HOPEWELL VALLEY SOFTBALL
By: John E. Powers
The Hopewell Valley High School softball team simply ran into an outstanding pitcher Tuesday afternoon.
Notre Dame pitcher Ali Tomlinson tossed a no-hitter and struck out 13 Bulldogs as the Irish rolled to a 6-0 win.
The loss was the first for the Bulldogs after they had opened the season with a 6-2 win over Delaware Valley on Saturday before topping West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 10-0, Monday.
Bulldog pitcher Courtney Sorg, who struck out 131 last year, allowed seven hits, including a two-run homer to Tomlinson in the first as Notre Dame took control.
Deanne Algeo hit a ground-rule double, but Sorg was able to escape further trouble by striking out the next two batters. An error opened the door for Notre Dame to score two more runs in the third inning.
"We would like to increase our win total this year and go farther in the tournaments. We lost last year in the second round and we’d like to go farther this year," said third-year head coach Lois Fyfe.
The Bulldogs, 14-12 last year and 8-7 in the Colonial Valley Patriot Division, are scheduled to play Colonial Valley Conference rival Steinert today and a very good Hillsborough team Friday in a nonconference game. Both games are at home and start at 4 p.m.
"Steinert is a good team; we lost to them last year," said Fyfe. "They lost two of their best pitchers, but it could be a good game."
Sorg pitched a four-hitter, striking out six and walking none Saturday as Delaware Valley fell in a non-conference game.
Senior Sam Stout hit a two-out triple in the second inning to drive in senior Sam McGraw and put Hopewell Valley up for good after a the Terriers had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning.
"She has a lot of different pitches," Fyfe said of Sorg. "She was sharp with all of them and moved them around very well."
Sorg and sophomore right-hander Emily Frank combined to shut out West Windsor-Plainsboro North. The two allowed just three hits.
Junior shortstop Gina Colati and junior catcher Gina Pagano slapped doubles. Pagano went 2-for-2 with two walks.
Since Sorg went three innings of the five-inning game, she was credited with her second win of the year.
"A lot of different people contributed and our pitchers were dominant," Fyfe said.
The Bulldogs will play another nonconference game Monday at Lenape before a morning game Tuesday against Hightstown. The Bulldogs won’t play their first divisional game until Saturday, April 22, when they face at Allentown.

