BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer
Kaitlin Streilein and Stacy Ryan led Brick Memorial’s softball team as its pitcher and catcher, respectively, for three years, and have excelled over the summer for the RKE Jaxx club team.
Now, they are finding greater success for their college teams than they did last spring.
Along with an 8-8 record and a 3.69 ERA as one of the team’s top pitchers, Streilein leads Brandeis University with a .346 batting average and 18 RBIs in the heart of the order. She has stolen 19 bases in 22 attempts. As for pitching, Streilein has completed 14 of 16 games she started with two shutouts and only 33 walks in 104 1/3 innings pitched. She has committed only one error.
Ryan, meanwhile, is back at her more familiar spot behind the plate after filling in in the outfield last season and is hitting a hefty .380 for Georgian Court University.
Both keep in touch regularly and share the good news of their successes in their second year of college softball.
“I’m doing a lot better than last year,” said Streilein. “I won only two games last year. And we’re doing better this season at 16-21 than we did a year ago when we won eight games.
“We’re just playing better as a team, and I worked hard in the off-season,” said Streilein.
Having a solid defense behind her with only 48 errors and a .956 fielding percentage is important for Streilein, who plays first base when she isn’t pitching.
“Defensively, we’re better,” said Streilein. “And confidence-wise, we’re better because we had so many freshmen last year who now have experience. We only have two freshmen on this season.”
As for hitting, Streilein has hit three
home runs and nine doubles for a .514 slugging percentage.
“I’ve been hitting consistently, but I’m still waiting for a big game,” said Streilein.
But the team’s 122 runs and .261 batting average have held it back from greater success.
As for Ryan, she’s happy calling pitches again at her more familiar position behind the plate. And she says she does not mind hitting at the bottom of the batting lineup despite her fine average.
“I’m comfortable; no pressure,” said Ryan.
And the team has weathered the challenges in its conference – it’s tied with Caldwell for first in a solid 17-5 season. The teams collide Saturday at Caldwell.
Brandeis has enjoyed greater success despite the team throwing two freshmen pitchers.
“They mix it up. We still have a lot of work to do,” said Ryan of the pitchers.
She says she feels physically better than a year ago when she still had a nagging pain in her right shoulder that went back to an injury suffered when she played fall ball in her senior year of high school. Despite excruciating pain back then that made it difficult to even lift her arm at times, Ryan was able to put together a solid bowling season as one of the best in the state to help the team reach the state championships.
Ryan had arthroscopic surgery on her shoulder in August at the Surgical Center in Eatontown.
“I feel a lot stronger. I have no pain now,” said Ryan, who is enjoying a typically steady season behind the plate. She still has physical therapy regularly
After the season, Streilein said they are looking to possibly start up a new club team this summer.