Younger Ortman picks up for older sister
By: Rudy Brandl
SOMERVILLE It’s always tough to play a tournament game on the road, especially when your team isn’t at full strength.
The Manville High softball team faced a difficult task in Saturday’s Somerset County Tournament contest at Somerville. MHS had to go into battle without standout pitcher Amy Ortman, who’s also the team’s top power hitter. Ortman was suspended for violating school policy last week and had to sit out games on Friday and Saturday.
While the Lady Mustangs still had enough to beat Bound Brook in Friday’s regular season game, they weren’t able to stay alive in the county tournament. Sixth-ranked Somerville (8-4) used one big inning to take the early lead and cruised to a 9-0 victory to advance to the SCT quarterfinals against No. 3 Bridgewater-Raritan.
"The whole team feels cheated in that we would’ve liked to give it our maximum effort with our best team," MHS head coach Ed Knapp said afterward. "We had to go without our best pitcher and top hitter. Other schools in the area might see this result and not think we’re as tough as we are. I think it would’ve been a close game, but these things happen to every team."
Ortman’s younger sister Sarah was pressed into immediate service and performed well under pressure. She was wild in Friday’s win over Bound Brook but improved her control in the county outing. Somerville’s solid hitting team smacked a few balls into the gaps and took advantage of some sloppy defense early in the game.
Sarah Ortman walked four batters Saturday after allowing eight free passes in her debut the previous day. She gave up 10 hits, including three doubles, but kept the Pioneers off the board in the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the game to the full seven frames.
"When I found out I was pitching, I felt like I was going to vomit," Sarah Ortman said after Saturday’s loss. "My team helped me out. They gave me a lot of confidence and calmed me down. My sister couldn’t pitch, so I had to pitch."
Ortman worked out of some jams in Friday’s game but Somerville proved to be a much better opponent. The Pioneers blew the game open with five runs in the second inning, with three big hits doing the damage. Krissy Bonaduce made it 3-0 with a two-run single to center field, Jess Kwiatkowski blasted an RBI double to right-center and Colleen Diamond capped the surge with a two-run double to deep center.
"I don’t think I’m ready for the varsity level yet," Ortman said. "I’m not fast enough. It was fun, but this one was a little more stressful because it was a county game. I still think I did pretty well."
"I’m so proud of Sarah," Knapp added. "She stayed in there and showed Manville heart and Manville pride. We might have disappointed some people, but we gave it our best."
Once the Lady Mustangs fell behind by nine runs, it became a matter of survival and not losing by the mercy rule. Somerville had a few chances to put the game away but Ortman stranded runners in the fifth and sixth innings to give her team another turn at bat.
Manville didn’t do much offensively, collecting only three hits the entire day. Leadoff hitter Lauren Kohler had two of them, including a bunt single to open the game. Kohler was caught on a line drive double play to end the first inning and MHS didn’t get another base runner until Kim Kaminski slapped a single to start the sixth.
Kohler led off the seventh with a single, stole second and move to third on a ground out. She remained there as winning pitcher Jen Magliaro retired the next two batters to complete the shutout. Magliaro struck out nine and walked none while scattering three hits.
"We didn’t hit, but we kept our chin up and played hard," Knapp said. "They’re obviously a good team and they hit the ball. We had chances to make some plays but that didn’t decide the game."
Manville (6-4) entered the week needing one win in three games to qualify for the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. After hosting Dayton and North Plainfield, the Lady Mustangs were scheduled to play at New Providence in a rematch of the season opener.
"I think we can be in every game," Knapp said. "With a full strength team, I don’t think there’s a team we can’t play with if we play our game. We’ll take them on."