The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 51

51 S-17 THE RECORD, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1983 BERGENPASSAICHUDSON COUNTIES. NEW JERSEY High School" V' Mn'inestf mm vion vanes By Randy Langa Correspondent The Ridgewood Softball team, which finished the season at 29-0, was the only North Jersey team from among four soft-ball and two baseball squads to win a State championship Saturday. But Ridgewood wasn't perfect in its 7-0 conquest of Cherry Hill West for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Group 4 crown. There was the matter of baserunning. Heather Halm was caught on a delayed Staff photo by Joe Giardelli Indian Hills shortstop Jeff Calabrese puts tag on Wall's Jim Karanosos on a steal attempt in Saturday's State Group 3 title game.

The Braves lost, 5-2. Mmm cm'S raon 'm si Softball By Dava D'Alessandro Correspondent recognized as having the most successful -season in County history. But that raises a question: Why have County and State titles in the same year always eluded Bergen schools? "We played seven games in eight days, ending last Wednesday," says Indian Hills coach Hank Reese. "Even when you have a solid three-man rotation, the emotional stress combines with the physical stress, and you have to keep getting up for big games every day. I know as a coach, I was getting up at 4 a.m., thinking about what I'm going to do.

I'm sure the kids did the Baseball same thing. The emotional stress of playing so many clutch games has to take its toll." "It's pitching. It's always pitching," says Bob Kolb, the Park Ridge coach who was in a similar situation in 1976, when his team won the County title just after being eliminated in the sectional final "Since you have County games during the weekend, you need two or three pitchers. The State games get spaced out by weather, and it might change your priorities. "I don't know if pressure comes into play," adds Kolb.

"Indian Hills kept winning day after day after day. I'd rather play every day, because you don't have any time to think about what you've done and everything falls into place. Indian It was May 1978, and baseball teams from Ridgefield Park, Indian Hills, and Ramsey were locked in high school baseball's version of a demolition derby. They carried records of 22-0, 20-1, and 20-0, respectively, into the last two weeks of the season. Since they all were Group 3 schools at the time, a collision course and a drama unmatched since was set up at the Bergen County tournament and at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament.

"We reached the second round of the States, where Indian Hills gave us our first loss," recalls Ramsey coach John Pon-chak. "A week later we beat them, 2-1, in the County tournament We then beat Ridgefield Park, 2-1, to win the County title. And Ridgefield Park ended up beating Indian Hills for the sectional championship." In retrospect, many feel that any of the three could have been County, section, or State champions that season. County, section, and State champion is another story. That has never been done by a Bergen County program.

That puts Indian Hills' 1983 season into the proper perspective. When the Braves fell to Wall Township Saturday, 5-2, in the NJSIAA final, they also fell short of being Hills won the County with a 13- rum ui Bergenfield Wednesday. If they played the Wall game the following day, I'd bet they would have won. It's something about those days off." Reese, puzzled over his team's subpar performance, mental errors, and offensive slump Saturday against Wall sophomore John Spinapont, also thinks pressure wasn't a factor. He did, however, welcome the two off-days between the Bergenfield and Wall games.

"We really needed the Thursday off, and we had a great practice on Friday," he says. "The rest was definitely needed, but I still have no idea why we weren't mentally ready. I honestly feel if we played them three-of-five, we would have won. But that particular day, they executed, we didn't, and they won." NOTES Reese loses six seniors, but don't be surprised if the Braves make a run at another County title next year. Pitchers Greg Kuzma, Bill Cotter, and sophomore Brian Zappala, who shut down St Joseph in the County semifinal, return.

Another year with pitching coach Jack Keyser may turn all three into prospects. Yes, Keyser is the father of Jeff Keyser, who lost bis first game Saturday after winning 11 straight The three Hills baseball teams combined for a record of 60-8. Bill Neal's junior varsity was 19-1, Joe Leicbt's freshman team was 15-3 and the County champion; the varsity ended its season at 26-4. Anns Donovan named to U.S. Pan Am team From The Record's wire services COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

Anne Donovan of Ridgewood, the former Old Dominion University star, has been named to the United States women's basketball team for the Pan Am Games. The team, coached by Pat KL Summitt of Tennessee, plays in its first tournamerlt beginning June 23 in Kansas City. Other team members are Cheryl Cook, Denise Currey, Patty Jo Hedges. Lisa Ingram, Janice Lawrence, Kim Mulkey. Cinty Noble, Lataunya Pollard, Lynette Woodward and Pam McGee and Cheryl Miller, who led UCLA to the NCAA championship last season.

steal of third base in the third inning. Debbie Spell was tagged out between first and second base in the fourth, after walking and continuing to second with a teammate at third in an unsuccessful attempt to get CHW to throw the ball around. "That was probably a coaching mistake on my part," said Maroons coach Debbie Paul. Then, with two outs in the fifth, Dianne Beard was called out for not returning immediately to second base. And a sixth-inning double steal was foiled when pinch runner Cathy Vickery was thrown out at third.

But what does it mean that Ridgewood lost four runners because of strategy that backfired? Not much. For one thing, it marked the only phase of the game in which Cherry Hill West showed any ability to contain The Lions could neither bit pitcher Donna O'Connell, who struck out seven and allowed only two singles, nor stop the Maroons from scoring. For another, the Maroons' shenanigans began only after they had assumed control of the game with three second-inning runs. The gambles were worth taking. Finally, besides losing four baserunners, Ridgewood stole three bases and took three extra bases on two sacrifice bunts.

In other words, their typical aggressiveness on the bases helped the Maroons' cause as much as it hurt If Ridgewood failed in anything this season, it was in not finding a way to keep its five senior starters from graduating. "There was a feeling of sadness on the team bus afterwards, as far as it being the last game for the seniors," said assistant coach Dick Bennett "They were all happy they won, but many of them also knew it was their last game together." The two seasons the seniors spent perfecting the game of Softball produced magnificent results. Last year the team finished with a 20-4 record and won their last game of the season, a regular-season game against Paramus Catholic. Coupled with this year's record, that gives next year's squad a 30-game winning streak to try to extend. "An awful lot of credit has to be given to Debbie Paul," Bennett said.

"She doesn't speak too much, and I'm of the same philosophy. The game is for the kids. Debbie thinks the game should be fun, tht less pressure the better. The Record's final baseball polls BERGEN GROUPS 1-2 Ridge; John Ponchak. Ramsey; Steve Turro, Ramapo; Charlie Mark), Dumont; Pete Zubi autre, Teaneck; Bid Maresca, Pafisadea Park; Ron Fox and Dave sandro.

The Record. PASSAIC COUNTY PI. 24 5 37 20 6 24 21 8 22 20 6 17 18 9 15 1. Emerson (5) 2. Secaucus (3) 3.

Waffington 4. RtdQeftefd Parle 5. Par Ridge 1. Hawthorne (3) 2. Lakeland (3) 20 5 27 21 7 23 17 11 17 18 7 13' 18 5 7V4 Ateoc Lodi (13-10) 2V4, EJmwood Park (17-BERGEM GROUPS 1-4 3.

Wayne Valley 4. Eastside 5. Powtpton Lakes 1. Indian Hills (6) 2. St Joseph 3.

Paramus 26 4 40 23 4 32 20 7 18 18 13 16 21 5 1TA 4. EVer gsn field 5. Cbfside Park. Also: Pope Pius (15-5) Vh, Neumann Prep (20-8) 'A. First-place votes in parentheses.

Voting done on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. Selection committee: Tony Frey. Pope Pius; Jim Lentine. Passaic Tech; Bob Van Saders. Passaic; Tony DeWarco, West M4-ford; Ron Fox and Dave D'AJessandro, The Record Dumont (15-9) 'A.

Rrsl-piace votes in parentheses. Voting done on a 5-4-3-2-1 casts. Selection committee: Bob Koib. Park.