Rimal, Cougar softball enjoy fast start
By: Bob Nuse
The Montgomery High softball team is heading into the third phase of its season pretty happy with the way the first two phases have played out.
"We talked in early March about breaking the season into phases," said Montgomery coach Johnny Rooney, whose team improved to 9-1 when it posted wins over Hamilton and Princeton on Friday. "Phase one was the first two weeks of trying to decide who would be on which team.
"Then in phase two there were a lot of players competing for jobs. We have good competition on our team at every position. That was the first 10 games and our only loss was to in the Rancocas Valley Tournament to Cherokee, which went on to win the tournament. Now we’re starting the next phase and if we’re going to compete for a Central Jersey IV championship and maybe even further, this week will be pretty telling because we play three Group IV schools that are strong programs."
Montgomery has suffered just one loss thus far, which came at the hands of Cherokee in the Rancocas Valley Tournament. Following that loss the team has posted five straight wins heading into Monday’s scheduled game against Hunterdon Central.
"We had a really good week," said senior Anu Rimal, who had a big game in a mid-week win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South, where she homered and was the winning pitcher. "We played five games and we won all five. So it was a busy week and a good week for us. We don’t normally play that many games in one week, but after the bad weather that we have had it’s nice to get to play."
The Cougars capped off the week by winning a pair of games on Friday, beating Hamilton, 12-1, and Princeton, 14-5. Against Hamilton, Elora Daniele allowed just three hits and struck out 10. In the win over Princeton, Ali Knapp picked up her second win of the year on the mound.
"We’ve come back and played well since our loss in the tournament," said Rimal, who has two home runs and 10 runs batted in this season. "We have a pretty young team and a lot of them had never played in a tournament at that high of a level before. So it was a good experience for us.
"I’m not that surprised by how we have done. We knew coming into the season that we had a lot of depth and a lot of us had played together before. We have a lot of talent and we’re strong in so many positions. We have so many good players. It’s like we have five starting outfielders that could play."
Throughout her career with the Cougars, Rimal has been the sort of versatile player who helps teams win championships. As a sophomore, she started in left field. She’s also seen action at third base, and now this year she’s the Cougars’ first baseman. All along, she’s also been able to do the job as a pitcher when called upon.
"I’ve never been all about pitching, but it is good to get a chance," said Rimal, who will play softball at Wesleyan College. "We have a lot of pitchers and that’s a big help for us, especially when we have weeks like we just had with five games."
Rimal is part of a Montgomery senior class that was around when the Cougars won the state Group III championship in 2004. She was also part of the team that won the Somerset County title last year. She and her teammates would like to see if they can have that kind of magical season again this year.
"She’s certainly been around the winning tradition and been a part of it," Rooney said. "Her sophomore and junior years she was a big part of the success we had, winning the Somerset County Tournament and making it into the state tournament again.
"She’s played four or five different positions for us and since her sophomore year she’s batted third or fourth for us. She brings a lot of power to our lineup. Her work ethic is very good during the season. She enjoys the game of softball and has a good relationship with the kids on the team and with the coaching staff."
Even though she was mainly a spectator through the state tournament run as a freshman, it was the kind of experience Rimal will never forget. And it was an experience she would love to relive this year.
"I didn’t play much, but I went to all the games during the state tournament," she said. "It was a great experience. That was probably the most fun I’ve had in softball. This year we have a county title to defend and we also have the state tournament. Hopefully we can have another great year.
"I really can’t describe the last four years. I got lucky and came into the program when it was really getting going with the great atmosphere we have here. It’s been great to be a part of it."
She was also a part of the growing Montgomery field hockey program for the last four years. And while that experience was different in terms of wins and losses, it’s another she would never trade.
"Field hockey was a different experience because that is a building program that is starting to grow. I actually feel lucky that I was able to play in a program that is already established and also get to play in one that is trying to get to .500. I got to have both experiences."
And this spring she’s hoping the Cougars duplicate that experience of her freshman year and make a run through the state tournament.

