SOFTBALL
By: John E. Powers
Better times are ahead for the Lawrence High School softball program.
Head coach Keith Fithen is sure of it, and the Cardinals are giving their coach indications of it as the 2006 season winds down.
Lawrence started the week with a 3-18 record, the same as it finished with last year in Sue Bunn’s last year as head coach.
But, as the team prepared for its final two games at West Windsor-Plainsboro North Wednesday and Hamilton Thursday, Fithen was eager to see how his young team will improve.
The Cardinals fell to Princeton last Saturday 3-1 in a Mercer County Tournament consolation game as Katelyn Fecak threw well, but Princeton scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to win it.
"That was a heartbreaker," Fithen said.
Last Wednesday, the Cardinals fell to Hopewell Valley 16-10 as Kathryn Mills had two doubles and a triple and freshman outfielder Angela Parascando, who is leading the team with RBIs, triples and homers, hit a two-run homer in the sixth.
The Cardinals once again suffered from a poor inning as they led until Hopewell scored 11 runs in the sixth inning. Lawrence also fell to Notre Dame 13-1 Friday.
The Cardinals showed their promise with a 6-3 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North May 8 and a 9-5 win over Princeton May 5.
"North is one of the better teams in the county," Fithen said. "We played an outstanding game. It was a win that really had to make the girls feel good."
Fecak got the win as Lawrence scored seven times in the top of the fourth. Fecack got her third win with a five-hitter in the win over North. Parascando had a three-run homer in the second and was 3-for-3 overall, while Fecak and Allie Price were both 2-for-3.
"It took us about 12 games to get the system I wanted into the place," said Fithen. "We struggled in the beginning, but toward the middle of the season we played some competitive softball right before the Mercer County Tournament. We showed a competitive nature, hanging in and not just playing for four or five innings. We were in the games."
Signs of improvement came against West Windsor-Plainsboro South, a team that had beaten the Cardinals 16-1 April 19. In the second game between the two clubs May 3, Fecak pitched well in a 2-1 loss. Fecak carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Senior outfielder Dani Brooks, who leads the team with 19 hits and a .345 batting average, drove in the run for the Cardinals.
"(Fecak) had it all together," Fithen said. "We could score runs earlier in the season, but we were giving up a lot. I was very proud of our kids the way they improved."
Fecak has raised her average over .250 and has 17 hits. Sophomore Kathryn Mills leads the team in doubles. Sophomore outfielder Amanda Sawasky is tied for the team lead with RBIs.
"We have lowered our earned run average from 10 runs per game to eight," the coach said. "Opposing teams were hitting .400 against our pitching, and now its 300, that’s a positive and our own batting averages are better."
It’s a young team and will get better. But the seniors have been very instrumental in helping.
"I believe (the seniors) have had a great time," said Fithen, who has been assisted by Nicole Meister and Jayson Beifeld. "Yes, we’ve lost some games for a variety of reasons, a lack of hitting, errors but this is a tough league and there are no gimmies. This year we were down in terms of talent, but the kids have given me all they have had. I was talking to four of our seniors the other day and I told them that I’m very proud of the progress they’ve made from where they were at day one to now. I’d like to play another month, but unfortunately we stop Thursday."

