BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY JOHN E. SZPARA Above, J.P. Stevens shortstop Kim Shjarback puts the tag on Rancocas Valley’s Heidi Smith during the Hawks’ 2-0 loss in the Group IV championship game in Toms RIver on Saturday. At right, Becky Garibotto fires a pitch to the plate, while at left, (l-r) Kristina Feltz, Iris Delgado and Kim Shjarback can’t hide their frustration between innings. EDISON — The J.P. Stevens High School softball team did not have an answer for the right arm of Lisa Sweeney of Rancocas Valley in the NJSIAA Group IV championship game this weekend in Toms River.
Sweeney and Rancocas Valley took home the Group IV title with a 2-0 victory.
“She [Sweeney] was awesome,” Stevens head coach Pete Catenacci said. “We shortened up our swing and we did everything possible to put the bat on the ball, but we couldn’t even see the ball.”
Sweeney allowed just one base runner, a leadoff walk to Jackie Almasi to start the game.
“It seems that every time Jackie got on in the first inning we end up winning. That’s how we won a lot of our 1-0 games this year,” Catenacci said. “I got excited when she drew the walk, but it just didn’t happen for us.”
Sweeney went the distance tossing a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts. She fanned the final seven hitters she faced. Stevens went with ace Becky Garibotto. Garibotto scattered eight hits allowing a run in the first and another in the second inning.
“Becky held them down the rest of the way after the second,” Catenacci said. “The one in the first shouldn’t have scored.”
The Rancocas Valley run in the first came when Heidi Smith hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a passed ball. With two away, Sheri Bieniek slapped single to bring in Smith.
“Without the passed ball, the runner wouldn’t have scored from second on that single,” Catenacci said. “I can’t complain, though, because my girls played their hearts out and they did they best they could. I’m just glad the game wasn’t decided on an umpire’s call or on an error.”
Stevens advanced to the finals after Garibotto blanked Clifton 4-0 in the semifinals at Ramsey High School.
“They played one of their best games of the year,” Catenacci said. “Becky pitched a complete game with 62 pitches. She was right on that day, throwing 53 strikes.”
Garibotto was also helpful at the plate, belting a triple to go 1-for-3, while teammate Brittany Lobell went 2-for-3. Lobell, a freshman, finished with a triple and a two-run homer to lead the offensive attack. Senior Kristina Feltz went 1-for-3 with a double.
“It was a fun game for us,” Catenacci said. “We finished with nine hits with everyone contributing in the win.”
With the win over Clifton, the Hawks tied the school record for wins in a season with 25. For Garibotto, it was her 21st shutout of the season, putting her three shutouts ahead of the previous school record of 18.
Next season, Garibotto will continue her softball career at Haverford College. Almasi, Feltz and Iris Delgado are also heading to college next fall with plans of playing softball as well.
Almasi will play for Kean College, Feltz is off to Sacred Heart University, and Delgado is headed to Cornell.
“Iris was our vocal leader,” Catenacci said. “She was a tremendous leader on the field and she led us all season offensively.”
Delgado went into Saturday’s game with Rancocas Valley with a .356 batting average and a slugging percentage of .414.
Feltz was a rock at first base this year with her impressive glove work. She committed one error in over 260 chances.
“I’m not disappointed with the way our season ended,” Catenacci said. “I have a lot of good memories, including our great trip to Florida at the beginning of the season. All the good far outweighs the negatives.”