Elite softballers open summer season

Iaione looking for nine best players

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   With a larger roster than ever, Hillsborough head coach Cheryl Iaione is taking a look at many players on this summer’s Elite softball team.
   Hillsborough is off to a 1-2 start in the short six-week campaign, which isn’t as much about wins and losses as it is to begin the building process for the 2008 high school season. Iaione wasn’t thrilled with the way her HHS team played defense last spring and she plans to fix that problem before next April.
   "I’m looking for people to step up," Iaione said. "I’m looking for the best nine players I can put on the field. If two of them are catchers, then I’ll find another position for one of them."
   Hillsborough faces the usual summer league problem of irregular attendance, but there are 27 girls on the roster. With different people showing up at each game, Iaione will get a look at many players. Some will only get one at-bat or an inning in the field, but at least she’ll get a glimpse of what the young players can do at this level.
   "Some of them aren’t ready for it, but they’ll get their feet wet," Iaione said. "The league is still competitive enough that when you don’t have your horses, you’ll get beat."
   Hillsborough experienced that in last week’s 6-3 loss at Clark. Iaione had to use her third pitcher, Kelly Bloom, for the entire game. She didn’t have ace Megan McInaw or varsity backup Katelyn Derewecki available. Bloom did a decent job with four strikeouts in six innings but allowed too many walks.
   Christine Fisher had given Hillsborough a 3-2 lead with a two-run single in the fourth inning. Christina LoBrutto hit a sacrifice fly for the team’s other run.
   Hillsborough posted its first victory of the summer June 13 vs. Delaware Valley at Ann Van Middlesworth Park. Three pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in the 11-1 triumph. McInaw and Derewecki each fanned six batters in two innings and Kristen Whitmore struck out two more in the final two frames.
   Caitlyn Katzelnick, the leadoff batter for the high school team, ended the game with a three-run triple in the bottom of the sixth. Teammates Shannon Palzer, Melissa Weinstein and McInaw had two hits apiece. Palzer drove in two runs, Weinstein scored twice and McInaw had a run and an RBI.
   The Elites opened the season with a tough 4-3 loss to Flemington, a team comprised of players in the Hunterdon Central program. Second baseman Monique Verastegui had two hits and two runs scored. Weinstein added two hits. Sarah Obermeier and Weinsten notched RBI singles in the game.
   Hillsborough’s open roster includes pitchers McInaw, Derewecki, Bloom and Whitmore, catchers Weinstein, Margaret Gilroy and Danielle Deretchin, first basemen Megan Alexander and Katie Patella, second baseman Verastegui, shortstops Tara Van Doren and Michelle Ellis, third baseman Carly Buccino and outfielders Katzelnick, LoBrutto, Palzer, Obermeier, Fisher and Nicole Rittman.
   Larry Yard, Lil Torres and Pat McInaw are working as Iaione’s summer assistant coaches. Wayne Lindle is handling the scorekeeping, which could be at tricky job with so many names to chart.
   "It’s an opportunity for them to get out there and play and show me what they can do," Iaione said. "It’s tough to get 20 kids in the lineup, but we’ll give it our best shot. This is a good opportunity to learn."