Lady Lancers set to defend their titles on the diamond

Last season

By Warren Rappleyea
Staff Writer

Last season’s 28-3
campaign a tough act
to follow
By Warren Rappleyea
Staff Writer

The St. John Vianney High School softball team has picked right up where it left off last season when it won the NJSIAA state Parochial A championship.

The Lancers also won the Shore Conference Class B North crown as well as the overall conference title, the Monmouth County tourney and the Parochial A South championship while compiling a 28-3 record.

SJV opened last week against Middletown South, another B North power. The two teams battled for 11 innings before the Lancers prevailed, 2-1. Center fielder Kacie Galbraith, after hitting into a force play, stole second and then third, and scored the winning run as the throw went into the outfield.

Sophomore pitcher Tricia Riengle went the distance, striking out 27 Middletown South hitters along the way. Riengle, who was 5-0 last year, is now 2-0 after tossing a one-hit shutout, with seven K’s, against Holmdel on Saturday.

That’s not good news for the Lancers’ opponents. SJV lost ace pitcher Jackie Adelfio (23-3, 0.33 ERA), last year’s state Player of the Year, to graduation, but the emergence of Riengle has quickly plugged that hole.

In addition, the Lancers lost only one other starter, shortstop Suzanne Gorczynski (.363, 19 RBIs), so the bulk of coach Aado Kommendant’s lineup is intact.

Lauren Incorvai, a sophomore who batted .325 with 20 RBIs, splits the catching and DH duties with Tina Philburn, a .280 hitter who drove home 10 runs a year ago.

Candice Ruffler (.267) is back at first base, and fellow senior Jennifer Trace (.274) has moved to shortstop from second base. Sophomore Jaime Tupino is the new second baseman, and freshmen Lauren Galladay earned the starting nod at third, where Riengle played last season.

Senior Lauren Taub (.320) is the left fielder and Jessica Vreeland (.294 with a team leading 22 runs) is the right fielder. The fleet Galbraith, who patrols center field, batted .316 last spring.

In reserve are sophomore Amanda D’Alessio, who had a hit and drew three walks against Holmdel, and freshmen Danielle Adelfio and Amanda Rooney, who delivered a pair of hits in the Holmdel win.

"While we do have some young players, this is an experienced team that has been tested in just about every way last year," Kommendant said. "They know what it takes to win, they can come back when they’re behind, and they thrive on pressure."

However, the early dominance of Riengle has caused an unexpected slip in the usually excellent Lancer defense, the coach said.

"We’ve been caught flat-footed quite a bit, and that has to stop," the coach said. "They can’t just expect Tricia [Riengle] to strike everyone out."

St. John’s defense should be tested this weekend when Kommendant’s team hosts the "Lancer Joust," a tournament that also includes top-flight teams like Mount St. Dominic, Hillsborough and Whippany. The action begins on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The Lancers were scheduled to meet Raritan yesterday and will host Monmouth Regional tomorrow afternoon.