’t fare too well in Somerset County softball. (Saturday) was a pretty big highlight of the season. This is the first time we’re going to a semifinal in five years that I’ve been around and when I was helping Doug (Ruhlman). It’s the first time I know of. And we’ve never gone to a final."
MHS goes for that feat when it hosts No. 11 seed Ridge, an upset 1-0 winner over No. 3 Immaculata, 4 p.m. Wednesday. The second-seeded Cougars defeated Ridge, 3-0, in eight innings early in the season. That was well before Rimal started to make her presence known.
"Since we lost three of our starters, everyone was trying out for different positions," Rimal said. "I was happy to play anywhere the team wanted me to play. I’m in the outfield now, which is where I was basically trying out in the beginning of the season.
"It was difficult at first. Because I’m a sophomore, there are girls who have been playing for a longtime. The whole team works incredibly strong. You have to wait your turn and earn your position. It wasn’t the greatest, but you have to pay your dues to get your position."
Rimal was given increased opportunity due a rash of injuries to the Cougars, who last year were upset in the SCT quarterfinals but went on to win the state Group III championship.
"Last year, when you talk about there not being a lot of differences, one of the things we had was no one got injured," Rooney said. "We are pretty banged up now. Christie Whitehead, our first baseman, hurt her knee vs. Hillsborough. Kelly Dubin broke her arm when she got hit by a pitch against Hillsborough. (Tara) Bucci is still out with an arm injury. Katherine Stoltenberg had a kidney infection and didn’t play all last week. And Melissa D’Ercole almost had to get her tonsils out.
"That’s where Anu has played a big role. She’s been able to fill in where we’ve needed her. She’s been at third, first, right and now left field. She’s starting in left now. She starts in left when Kimmy (Dougherty) pitches and now that Kelly broke her arm. She’s also 2-0 (pitching). She’s played six positions if you count the designated hitter position. And she has three JV wins."
Rooney didn’t want her sitting on the bench behind regular starting pitcher Amanda Heller and Doughtery so he gave her a few JV pitching starts against the better teams. He also tried to get her an at bat here or there, and it’s on the offensive that Rimal made her biggest impact.
"I know our team struggles a lot," Rimal said. "Our batting average is not the highest. That I started hitting has helped us out."
"I told her if she wanted to be in the lineup," Rooney said, "her bat had to do it. She’s earned it. She doesn’t cheat herself in any at bat. She’s done a lot of good things for us."
Batting in the No. 3 position, Rimal has brought some pop to the MHS lineup. It was never needed more than after Mount St. Mary’s tied the game with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Rimal led off the next inning with a home run.
"This year is probably the peak of my batting," Rimal said. "Before I focused more on pitching. Since I’ve been trying a lot more positions, I’ve focused more on batting. It’s paid off."
Rimal got ahead in the count, 2-0, and then sent the next pitch over the center field fence for her second home run at Ruhlman Field. MHS followed with back-to-back doubles to provide an insurance run for Heller. It was proof that hitting is contagious for the Cougars. They just needed a starting point and Rimal provided an emphatic one.
"She’s been swinging so well and so aggressive, I didn’t give her the take," Rooney said. "She crushed it. Her home run that she hit against Franklin, that was a nice home run. It just got over the fence. (Saturday) was a statement. It was a bomb. It couldn’t have come at a better time."
"I think it was just awesome being part of that experience with the team," Rimal said. "We were state champs last year and we’re still picking things up. I’m contributing more this year and that’s a good feeling.
"I definitely think we have the momentum now. Everyone is hoping we can pull through and make it to the finals."
Contributing to what could be a first county final trip is something that has helped Rimal exceed all expectations she had for her sophomore season. Rimal, who will captain the field hockey team as a junior next fall, has high hopes that her success will continue to produce results for MHS as it looks to finish this season on another high note.
"Early in the year, I was grooming her to pitch," Rooney said. "I didn’t want her to sit on the bench behind people and not pitch. Not that’s a moot point. She’s won the job. She’s been patient about it. She’s won the job with a great attitude and her bat."
Anu Rimal’s contribution Saturday will keep her in the lineup, and the Cougars hope, keep them heading toward a first Somerset County Tournament title.

