The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 15

V7 THE SUNDAY RECORD FOR LOCAL SCORES CALL THE RECORD'S rtn jers CS IT! 5 (201) 678-3920 Iff i JUNE 11, 2000 ey Spor iii 'i TUQS 0. sops fi "EBu ft Jl ViiJ few By GREGORY SCHUTTA Staff Writer TOMS RIVER She had just thrown seven shutout innings in unrelenting 95-degree heat Saturday. But tired or not, there was absolutely no way Lisa Caruso was going to give up the State Group 3 softball championship trophy. Once they handed the Passaic Valley senior the trophy following the Hornets' dominating 6-0 victory over Middletown South at Toms River East High School, Caruso lifted it up for her teammates to see, hoisted it above them a second time, and then carried it from interview to interview before heading for the bus back home. KEVIN R.

WEXLERSPECIAL TO THE RECORD Clifton catcher Jamie Farley tagging out Lori George of J. P. Stevens trying to score in Stevens' 4-0 win. V. 1 7)' I Clifton comes up short h.

KLAUS-PETER STEITZ, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Passaic Valley ace Lisa Caruso was just too much for Middletown South in the Group 3 final. di tfe rence defensi vel "We lost the counties. We lost the league. This was the only thing left for us," she said. And the Hornets (28-3) grabbed on with both hands, shutting out all five of their playoff opponents on the way to winning their first State championship and erasing the disappointment of a loss in the 1998 final.

Caruso struck out 12 Eagles in her final game Saturday, giving her a State-record 372 strikeouts for the season, while the eight runs given up by the Hornets all season is another State record for a 30-game season. They had 21 shutouts and an ERA of 0.09 coming into the game, with all three of their losses coming by 1-0 scores. "We shut out the state," said longtime coach Jim Ferretti. "Lisa Caruso is clearly the best pitcher in the state. If she's not the Player of the Year taking into account her pitching, defense, and hitting, then they should do away with Player of the Year." Caruso (27-3) made her case against Middletown South (25-5), throwing her second straight two-hit shutout and allowing just three baserunners while going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

"She told me before the Ramapo game in the State sectionals that she still had her best game inside her," Ferretti said. "If you had to decide on one pitcher to take down here and win one game for you, I'm sure 80 percent of the coaches in the state would pick Lisa. You look at the way her season unfolded. I've never seen anything like it." Caruso got all the runs she needed in the first inning, igniting a two-run rally with a leadoff single and scoring all the way from first when Middletown South third baseman Tara Martinho botched Sue Micchelli's liner and threw the ball into right field for two errors. Micchelli, who made it all the way to third on the play, made it 2-0 moments later when she stole home with cleanup hitter Stephanie Leporini at the plate.

"We missed a suicide squeeze there," the sophomore Micchelli said with a smile. "Ferretti told me to just go, so I went. I wanted that so bad." "I just wanted to put a couple of runs on the board," Ferretti said. "You get a two-run lead in the first inning, it tightens everybody up. It makes a big With the Dartmouth-bound Caruso on the mound this season, that's all the Hornets need.

She struck out seven of the first nine to face her while the Eagles were committing four of their five errors in the first three innings leading to five Passaic the next batter, Jaimie Wirkowski, was fielded by Clifton first baseman Melissa Luciano, whose throw to the plate appeared late and fell out of Farley's glove anyway before a tag could be made on Krongold. Winning pitcher Lauren Belowich and Lauren Feeley added to the lead with RBI singles, and another run scored when Wirkowski raced home on a pickoff throw to third. "This was a big game, and I know we lost, but we got here, and we proved a lot of people wrong," said Farley, a sophomore, as she held back the tears. "This season," said Clifton coach Rick LaDuke, "we've been working with youth, we've been working with inexperienced players, and they came through big. We played our hearts out.

We just came up short." Short of a State title, that is, because the Mustangs Group 4 champs in 1997 and '98 were once again champions this season. They tied Bloomfield for the Northern New Jersey Interscho-lastic League Atlantic Division championship, the 14th consecutive year they've either won or shared the league title. And they won the Passaic County title for the fifth straight time, emerging from a stong field that included two teams, Pompton Lakes and Passaic Valley, that were also playing for State titles Saturday. By JIM DRISC0LL Staff Writer TOMS RIYKR With the championship trophy in one hand, J. P.

Stevens softball coach Pete Catenacci used his other to take the victory cigar out of his mouth so he could make a point about the opponent his team had just beaten. "They're like the Yankees of New Jersey," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Clifton." Coaches from High Point to Cape May do, too, because Clifton, which was defeated by Stevens, 4-0, in Saturday's State Croup 4 championship game, has earned a statewide reputation for softball excellence. And this, it was believed, was to be a rebuilding year for the Mustangs. When the season opened on April Fool's Day, seven new starters joined two veterans, pitcher Jamie Anzaldi and third baseman Amanda Bongiorno, as Clifton rallied to beat none other than J.

P. Stevens, 4-3. A little more than two months later, under a scorching sun at Toms River North High School, Clifton was still playing on the season's final day for the third time in four years. But there would not be another Clifton rally against Stevens. The Mustangs (24-5), held to four hits, had their chances early Anzaldi, Bongiorno, and Jen Vinciguerra each reached base after leading off Valley runs.

And when Caruso got Kerri Kirschbaum looking in the first, second, and third innings, respectively. The game would remain scoreless until Stevens (24-6) scored four runs in the sixth inning. And as is often the case in softball, the big hits for the team from Edison didn't even make it out of the infield. The end for Clifton began with left-handed-hitting Lori George, the last batter in the Hawks order, beating out a grounder to short. A sacrifice was now in order, and the bunt ofl'the bat of Alexis Krongold was perfect, rolling past Anzaldi, stopping where the second baseman is normally positioned, and allowing George to advance to third.

"Our plan was to keep bunting until we got a run," said Catenacci, who won for the 300th time in his 18-year career. "They've got to field the ball, they've got to throw the ball, they have to catch the ball, they have to make a tag. That's four plays they have to make. One of those goes wrong, we score." The first squeeze play, however, went wrong for Stevens as Sheryl Sarnicki's bunt was fielded by a charging Anzaldi, who flipped to catcher Jamie Farley for a tag on the sliding George. The bunt by for the final out, the Hornets celebrated the cham pionship they'd been waiting so long for.

And the seniors had their legacy. "This is the best feeling in the world," said first baseman Erin McNeill, who along with Caruso and Jeri Pami are the only seniors on the team. "I was just trying to take it all in, this being my last year on the field," Caruso said. "It's so much sweeter, this being my senior year. I was just glad I could get this and give it to the school.

This is for everybody." Ferretti, who returned to the team this season after several vears in retirement, declined comment on whether he would be hack at the helm next year. "I don't want to announce that now," he said after the game. "1 prefer to wait until the summer." ompton gets burned in final 1 South Plainfield edges Cardinals in eight innings i --'4 1 fv vr --r-t" 5'4 WMl By GREG MATTURA Staff Writer TOMS RIVER Jessica Hamway is convinced Pompton Lakes will be back in the State softball tournament next year and once again will challenge for the Group 2 title. Hamway is certain of that bcause she is the only senior on a team that came within one win of capturing this year's Group 2 crown. She is the lone 12th-grader on a Pompton Lakes team that battled back to force extra innings in Saturday's State Group 2 championship before bowing, 3-2, in eight innings to South Plainfield at Toms River North.

"They'll be back." the diminutive left fielder said. "And I'll definitely be back next year to watch them and cheer them on." And hope her alma mater doesn't lose a game on a bail that was lost in the sun. The 90-dcgrce heat and humidity that made it seem like Mil) degrees made for a grueling afternoon. But it was the sun's rays that hurt PompUm Lakes most. Nature played a cruel trick on the Cardinals.

All-Pnv-aic center fielder Meghan Wagner Ins! a I ball in the sun with two Hulme started Pompton Lakes' two-run rally with a leadoff double to center and scored on Danielle Macagney's one-out single to right. Macagney scored on Leyla Kuday's two-out single to left to tie the score. "We've done this before in some big games," Hamway said of late-inning comebacks. "I'm very confident in our players." Hamway was 60 feet away from giving Pompton Lakes the lead. The Cardinals had the bases loaded and one out in the top of the eighth but couldn't score.

Hamway pushed a one-out bunt up the first-base line and beat the throw. Wagner followed with a single to left, Hulme walked, and the bases were loaded. But senior right-hander Alison Barrett then induced a swinging strikeout and a flyout to center to end the threat. "We had our opportunities. We had a chance to take the lead," Moyle said.

"It's a tough loss, and certainly we're disappointed." Almost certainly Pompton Lakes will be challenging for the State Group 2 title next season. And if there is a soft ball god, Wagner will secure a Cardinals win with a catch in center field. out in the bottom of the eighth, allowing Danielle Schweers to score from second with the winning run. Wagner told coach Colleen Moyle, "I lost it in the sun." Moyle told reporters: "Ninety-nine times out of 100, Meghan catches that. She's an All-County outfielder." That Pompton Lakes (24-5) forced extra innings was remarkable.

The Cardinals trailed. 2-0, entering the top of the seventh and looked as done as a backyard burger that's been sitting for too long on the barbecue. The Cardinals trailed by that score for most of the game, after South Plainfield struck twice in the bottom of the first. Sophomore right-hander Danielle Aven-oso had allowed a one-out walk, single, and walk to load the bases, then surrendered a two-out, two-run single through the right side to Kim Wilcox. But along came the seventh, and all of a sudden, Cardinals who couldn't hit earlier were smacking the ball around.

Chrissy 1 -v- tEViN ft WEM.EK sPtClAL TO THE RECORD Chrissy Hulme of Pompton Lakes tagging out South Plainfield's Laura Walter at the plate. Pompton dropped an agonizing 3-2 decision in eight innings to the Tigers. es on Ridsewood to win title turns tab! Deli) arton and er 'in id balls." I )i Ibarton coaeh Chuck Ruebiing said. Cacciabeve scored his fourth straight goal with iett in the third period on an assist from Ridgewood resident Mike ling the Green Wave a 4-2 M. After that, the second period belonged to Delbarton.

and to Green Wave midfielder David Cacciabeve in particular He scored three straight goal in the final 3:45 of the half to give Delbarton a 3-2 lead. The first goal came on a low shot from 15 yards, the second off a pass from Richie Kratz. and the third from point-blank range. During that barrage. Kidgewimd a unable to regain possession as Delbarton controlled faceoff.

It was a contra-t from Ridgewood's win over Mountain Iikes. in which the Maroon had maintained possession for long tret ht. "We figured the ke would be tat State boys lacrosse final at Rutgers University's Yurcak Field. The Green Wave (18-4) captured their second straight State title. The Maroons (18-4), making their first appearance in a State final since 1W4.

were denied in their bid for their first State title since 1991. "They just settled down." Ridgewood midfielder Kevin Jester said of Delbarton. started to move the ball well." Jester and midfielder Adam Bourke each had scored unassisted first-quarter goals as Ridewood opened a 2-0 lead. Bourke" goal came with 2:06 left in the first ij'iarter. Ridewond didn't score dsai" until remained in the game.

By J.P. PELZMAN Staff Mef PISCATAWAY It looked so promising. Kidgi-wood held a two-goal lead over defending State thampion Delbarton after one quarter. But more important, the Maroorm scetned to be playing with the sanu' pneision on both ntlense and defense a- th( had in their semifinal r'Ul over (1 Mountain Lake-. But suddenly, there nothing.

at leas! on the ioreinani. Ridewixid he'd s( fur a p.m of neariv thru- quarters as (area- tnn- f-ir a H-4 wm in the tried to shut Adam Bourke off." Jester said of Delbarton's defenders. "They put a short pole on him and shut him off. We weren't really expecting that. That kind of switched it up for us." Ridgewood's best chance to extend its 2-0 lead occurred early in the second quarter, when defenseman Andrew Clarke made a nice clear and a nifty pass to Dale Weiner.

But Weiner's shot went over the goal. lead. Cai iaheve's barrage was unexpected, i the senior had st ored only 11! goal season. '1 got mv shot. 1 them, and I stuck them." he said.

"I take my shots (-t-r game Most of the time. I miss rem." Vt knew he- had the talent." Ruebiing a. i i'-e "It came out today h' r- a- tt.