By: Sean Richards
The youthful South Brunswick High School softball team saw its season record dip to 4-8 with two more losses over the last week, but coach Danielle Matlack and her players are hardly discouraged.
One reason is, after losing to East Brunswick, 6-0, in a game in which it committed a host of errors, the Vikings bounced right back with a solid -albeit losing – effort in a 6-5 setback at J.P. Stevens.
"They’re not having the type of year they normally have, but it’s still J.P.," said Matlack. "I thought we played a very good game against them. The girls battled the whole game."
South Brunswick took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against J.P. Stevens on an RBI fielder’s choice by Sam Peletier. Peletier also doubled in a run in the third inning.
Ali Grischuk had an RBI triple in the fifth inning and Jenn Sisco knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly during a two-run sixth as the Vikings mounted a comeback that came up just a little bit short.
"We hit the ball well," said Matlack, whose team also got a double from Rebecca Boley. "We did not play well against East Brunswick, but I was happy with the way the team bounced right back."
Junior Emily Littlejohn continued to pitch well for a South Brunswick team that is still having its problems at times in the field.
Matlack remains confident this will correct itself as her rebuilding team continues to get more seasoning.
"We’re getting to the point where we are getting consistent practice outdoors," she said. "We’re getting to work on some situations, which I think will really help us.
"Sometimes it doesn’t show in the games, but you can see improvement with our team in a lot of areas."
The Vikings were to have played Woodbridge Tuesday and will be home against J.P. Stevens today (Thursday) and home against Metuchen Saturday. Monday will be a difficult game against perennial Skyland Conference power Hunterdon Central. Also on Monday, the seeding for the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament will take place.
With its current record South Brunswick will receive a lower seed and almost certainly have to play an out bracket game Wednesday.
"I’m sure we’ll be playing Wednesday," agreed Matlack. "Hopefully we can win some games before then and start getting some momentum."
