BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EDISON — Becky Garibotto, of the J.P. Stevens High School softball team, set a new school record last week when she recorded her 19th shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over Watchung Hills in the semifinals of the North Jersey 2 Group IV tournament.
Two days later, she tacked on another shutout leading the Hawks to the group title in another 1-0 thriller over Hunterdon Central.
Garibotto surpassed two Stevens legends, Krystle Petty and Lauren Bellowich, who held the old record with 18. Her 19th shutout was also her 50th win. Her career record currently stands at 51-12-1.
And she was hoping to improve on that stellar mark yesterday when the Hawks took on North Jersey Section I Group IV champion Clifton in the Group IV semifinals.
The Haverford College-bound senior started playing when she was 10 and has blossomed into one of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s most feared pitchers. Garibotto plays the sport year-round and recently ended a two-year stint playing with Edison Top Gun, a top club team.
At Haverford College, she will continue her career either in the pitcher’s circle or at second base, a position she played at Stevens prior to taking over the team’s pitching duties.
“I thought the campus was gorgeous,” Garibotto said of her decision to attend Haverford. “It’s a small school with 1,100 students, which is about half the size of my high school. It seems like a great fit both academically and athletically.”
A smart choice considering, Garibotto is a standout in the classroom as well. Her high school transcript is a jaw-dropper with AP (advanced placement) classes in Spanish, government and English to go along Student Council duties.
“There have certainly been moments when things were hectic and stressful,” Garibotto said. “However, the teachers at Stevens are great, and I know I’m a better person for taking the toughest schedule I could. I feel prepared for next year.”
One of her teachers is also her coach, Pete Catenacci, and Garibotto thinks his approach to the classroom and the softball field brings out the best in both his students and players.
“He’s pretty much the same in class and on the field,” Garibotto said. “He always wants you to work for anything you want to accomplish. In the classroom, he’s big on developing independence, and he’s a little more intense on the field than he is in class.”
Playing varsity softball since her freshman year, Garibotto is saddened to see the end drawing near. Despite all the accolades, Garibotto feels she will miss much more than her personal successes.
“I’m obviously glad to be able to break the shutout record,” she said. “It is a reflection on the team, which is more important because it is something the whole team can enjoy.”
With the team enjoying each other so much it came as little surprise that the Hawks regrouped after a tough loss to Middlesex in the semifinals of the GMC Tournament on Memorial Day to win the group title.
“I had the most fun playing with this team,” Garibotto said. “We just want to keep playing, and I think that is why we didn’t lose our momentum after the loss to Middlesex. Now we know that every game could be our last and we’re putting everything on the line. It was great to see us bounce back without a problem.”
Garibotto attributes the group’s strong camaraderie to the preseason trip the team took to Florida.
“We basically lived together for 10 days, and that set the tone for the season,” she said. “It was important for us to maintain our friendships off the field. A lot of us have practically grown up together, and being close definitely helps on the field. We all want to play our best for each other.”