Bishop George Ahr High School first baseman Megan Kushpa (top left) receives a throw from pitcher Megan Ryan (bottom) that beat an Allentown High School runner to the bag during the March 28 scrimmage held in Edison. Games will count for the area softball teams this week as the season officially opens. Bishop Ahr will host North Brunswick Township High School on April 5 at 4 p.m. ERIC SUCAR staff Edison
On paper, the Edison High School softball team appears to be in good shape, since only two players graduated from last year’s 21-6 team. But before the Eagles are written in as favorites to win the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division title, let’s take a look at just what that pair accomplished.
Valerie Cassell, a pitcher, and Tracey Balinskas, a shortstop, are arguably two of the best to ever play at Edison, and the Eagles will be hard-pressed to achieve the same results without them. Cassell, now at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, was on the mound for four seasons and was one of the dominant hurlers in the GMC. Another reason for Edison’s success was the allaround play of Balinskas, as reliable a shortstop as there was in the conference.
Bishop George Ahr High School shortstop Kayla Peterson backhands a grounder during the Trojans’ March 28 home scrimmage against Allentown High School. The high school softball season starts this week with Bishop Ahr hosting North Brunswick Township High School on April 5 at 4 p.m. ERIC SUCAR staff Add in the fact that Dawn Penny has replaced Jennifer Teffenhart as head coach, and Edison will have a decidedly different look this spring. Still, Penny doesn’t shy away from expecting better things from the team.
“We’re looking to improve on last year’s team,” she said. “We have players back who made valuable contributions to the team’s success. We’ll look to their leadership.”
Junior Amanda Redman has been chosen to succeed Cassell on the mound. She brings experience as a starting outfielder but hasn’t been tested in the circle. How she performs will be crucial, and the first test was April 1 when the Eagles opened the season with a home game against Spotswood High School. That was followed by another home game with Woodbridge High School on April 2 and a visit to Old Bridge High School on April 4.
The rest of the starting lineup includes senior Brianna Redman, Amanda’s cousin, at first base. A freshman, Tatiana Yourstone, and junior, Kelsey Reilly, will compete for the second-base starting job. A senior expected to be one of the team’s leaders is shortstop Mackenzie Valerani. The veteran is one of the better all-around players on the team. At third base is freshman Nikki Gresh, whose solid bat and excellent defensive skills have enabled her to win the job.
At this point, sophomore Alyssa Maurath and junior Christina Roe are competing for the catcher’s spot, while the outfield features senior Kerry Flynn as the anchor in center field, and junior Alex Gonzalez, sophomore Amanda Mercuro, and freshman Ashley Hunt competing for the remaining positions.
Other members of the team include junior utility player Nicole Miller, junior infielder Monica Theil, sophomore pitcher Laura Flynn and freshman outfielder Ashley Hunt.
“Amanda has worked extremely hard during the offseason to fill Valerie’s shoes,” said Penny. “She obviously will be one of the keys to our season.”
As a member of the Red Division, the Eagles will compete against perennial power East Brunswick High School as well as improved crosstown rival J.P. Stevens High School.
Metuchen
Rich Stoner, coach of the Metuchen
High School boys golf team, has what he believes is the right perspective when it comes to establishing goals for his talented team. Yes, he would like the Bulldogs to add the GMC and Tournament of
Champions titles to the Central Jersey
Group I and state Group I championships they won last year. But as long as his team improves with each match, winning titles will also happen.
The primary reason why Metuchen is considered among the state’s elite is Peter Kim. Now a senior, Kim is the defending state individual champion and looking to repeat. An accomplished golfer who competes year-round in amateur junior PGA events, Kim played a stroke under par a year ago and will seek to at least duplicate that effort.
However, what makes Metuchen such a quality team is its depth. In addition to Kim, seniors Jeremy Nevius and Ryan O’Neill have proved to be excellent performers, especially under the pressure of playing in tournaments. The key will be how relatively inexperienced golfers such as Matt Biancamano, Matt Zeng, Brandon Switzer and Joe Misdea develop and play.
“My philosophy has always been to promote the sport and get as many players out as possible, and provide them with the opportunities to get better,” said Stoner. “We actually just got an assistant coach for the first time because we had 37 golfers on the preseason roster. We have been working to help the younger players develop in addition to improving our girls program, which has grown too.”
While Stoner believes it’s important to coach players to better their mechanics, he says the mental side of the game is just as important.
“I believe both are important, but my focus is always more on the mental side,” he said. “We are trying to have fun and enjoy ourselves, whether it is in practice or during a match. Obviously, the players are competitive with each other and their opponents, but they are getting better at realizing it’s not the end of the world if they don’t make every shot. I teach them that if they make mistakes, move on. Play each shot as its own entity, and don’t forget to enjoy playing the game.”
Stoner says the chief competition for GMC honors will be the same team that edged the Bulldogs in the conference tournament last year — St. Joseph High School of Metuchen.
“They won it last year and basically return their entire team,” Stoner said.
Weather permitting, Metuchen was scheduled to open its season on April 1 at South River High School. That will be followed by a match at Metuchen’s home course, Metuchen Country Club, with the Wardlaw-Hartridge School on April 4.