Eagles move on as Erbig reaches 600th win

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Correspondent

Staying alive in the postseason with a 5-0 NJSIAA tournament victory over Allentown last Friday (May 21) meant more than strictly the right to play another day for Middletown South coach Tom Erbig, who became only the third high school softball coach in state history with 600 victories.

Allison Nolan scattered six hits as Middletown South snapped a 1-1 tie with four runs in the fourth inning. Amanda Galanti smashed a two-run single, and Jackie Bates lined a two-run triple to account for the four runs.

Sam Penk drove in the earlier run with a sacrifice fly.

The victory advanced the Eagles in the Group III bracket to the Central Jersey semifinals on Tuesday (May 25), against West Windsor-Plainsboro North.

The CJ III final will be played either today or tomorrow at the home of the highest seed. That means the Eagles would host the game if they won their semifinal game.

Middletown South also moved on in the Shore Conference Tournament with an opening-round 2-1 victory over Toms River North since Galanti again came through with a timely hit when she lined a two-run double in the fifth inning. Julia Kuhn scattered six hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.That victory advances the Eagles into Wednesday’s (May 26) second-round game against A North Division rival Howell.

Despite hitting the milestone, Erbig also had some concerns.

“I think we have to start to hit and play better,” said Erbig. “We’re not as sharp and not getting it done like in the beginning of the season. But looking around the state, I see the scores are getting tighter because the games are becoming bigger.”

But the coach hopes his squad revives the torrid hitting it had when it was ranked atop the state and had a team batting average in the .360s late in the season.