RAIDER ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High girls’ lacrosse team closed in on clinching its first Skyland Conference title with victories over Bridgewater-Raritan and Ridge last week. After defeating both county and conference rivals by a single goal in the first meeting earlier this month, the Raiders won more convincingly in the rematches.
Hillsborough (7-0) bolted to a 9-3 lead in the first half of Thursday’s game at Ridge. Ali DeLuca fired home a game-high five goals and added two assists. Teammates Chrissy DiClemente and Lindsey Watts each scored twice, while Katie Marino and Liz Tafaro added single goals. Marino and DiClemente also picked up assists. Lauren Griggs made 12 saves for the winners.
Freshman Kelsey Palmer scored the biggest goal of her young career with 6:13 to play in the team’s home game vs. B-R, which dropped its third Skyland game this season. Palmer converted an assist from DeLuca, who scored three goals to lead the Raiders to the 8-6 victory.
Watts scored two goals, while Marino and Katie DeLuca each connected once. DeLuca and Danielle Iwanechko registered assists and Griggs stopped seven shots.
The HHS girls were scheduled to host Montgomery Tuesday before hitting the road for games at North Warren Thursday afternoon and Somerville Saturday morning.
Cecchine sparkles
for unbeaten golfers
Logan Cecchine played some impressive golf in last week’s HHS matches. He opened the week with a two-under par 34 at Hillsborough Country Club and performed at an even higher level with a three-under par 33 in Thursday’s match at Cherry Valley.
Cecchine’s heroics helped the Raiders improve to 7-0 on the season. They easily defeated Franklin (184-232) and enjoyed a comfortable margin over Montgomery (186-199). No HHS player counting scores carded a score over 40.
All five Raiders checked in under 40 in Thursday’s match at Cherry Valley. Andrew Borsuk, the team leader in the recent Somerset County title triumph, fired a one-over par 37. Steve Cannon shot 38 and Nick Grappone and Craig Durant each carded 39.
Aaron Schiffman and Borsuk shot even par rounds of 36 in the home match vs. Franklin, while Cannon (38) and Grappone (40) also counted scores.
The Raiders were set to host Bridgewater-Raritan and Immaculata this week.
Netmen stay hot
with two more wins
Friday’s 4-1 victory over North Hunterdon kept the Raider boys’ tennis team on a roll.
First singles player John Wu defeated Patrick Liu in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. Mark Apostolos moved up to second singles and posted a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tim Prosky.
The first doubles team of Ross Friedman and Tom Gross won 12 straight games to post a shutout, while the second doubles team of Chris Chung and Tim Le also prevailed in straight sets.
Jesse Goldstein stepped into the lineup at third singles and dropped a 6-1, 6-4 match in his varsity singles debut.
The Raiders, who also defeated St. Joseph of Metuchen in non-conference action last week, will compete in the Somerset County Championships at Pingry this weekend.
Laxmen fall short
vs. rivals at home
The HHS boys’ lacrosse team found itself in another close game when Bridgewater-Raritan came to town last week. The Panthers emerged with an 11-8 victory despite three goals from Chris Livelli and two goals from Jake Wilk.
Hillsborough was slated to play three road games this week. After traveling to Pennington Tuesday, the Raiders will play at Westfield Thursday and at Ridge Saturday.
Track teams
sweep again
The HHS boys and girls swept another track and field tri-meet last week. The girls (5-0) remained unbeaten with easy wins over Bridgewater-Raritan and Hunterdon Central in Bridgewater, while the boys (4-1) defeated the same two foes at home in Hillsborough.
Lauren Watts led the charge for the HHS girls with four first places and 20 team points. Watts prevailed in the 100 (12.7), 100 hurdles (15.1), long jump (16-4¼) and triple jump (34-7).
Other winners for the Raider girls included Ebony Jones in the 400 (1:02.2), Melanie Gingras in the high jump (5-0), Taryn O’Connor in the shot put (39-11) and Colleen Maloney in the discus (116-9) and javelin (110-0). The 4×400 relay team of Jones, Erin Suozzo, Anna Spaniol and Ebony Young took first in a time of 4:15.3.
Twelve different HHS boys picked up first places in a balanced attack, including eight who beat all athletes from both schools. Overall winners included Warner Jones in the 200 (22.9), Jason Walton in the 800 (2:01.2), Paul Bernardo in the 3,200 (10:22), Tyler Szwarc in the 110 high hurdles (14.4), Anthony Visicaro in the high jump (5-10), Steve Theroux in the pole vault (13-0), Bryan Humphrey in the shot put (45-1¾), Andy Julian in the discus (128-5) and the 4×400 relay team (3:36) of Jones, Rob Marley, Alex Szela and Walton.
Other winners over B-R included Jones in the 100 (12.1), Szela in the 400 (53.8), Dan Millemann in the 400 hurdles (58.5), Miles Petrock in the long jump (20-10¼) and triple jump (41-2) and Chris Tillotson in the javelin (137-6). Fredy Irizzary took first in the 1,600 (4:49) against Central.