Lawrence shows strength in scrimmages

SOFTBALL

By: Tim Falls
   When the Lawrence High School varsity softball team’s season wrapped up last year, coach Keith Fithen wished there was another month to play.
   The Cardinals were just starting to come into their own as the season ended.
   Now, as a new season stars up Fithen is seeing his team return with the strength it had in the final few games last year.
   "We’re riding on the strength we finished with last year," said Fithen.
   The Cardinals went 4-19 last year after a rough start, and while it took a while they turned things around by the end of the season and were moving in the right direction.
   "We didn’t get a win that first month," said Fithen, "but we got four after that and we lost a few in the sixth or seventh innings, so we could easily have been 9-14. We finished strong, I wish we could have had another month."
   After the Cardinals’ first few scrimmages, Fithen said he is pleased with how the team is coming back.
   Fithen felt Lawrence showed potential, even in its 3-1 loss in the Cardinals’ opening scrimmage against Northern Burlington. An 8-5 win over Freehold Boro last Thursday extended the coach’s confidence.
   Lawrence graduated seven seniors from the team last year and returns without a single 12th-grade player this season. Still, Fithen was encouraged by a strong junior class and a team which seems more relaxed and more sure of itself out on the field.
   The Cardinals returning junior softball players include catcher Allie Price, second baseman Melissa Casale, Amanda Sawasky at centerfield and Kathryn Mills at third base. The sophomores returning are Angela Parascando, the Cardinal’s number one pitcher and Ashley Russo at short stop. The Cardinals also include junior Danielle DeFillipo at right field, junior Jackie Ruberto at left field, sophomore Nicole Sebastion in the outfield, sophomore Jen Abertson as a back-up first baseman and outfielder and freshman Lindsey Mills, the starting first baseman and back-up pitcher.
   Joining Fithen in his second season as coach after a hiatus are his assistant coaches Carlee Hanuschik and Jamie McCormack, the junior varsity coach. Both have plenty of experience to pass on to the Cardinals.
   "Carlee and Jamie both played on Hamilton West’s last state championship team," said Fithen.
   That is experience Fithen wants to tap to make Lawrence a competitive program once more.
   "The real kicker is that the CVC (Colonial Valley Conference) is so strong," said Fithen. "Last year, we had three teams in the CVC win state championships. The play in Mercer County is top notch. There are no gimmies."
   Even with such heightened competition, Fithen wants to make sure nobody takes Lawrence for granted.
   "I hope we can give everybody more competition than we did last year," said the Lawrence coach. "We really want to compete. The big thing is no school considers us a gimmie."
   Lawrence should prove they are not a team to be trifled with quickly now that the Cardinals have found their roles.
   "They know the system now," said Fithen. "They’re comfortable with it. They know what’s expected of them."
   Against Northern Burlington on March 20, the Cardinals gave an effort Fithen could be happy with.
   "We gave Northern Burlington a close game," said Fithen. "They played a slapping game, a stealing game, they put you in rundown situations. It gave us some problems, but we hung in together. We played tough and actually out hit them."
   Lawrence handled Freehold Boro and Fithen was excited to play scrimmages during the week against Pemberton on Monday, Florence on Tuesday and Bordentown today.
   After those games, the Cardinals are heading down to Orlando, Florida to participate in the Disney 2007 Softball Spring Training.
   "We’ve got some tough scrimmages to get us tuned up for Florida," said Fithen. "We did a good job last year bonding down in Florida."
   Once they return, the Cardinals kick off their new season with a night game against Ewing at 7 p.m. April 9 at Colvati Field.