Softballers rally, lacrosse ladies romp
By: Rudy Brandl
Two Hillsborough High girls’ teams advanced to sectional semifinals with victories Thursday afternoon.
In Sayreville, the seventh-seeded HHS softball team rallied for a 5-4 triumph over Sayreville. The Raiders (17-7) will make their second straight trip to the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals, where they will take on No. 3 South Brunswick on the road Tuesday.
Back home in Hillsborough, the third-seeded Raider girls’ lacrosse squad demolished Northern Highlands by a 15-5 margin. The HHS girls (18-1) also will be making their second consecutive appearance in the North A semifinals, where they will host seventh-ranked West Morris Central Tuesday.
Second-seeded Sayreville (20-5) rallied to erase an early 2-0 deficit and the Raiders found themselves down by two runs in the top of the sixth. They rallied to tie the game in the sixth and won it with a run in the seventh.
Katelyn Derewecki lifted a soft RBI single into center field to score courtesy runner Courtney Fedor with the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. Hillsborough started its rally when Katie Yard blasted a home run to right-center field leading off the sixth. Derewecki singled and scored on a clutch two-out hit from Celia Maccini.
Christine Murphy led off the game with a home run to center field. Vanessa Tumminia doubled and scored on an error to make it 2-0.
Winning pitcher Megan McInaw scattered four hits and two walks but finished by retiring the final eight batters. She struck out the side in the seventh to finish with eight strikeouts.
"We had some adversity but we battled and never gave up," HHS head coach Cheryl Iaione said. "I’m so proud of them."
The girls’ lacrosse team overcame its adversity after the previous week’s loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals. Since then, the Raiders have been on a roll.
Thursday’s sectional quarterfinal was all Hillsborough. The Raiders bolted to leads of 3-0, 7-1 and then 8-2 at the half. Ali DeLuca dominated the first half with five of her game-high seven goals. Lindsey Watts scored twice in each half to finish with four goals. Sara DiClemente netted one goal in each half and Katie Marino and Kelsey Palmer added goals in the second half.
"We played well today," HHS head coach Beth Murrin said. "We had an awesome practice yesterday and worked out the kinks. We were ready to play today."
Lauren Griggs made 11 saves for the winners.
For more detailed coverage of all the Hillsborough High teams in the state playoffs, see Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.

