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MANVILLE: Softball bats rally but fall short

Errors hurt Manville girls

by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
   Manville High showed some signs of life in last week’s softball opener vs. Belvidere.
   First-year head coach Carrie Smith was pleased with the way her girls battled back and refused to allow the visitors roll to a lopsided victory. Belvidere scored the first six runs of the game but hung on for a 9-6 victory before the game was called in the seventh inning due to heavy rain.
   ”I’m so proud of the girls,” Smith said. “Everyone did really well. It was pouring rain and the ball was soaking wet. It was difficult to make plays.”
   Despite the conditions and the pressure associated with opening day, Smith handed the ball to freshman Haley Andrews for the starting assignment. Andrews struggled in the first two innings but settled down and pitched well in the third before senior Kim Jones took over for the second half of the game.
   Andrews (0-1) pitched very well in the pre-season scrimmages to earn the opening day nod. She finished with three strikeouts in her debut but took some time to get used to the wet weather.
   ”The first inning was the toughest because she was trying to adjust,” Smith said. “Haley was looking really good in our scrimmages. She didn’t let up any runs against Middlesex. She has good ball control, but it was pouring. She did very well after the first two innings.”
   Jones came on and brought the heat in the next few frames, striking out five and allowing two runs before the game was called. Smith plans on splitting games with her two pitchers. Their contrasting styles will keep opposing teams off balance.
   ”I’m going to use both of them,” Smith said. “That’s the best thing for the team and for both of them. They weren’t touching Kim. She can come in and throw really hard for a few innings.”
   Manville hit the ball very well in the opening game. The MHS girls banged out 10 hits, one more than Belvidere, but a few key errors were costly. Manville made key errors in two separate innings that allowed the visitors to push across unearned runs.
   Heather Armstrong, Lindsey Zaccardi and Rebecca Giannotto collected two hits apiece, while Jones, Haydee Hernandez, Andrews and Angie Saladin added one apiece for the Mustangs. Armstrong, the starting catcher, belted a double for the team’s only extra-base hit.
   Smith expects this year’s team to hit better. Almost every player contributed a base hit in the opener. The pitching and defense could have been better, but the conditions were horrible.
   Battling the elements was the biggest issue in the opener. A wet, slippery ball created problems for the pitchers. Making routine plays wasn’t easy. Smith is looking forward to playing Belvidere again under better conditions. The teams have a rematch set for May 5 in Belvidere.
   ”It’s disappointing that it rained,” Smith said. “Two errors really hurt us. I think we can beat that team.”
   Last Friday’s game at Mount St. Mary’s Academy was postponed due to rain. Manville was scheduled to play on the road at North Warren and Hackettstown before returning home for a Thursday afternoon contest vs. Perth Amboy Tech.