The Raritan High School softball team is looking to bounce back from a loss in the state tournament with a trip to the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) semifinals.
The Rockets, who fell to Robbinsville High School by one run in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II quarterfinal game, proved to be a resilient postseason team. Just two days later, Raritan got a burst of offense to advance from the SCT’s Round of 16.
Michelle Nestor went 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Bethany Budner, Alexa Sammarco and Brianna Rinaldi each drove in a pair as No. 11-seeded Raritan toppled sixth-seeded Jackson Liberty High School, 12-3.
Raritan tallied 15 hits in support of Nicole Coppolino. The junior pitcher threw seven innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits.
The victory earned Raritan (19-9) a shot at third-seeded Middletown High School South in a SCT quarterfinal game scheduled for May 27. The Rockets are playing for a semifinals slot against No. 10-seed Matawan Regional High School or No. 15- seed Red Bank Catholic High School.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 4- seed Donovan Catholic is facing No. 5-seed Wall High School, and No. 9-seed Middletown High School North will get a crack at undefeated St. John Vianney High School, the SCT’s top seed and this season’s Monmouth County Tournament champion.
The semifinals will be played May 30 at Wall with first pitch at 10 a.m. for Game 1 and noon for Game 2.
For Raritan, the SCT offers one more opportunity to bring home a title in 2015. The Rockets already have a win against a higher-seeded opponent. They’re looking for at least one more against Middletown South (22-4).
“I know the team will give me everything they’ve got, just like they have all season,” Raritan head coach Aado Kommendant said.
The Rockets had a strong showing in their division. They finished right behind St. John Vianney in the A Central standings, taking the public school title. In fact, their only two division losses this spring came against the non-public Lancers. Raritan also started the NJSIAA tournament with an 11-1 blowout over No. 10-seed Delaware Valley Regional High School. In the sectional quarterfinals against Robbinsville, the seventh-seeded Rockets couldn’t pull out a win in extra innings.
Michaela Petito scored the winning run for Robbinsville, the No. 2 seed, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Coppolino mostly scattered 16 hits as she gave up three earned runs over 8 2/3 innings.
Raritan jumped to a 2-0 lead after three innings, and then Robbinsville put three runs on the board. In the seventh inning, the Rockets evened the score at 3-3 to send the game to extras.
Nicole Kirse belted a home run and scored twice in the loss. Sammarco and Ashley Marino had one RBI apiece.
One more victory puts Raritan at 20 wins, which would be the program’s fourth 20-win year over the last seven seasons. But the Rockets want more out of the 2015 season.
“Winning the next game is always the most important goal. We don’t want to be satisfied with 20 wins,” Kommendant said, adding that Raritan has been successful this season because of its tenacity on the field. “We always try our best to play the whole game.”
Leading the charge has been a senior class consisting of Budner, Rinaldi, Bethany Evans and Daniella Marino. Raritan expected veteran leadership this season, and the seniors delivered.
“Their impact is going to be felt for years to come,” Kommendant said, noting how the seniors have left an impression on Raritan’s up-and-comers. “I’ve been fortunate to have a great senior class every year. This year’s class is no exception.”
Elsewhere in local softball, St. John Vianney was slated to begin its quest for a South Jersey Non-Public A title with a quarterfinal game May 26 against Bishop Eustace Preparatory School. The Lancers had a first-round bye. The semifinals will be played May 29.
Middletown’s crosstown rivals could meet in the Central Jersey Group III title game. Top-seed Middletown South needed a win over Wall, and No. 2-seed Middletown North was set to face Hamilton Township’s Steinert High School.
In Central Jersey Group II, eighthseeded Matawan advanced to the semifinals opposite No. 5-seed Governor Livingston High School.
Championship games for both sections are scheduled for May 29.