Raiders host Ridge in Saturday’s quarterfinals
By: Rudy Brandl
Hillsborough High has established itself as the top softball team in Somerset County. Now, the Raiders must defend that distinction by winning a county title.
The Raiders (9-3) defeated Watchung Hills and Bridgewater-Raritan the first time through the Delaware Division schedule to earn the top seed in the county bracket. That marked the first time in Cheryl Iaione’s 15 years with the program that the HHS team has earned the No. 1 tournament ranking.
While Iaione, now in her seventh season as head coach, acknowledged that top billing as a special honor, she and her girls aren’t satisfied with being called No. 1. Now they have to go out on the field and prove it under pressure.
"We finally got over the hump but getting there is the easy part," Iaione said. "Staying No. 1 is the hard part. If you’re going to win it, you have to beat them all. It’s going to be a tough road. There are some good teams out there."
Hillsborough’s run through the county tournament will last exactly eight days in the new compressed format. With all the pretenders and upstarts already knocking each other around for two weekends of preliminary action, eight teams will head into the May 11 quarterfinals. Those games are held at home sites of the four teams that started the SCT with double byes.
This Saturday’s winners will meet in a semifinal doubleheader Wednesday night at North Branch Park. The lower bracket with No. 2 Watchung and No. 3 Bridgewater will play at 6 p.m., with the HHS and No. 4 Montgomery upper bracket to follow at 7:30. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, under the lights at 7:30 p.m. on the same field.
Hillsborough was ranked second in last year’s county tournament but suffered a stunning quarterfinal upset loss to Immaculata. The Raiders went away quietly and never made the type of tournament noise they were expecting. They’re on a mission this year.
"We have to make a statement this year," sophomore center fielder Jess Szymanski said. "I definitely think we have something to prove."
The Raiders spent April proving that their 8-0 Florida showing wasn’t a fluke. Iaione has been pleased with her club’s ability to win close games. Several different players have come up with the key play to lift the team.
"It’s not just a one-person team," freshman first baseman Chrissy Yard said after delivering the key hit in the victory over Watchung. "Everyone contributes and it shows what a great team we have."
Senior Amanda Morrison has done most of the pitching lately, including an outstanding performance in shutting out Bridgewater. Junior Erin Murphy, who battled through some tough breaks to earn the win over Watchung, has also enjoyed success in the circle.
Although she also has lefty Yard and sophomore Marissa Van Cleef available to pitch, Iaione figures to go with one of her more experienced hurlers. The coach likes her team’s lineup best with Morrison in the circle since it gives the Raiders their most experienced pitcher and best defensive group. Yard and Murphy are solid at first and second base and Van Cleef is the regular left fielder.
The top-ranked Raiders will host ninth-seeded Ridge in Saturday’s quarterfinals. A victory would send Hillsborough to the semifinals to face the winner of Montgomery and No. 5 Immaculata. North Plainfield will try to stop Watchung and Somerville will be looking to upset Bridgewater on the other side of the bracket.
Hillsborough has already clinched its third straight trip to the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs, but the team isn’t even thinking about the sectionals right now. For one week, the Raiders are focused on one goal to win a Somerset County championship.