Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 43

COURIER-POST, Sunday, June 12, 2005 7D Ml 15) uJLe M4 4 if VARSfTY EXTRA 1 0 Greyhounds blanked by -ft Jr -it-' SCOn ANDERSONCourier-Post Audubon catcher Stephanie Taraschi tags out Caldwell's Jilian Marasano In the Group 2 state final on Saturday. Caldwell won 3-2. Audubon falls on home run to end game CALDWELL AUDUBON 3 2 S. Plainfield By LIAN SKAF Courier-Post Staff DOVER TWP. In a flash, the bright state championship hopes for the Northern Burlington High School softball team were tragically dimmed.

The Greyhounds recorded one easy out in its Group 3 state final against South Plainfield Saturday, and after that things unraveled. By the time Northern Burlington got its first at-bat, it was already down 2-0. With top-notch pitchers leading both teams, the lead looked like it might be enough, even that early in the game. Unfortunately for the Greyhounds, it was the first inning that ended up defining the game. South Plainfield added another run in the top of the seventh and went on to win 3-0 and take home the school's first Group 3 state championship.

Even though the Tigers reached the finals of the tournament, they have had close, low-scoring games during their playoff run. So the early start for South Plainfield was a little bit of a surprise for both teams. "We haven't been hitting the ball," South Plainfield coach Donald Panzarella said. "That was big, hitting right away. It was a confidence builder.

(Jessica Senz) gave two hits all day, and the defense was awesome around her." But it was the Tigers' offense that got things going. After sophomore second baseman Stephanie Falzarano singled with one out in the top of the first, the team got a jolt from an unlikely source. Despite having struggled at the plate in the playoffs, junior shortstop Lacey Santone hit an RBI-triple to take the lead. The Tigers hit back-to-back singles to score another run in the inning before the Greyhounds turned a double play to stop the bleeding. Northern Burlington starter Chelsea Morgan i IT SCOn ANDERSONCourier-Post Northern Burlington catcher Lyndsay Mouse waits for the throw as South Plainfield's Stephanie Falzarano scores in the Group 3 title game on Saturday.

The Tigers won the game 3-0. SOUTH PLAINFIELD NORTHERN BURLINGTON What: Group 3 softball state final Big play: South Plainfield junior shortstop Lacey Santone hit an RBI-triple in the top of the first for the first run of the game. Winning pitcher: South Plainfield's Jessica Senz allowed only two hits, had eight strikeouts and no walks in a complete game. Quote: "I'm so close to these girls," Northern Burlington's Chelsea Morgan said. "We spend every day together.

After practice they all come over. We are just such a family and I love them all." Northern Burlington ends the season as one of the elite teams in South Jersey. And the Greyhounds owe it all to hard work. "We worked as hard as anyone this year," Morgan said. "I don't think there is a team that outworked us, be it with late practices or early practices, Sundays or Saturdays.

We're just hard workers. That's what we do." Reach Lian Skaf at (856) 486-2424 or By KEVIN CALLAHAN Courier-Post Staff DOVER TWP. There's no more dramatic way to win then a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Or, a more devastating way to lose. The Audubon High School Softball team absorbed the sting of the latter on a steamy Saturday afternoon in the Group 2 state final.

"The feeling came over me that we were done," Audubon senior Melissa Baumgartner said after Caldwell's Gina Capardi hit a one-out homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game 3-2. "Especially for the seniors," Baumgartner said about the homer that ended Audubon's magical season. "It was heartbreaking." Audubon won the first two Group 2 state titles in 1976 and 1977, but the Green Wave hasn't tasted another title since. They were so close, too, on this Toms River East High School field. Audubon (23-4) was just six outs away from a championship after scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning to break the scoreless tie.

The Green Wave were the first team to score a run against Caldwell in the postseason. "I'm so proud of this team, we had seven amazing seniors and we hadn't won South Jersey in 15 years," Audubon coach Erin Small said. "They have nothing to be ashamed of. A win or a loss can't take this season away." The walk-off homer certainly felt like a dagger, but it couldn't cut out the accomplishments of this year's Audubon team and seniors Baumgartner, Ste-fanie Morgan, Kelsi Fanel-li, Samantha Arnone, Colleen Crosby, Stephanie Fishwick and pitcher Kiersten Hughes. "It is amazing we got this far," Hughes said about playoff wins over Haddon Township, Had-don Heights, Buena (1-0 in 13 innings) and Matawan.

cruised through the next five innings on the mound, letting up just one hit and striking out four. She anticipated an offensive burst coming from her team. "After that first inning, we did so well," Morgan said. "I really thought we were going to come back, but it didn't happen." Senz was phenomenal for the Tigers. The two times she did allow hits, the senior promptly shut the Greyhounds down.

Northern Burlington What: Group 2 Softball state final. Key players: Gina Capardi hit a one-out homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game. Kelsi Fanelli and Melissa Baumgartner, playing in their last games, delivered RBIs in the top of the sixth inning to give Audubon a 2-0 lead. Hard to believe: Audubon was the first team to score a run against Caldwell in the postseason. Quote: "We were a little nervous in the beginning because we had never been to this point," Audubon coach Erin Small said.

"We had a couple of mistakes in the field that cost us and this isn't the day to make those mistakes." "But I would have liked it to turn out the other way. Sometimes things happen." It happened so quick, too. Like lightening out of the sky, Capardi lined a 3-1 pitch over the right-center field fence to ignite a wild celebration by the Chiefs (32-1-1). "We did it to a lot of people and it happened to us," Small said with equal philosophy and gracious-ness about the homer. "That kid is a nice player, I give credit to her and the team." Fanelli and Baumgartner were also clutch for Audubon.

Both delivered RBIs in the top of the sixth inning to give the Green Wave a 2-0 lead. "We fought back," Small said, "but give them credit, they came back, too." Sophomore Lauren Beckas started the sixth-inning rally for Audubon with a walk. After two outs, Fanelli lofted a shot that hit the left-field fence on one hop. Then, Baumgartner singled sharply to right field for the two-run lead. "The last three years we couldn't get here," Baumgartner said.

"We are still South Jersey champs. It was a heartbreaking loss, but we played our hearts out." Reach Kevin Callahan at coach Brian Wolverton knew his team's early deficit was integral to Senz's success. "I think if we don't fall behind early, she becomes a little more con servative," Wolverton said. "She gets a two-run lead and she can do some things she wouldn't have been able to do if it was 0-0." Despite the loss, SinnweU always there for a hug, a smile Kevin Callahan University. But before that, he has even bigger plans.

Sinnwell plans to walk. He plans to leave the wheelchair at the goal line next Thanksgiving Day and walk using a walker with the senior football players and cheerleaders from one end of the field to the other as a class. The Senior Walk is a tradition at Northern Burlington and Sinnwell won't miss it. He is already practicing in gym class. "Tyler is very determined," Jankowicz said.

"He doesn't listen to anyone he doesn't want to hear. If he wants to walk at the Senior Walk, then he will walk. I definitely believe in him." And Sinwell has given others a reason to believe in themselves. Reach Kevin Callahan at (856) 486-2424 or DOVER TWP. After a 20-mmute meeting beyond the left-field fence, where Northern Burlington High School softball coach Brian Wolverton and his staff spoke to the team, senior outfielder Brianna McConagly walked away from the emotional farewell huddle with tears in her eyes and her head down.

"Smile, don't cry," Tyler Sinnwell said to her. McConagly listened, smiled and gave him a hardy hug. Once again, Sinnwell picked up the Greyhounds. This time, they never needed the boost as bad as Saturday after losing to South Plainfield 3-0 in the Group 3 state final. "On the sideline, he works just as hard as us," McConagly said.

"I sit on the bench next to him and he picks the whole team up. She also understands why her son fits in so well. "They see him as not giving up," Marylou said. Tyler, himself, is touched by how he has been received, too. "On and off the field, the girls talk to me," he said.

"It is a privilege to have them in class. "I don't know what I'd do if I had to go to a different school. The school in general is my family and the girls are a huge part of that. Because of teams like this, this is who I am." The scene of reciprocal respect at the Toms River East High School field between the Greyhounds and Sinnwell punctuated everything that is right about high school sports. "The whole team is a family," McConagly said.

"The girls are my sisters and he is my brother." Sinnwell, 18, plans to go into sports broadcasting. He plans to attend Rutgers ball and wrestling and lending his wonderful spirit. Andrea Jankowicz, a senior infielder, is also a manager on the football and wrestling teams, so she is with Sinnwell all year at games. "He always lifts us up and we've become very close this past year," she said, starting to cry. "He has been there for me when I needed him.

I thank him for always being there for me." Tyler's mother, Mary-lou, is touched by this genuine affection for her son. "It is overwhelming, really from the whole school," she said. "The girls took him in and they are disappointed if he doesn't make a game. "This kid doesn't have to worry about anyone picking on him not that they would between the football, basketball, wrestling and these girls." picks us up with hugs and his words." Sinnwell was bom with cerebral palsy. The junior at Northern Burlington is in a wheelchair.

"They might not have the ring, but they are champions in my book," Sinnwell said. Actually, Sinnwell is the champion in their books. "He is dedicated and he works hard and he is a great person," said second baseman Kelly Lukacs. "He brings our spirits up and he is always there for us." Sinnwell started attending all the games last year. Before that, he was going to boys' basketball, foot "I'm so proud of this team.

They have nothing to be ashamed of. A win or a loss can't take this season away." Audubon coach Erin Small "Even off the field, he fcv Holy Spirit falls short to Montclair Kimberley in quest for softball title Courier-Post staff Hall Prep scored nine runs in the third inning, pounded out 16 hits and rolled to a 19-5 victory over Christian Brothers Academy. Non-Public Anthony Ranaudo pitched a two hit, complete game shutout and launched a three-run home run to lead St. Rose to a 4-0 win over al outdueled Steven "Shooter" Hunt of Ramapo in a battle of senior righthanders, leading the Golden Falcons to a 3-1 victory and their first state title. Cantwell, a Seton Hall University signee, slugged a two-run tape measure home run off Hunt in the third inning.

Non-Public Seton lead Hillsborough to a 5-0 win over Watchung Hills in a battle of Skyland Conference rivals. Just one Watchung Hills runner reached second base on a walk and a balk as Hillsborough captured its first state title. Campbell struck out six. Group 3: Chris Can-tweil of Monmouth Region- Montclair Kimberley scored the only run it would need in the first inning. Lhenee Riddick singled, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice and scored on a ground out.

Randall capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the seventh. Non-Public Red Bank Catholic used superb the Cougars (24-5), who won their second consecutive title and fourth in seven years. Alexis Randall added two hits and three RBIs for the Essex County team. Holy Spirit (23-6) had just three baserunners, two by walks and one on Kelsey Shreaves' hit that broke up Piela's no-hit bid in the seventh inning. execution at the plate and in the field to back the three-hit shutout pitching of Jackie Battaglino in capturing their first title with a 3-0 victory over Mount St.

Dominic. Baseball Group 4: Senior righthander Drew Campbell tossed a two-hit shutout to OT-r: DOVER TWP. Jamie Piela allowed one infield hit and struck out 11 to lead the Montclair Kimberley softball team to a 7-0 win over Holy Spirit in the Non-Public state final on Saturday. Jackie Araneo had three hits, a run and an RBI for.