The Herald-News from Passaic, New Jersey • 19

Monday, Jum 8, 1998 C3 Herald tfrws Local Sports Next Year Can Wait for Champion Mustangs LOCAL DIGEST -I Still, Questions Raised About Softball Team By BRIAN FALZARANO Herald News TOMS RIVER Next year? Heck, Rick LaDuke could only think ahead a few hours, when his head would finally hit the pillow and a decent night's sleep would finally result. Drenched after a postgame water-bucket dousing, and also a bit bleary-eyed following Clifton's 8-0 Group 4 championship game win over Cherokee at Toms River North High School, he refused to answer the one question on the tip of every reporter's tongue: What about a three-peat? "I'm not going to talk about nothing," LaDuke said. After basking in his team's second straight Group 4 state title win and 63rd consecutive victory second best in state history behind Whippany Park's 75-game streak LaDuke would finally get some decent shut-eye, something he said escaped him this season as the skeptics and opposing squads applied an endless amount of pressure. When he wakes up, he will be the coach of a team minus three key components from this dynasty's run, including senior all-state right-hander Laura Tynio. Of all the questions Clifton faces, the biggest is: Who gets the ball now that Tynio is heading to Drexel? Before LaDuke ponders whether to platoon sophomore southpaw Jamie Anzaldi and junior righty Candace D' Andrea or make one the workhorse, another question is: Can this improbable run of perfection keep up with a new pitcher? could D' Andrea when she is not pitching.

Two big cons against continuing the streak: Several teams getting better, and Tynio taking her game down the Turnpike. Immaculate Heart and Paramus provide early-season challenges, while Passaic Valley and West Milford should be better than they were this season. Replacing Tynio is this team's biggest task, though, one of the few things LaDuke talked about Saturday regarding next, season. "I feel great for Laura. What a great way to finish for Laura," said LaDuke, who rates his fireballer as one of the best he's coached in his 17 seasons at Clifton.

"I'm going to miss her." After taking the ball full time midway through her sophomore season, Tynio proved herself as one of the state's premier big-game pitchers along with St. Mary's Lauren Dickinson. This season, she did not allow more than one run all season, while making no-hitters and shutouts almost commonplace. "It was good. It was real nice," Tynio said of her run.

"I couldn't have asked for. anything else, except that Montclair game in the states sophomore year. I guess 67-1 gives it a little character" As she left Toms River North, someone asked her if Clifton could continue this rare run of perfection. In her mind, there is little doubt. "They definitely can," said Tynio, who ended her career by winning 54 straight games, a state record.

"They're losing three starters, which isn't a lot at all. As hard as they work this winter is what they could accomplish next season." iohn MunsoflTHerald News Clifton softball players Kim Anzaldi, left, and Lara Foster celebrate the Mustangs' second straight state softball title Saturday. state. Finding a fill-in for Kim Anzaldi is the only question, with either junior right fielder Danielle Bril moving to the infield she is a natural shortstop or a promotion from the junior varsity filling that spot. Otherwise, Bril and junior left fielder Lara Foster provide steady defense beyond the infield; Bril could possibly replace Tinajero in center field.

Juniors Kim Alongi and Jen Bandurski could, too, as As difficult as it will be, the Mustangs think it can be done. "I think we can. We lose four seniors," Gonnello said, including reserve Vicki Benitez. "We can fill in those spots and whoever takes the mound next year will have the defense behind her. We'll have to score more runs, though.

"This (repeating) is what (reporters) asked us last year, and look what happened," "ItU be very different, there's no doubt about it," junior catcher Megan Doczd said. "We have two experienced pitchers in the shadows. We have enough experienced players back." Consider the pros for Clifton considering its success. With Gonnello, junior shortstop Jen Carlo and sophomore third baseman Amanda Bongiorno back in the fold, the Mustangs will possess one of the best defensive and run-producing infields in the Passaic, Bergen Softball Stars Meet Tonight Herald News The top seniors from Bergen and Passaic counties will have their final hurrahs on the softball diamond tonight in the Bergen-Passaic All-Star Softball Classic, 8 p.m. at Clifton Stadium.

Besides being a stage for the seniors, the game will also benefit one athlete from each county. The Donna Ricker Scholarship will go to a Bergen player, while the Dar-lene Dondero Scholarship will go to a Passaic player. The Bergen team will be led by St. Mary's Lauren Dickinson and locals such as Becton shortstop Stacy Ruymen, Lodi pitcher Tara Todaro and Rutherford outfielder Melinda Colon. Group 2 state finalist Mahwah has four players in the game pitcher Molly Harrington, catcher Erin Shanley, first baseman Jessica Ravettine and outfielder Tina Gonzales.

Meanwhile, Clifton all-state hurler Laura Tynio and Eastern Christian shortstop Kim Veenstra lead the Passaic stars; both teams have three players each participating in the game. BERGEN ALL-STARS: Stacy Ruymen. Becton: Jen Neft, Bergenfield; Kristy Parsils, Emerson; Patti Kem, Immaculate Heart; Tara Todaro, Lodi; Tina Gonzales, MoWy Harrington, Jessica Ravettine. and Erin Shanley, Mahwah; Cheryl Macri, Paramus; Melissa Donovan, Paltsades Park; Robyn Timony, Park Ridge; Clare McCann, Ramsey; Lindsay Davis and Annie Joel, River DeU Melinda Colon, Rutherford; Came DeMarco and Lauren Dickinson, St. Mary's.

PASSAIC ALL-STARS: Kim Anzaldi, Tamara Tmajero and Laura Tynio, Clifton; Jamie Pallas, DePaul; Sandi King, Michelle Sietsma and Kim Veenstra, Eastern Christian; Daniela Guemero and Laurie Nero, Hawthorne; Atyssa VanderPyl, Hawthorne Christian; Cahssa Lorie and Lauren Potente. Lakeland; Jamie Huiztng, Manchester, Janeile Brower, West Milford. County Names Finalists For Athlete of the Year Herald News The Passaic County Coaches Association has announced the finalists for its boys and girls Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Eastside's Keisha Bennett, Hawthorne's Suzanne Nelson and Passaic Valley's Aisha Alexander are the finalists for the girls' award, which will be presented during the girls' All-County dinner Tuesday night at the Tides Restaurant in North Haledon. Bennett lettered in volleyball and indoor and outdoor track.

Nelson was a standout in volleyball, basketball and outdoor track. Alexander starred on the Hornets' cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams. The finalist for the boys' award, which will be presented during Thursday night's boys' all-county festivities at the Tides, are An-toine Charles of Kennedy, Brendan King of Lakeland and Scott Wallace of Wayne Valley. Charles and Wallace were both standouts in soccer and indoor and outdoor track. King lettered in soccer, wrestling and outdoor track.

Amateur Baseball Stellar Career Ends the Way It Began Ridgefield Park Rallies In 8th, Beats Lyndhurst i Paterson Teammates Named Paterson's double play combination of. second baseman Charlie Kaplan and shortstop Dave Mercedes shared Met League Player of the Week Honors, while Lyndhurst right-hander Dave Smart is the league's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending Saturday. Kaplan and Mercedes each drove in five runs in the Macs' 13-12 win over Secaucus on May 31 while Smart shut out Verona, on four hits. Senior Babe Ruth v. Rutherford 11, Hasbrouck Heights 0 Mike Keating and T.J.

Tarantino each went 3-for-3 to lead host Rutherford. Chris Ebbe and Isaac Pavlik combined on a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk in the five-inning game. Ebbe went the first four innings. Hasbrouck Heights (1-2) 000 00 0 2 4 Rutherford (4-0) 301 1611 12 0 2B: Mike Keating. J.

Tarantino. 3B: HH-Mike Pussilano. WP: Chns Ebbe (2-0); LP: Chns Follmer (0-1). Connie Mack Herald News Matt Cilento's RBI groundout capped a two-run Orioles rally in the top of the eighth inning, giving Ridgefield Park a 5-3 win over host Lyndhurst in Metropolitan League baseball action Sunday. Keith Montelbano had tied the game earlier in the inning with an RBI single.

Rick Lutz provided insurance in the ninth with an RBI single. Right-hander Lee Rzepmski worked eight innings for the win, striking out nine and walking two while allowing two earned runs and four hits. During one stretch between the first and seventh innings, Rzepinski retired 17 of 18 batters. Chris Kobylaciewicz pitched a scoreless ninth for the save. Brian Appelman had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored for Ridgefield Park, while Rick Piz-' zuti had an RBI double for Lyndhurst.

RJdgeltald Part (5-1) 001 001 021-5 10 1 Lyndhurst (2-) 100 000 200 3 5 3 2B: RP Ralph Perdomo, Brian Appelman; Pat Auteri, Rick Pizzuti. WP: Lee Rzepinski (2-1): LP: Anthony Toracco (0-1). Saddle Brook 21, Paterson Macs 1 Mike Scher (4-for-6. five runs, two RBI), Bob Frassa (4-for-5, home run, six runs, five RBI), Kevin Ennis (2-for-5, two runs, three RBI), and Steve Karrer (2-tor-3, three RBI) led the Colonials Pslarson Macs (3-4) 001 000 000 1 8 7 Saddle Brook (5-2) 233 317 20x-21 21 0 2B: Hector Espino. Corwin Belftekl: SB Brian Lindner.

Bob Frassa. 3B: SB Mike Scher. HR: SB-Frassa. Kevin Ennts. WP: Bob Slomkowski (2-0): LP: John lantosca (1-2) Verona 8, Ramapo Valley 4 Left-hander John Probst improved to 3-0 and the host Twins downed the White Sox despite commiting five errors.

Nick Franklin, Jamie D'Angelo and George Gallagher each drove in two runs tor Verona, which scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8-3. Ramapo (2-4) 010 020 100 4 7 0 Verona (5-3) 301 040 00x-8 12 5 2B: Aide Cntelli 3B: George Gallagher WP: John Probst (3-0). LP: Jim Thoeien (1-1). Hackensack 7, Clifton 1 Right fielder Kelvin Chase went 3-tor-4 with three RBI. including a two-run homer that capped a five-run second for the Troasts in Clifton.

Designated hitter John Kroeger added a two-run two-bagger in the frame tor Hackensack. Right-hander Ernie Fisher went the first eight innings for Hackensack, scattering live hits while walking two and striking out eight. The only run the Phillies managed came on a run-scoring single in the second by shortstop Chuck Kling. Haokanaaok (7-2) 150 000 001-7 11 3 Chori(4-2) 010 000 0001 5 4 2B: Kelvin Chase 2. Gary Starting.

John Kroeger. Mark DeMenna HR: Chase. WP: Ernie Fisher (2-1); LP: Kevin Shaughnessy (1- 1). Moonachie 16, Secaucus 5 Wayne Rec 7, Ridgewood 0 Pete Jerauld tossed the gem, allowing three hits over seven innings, striking out 1 1 and walking none, tor the West Bergen-Passaic Connie Mack victory in Ridgewood. Todd Schroeder hit a two-run double and Doug Kolk an RBI triple in the fourth.

Keith Kelley added a two-run double in the fifth. Wayne Roc (2-0) 000 520 0 7 10 0 Ridgewood (0-3) 000 000 0 0 3 0 2B: Kasey Siepe, Todd Schroeder. Keith Kelley. 3B: W-Doug Kolk. WP: Pele Jerauld (1-0): LP: Chns Connolly (0-1).

Passaic Valley 10, Fort Lee 0 Chns Sandy drove in two runs and Pat Qumn added three hits and an RBI as PV won its first game Sunday, a contest shortened by the 10-run rule. Eric Dewes pitched a three-hitter for PV, which lost to Bayonne, 12-0. later Sunday. TODAY METLEAQUE Saddle Brook at Clifton. 6 p.m.

Ridgeneld Park at Paterson, 730 p.m. BERGEN AREA LEGION Clifton 8 at Passaic, 6p m. Perry Poet at Bergen Red Sox, 7:30 p.m. Englewood 58 at Wyckoft, 7 am. BERGEN SENIOR BABE RUTH New Milford at Wellington.

6 m. Weshawken at Gariwid-Lodi, 7 p.m. Fairview at Emerson. 6 p.m. BERGEN STAN MOSUL Fort Lee at Demareat, 6 m.

Fair Lawn at Ramsey. 6 m. WEST BERGEN-PASSAIC CONNIE MACK Clarkstown at Waldwick, 6 p.m. TUESDAY, JUNES MET LEAGUE Moonachie at Lyndhurst, 7:30 p.m. Hackensack at Secaucus, 7:30 p.m.

BERGEN AREA LEGION Englewood 58 at Kearny 90, 8 m. Wayne Spartans vs. Paterson Cougars at Totowa Oval, 730 m. Valley at Rutherford, 6 m. Bergen Red Sox at Clifton 347, 8 pm.

WEST BERGEN-PASSAIC CONNC MACK Florida at DB Mack. 8 p.m. Oakland at Ramsey, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 MET LEAGUE Ridgetield Park at Moonachie, 8 Patetion at Ramapo Valley (al Don Boaoo Prep), 8 John MunsonHerald It News her final high school game. while third baseman Lindsey Cunningham is only a freshman.

"We should be good next year," said Perez, a two-time All-Bergen County performer. "They (Dickinson and DeMarco) were a big part of our team. (But) if we stay focused and still play good defense, we could still win a lot of games." Sophomore left fielder Lauren Dadazzio and junior right fielder Jessica Pounds also return, leaving only a hole in center field. Junior Valerie Esposito, an All-Bergen outfielder, moves from center to catcher, where she saw some duty when DeMarco hurt her knee. The big question: Who takes Dickinson's place in the pitcher's circle? As Venezia said, he does not expect someone to fill her shoes.

This makes sophomore Kristy Esposito's task a little less daunting, although she will need some summer and winter work to ready herself for the crush of pitching 25 to 30 games. However, she won both of her starts this season, pitching a no-hitter in one of them. There were no emotional goodbyes as Dickinson left the field. She grabbed her gear and walked up the stairs, but not before reflecting upon the steps it took to get to this point. "It was good.

I had a great time, not only with wins or whatever," she said. "I played for the greatest coaches in New Jersey. "This team is Just so special to me. Everybody gets along. They mean everything to me." St.

Mary's Lauren Dickinson again Gaels' Dickinson a Hit From 1st Pitch to Last By BRIAN FALZARANO Herald News TOMS RIVER Her last at-bat and first provided mirror images, eventually enabling a brilliant career to finish in fitting fashion. Lauren Dickinson slid into home plate, a cloud of dust clearing as her teammates mobbed her, the Parochial state final against St. Joseph of Hammonton tied at 2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Just as she did on the first pitch of her career, a home run on the first pitch of her final at-bat would punctuate a picture-perfect career. A clutch swing that turned a softball into a blur as it grazed off the third baseman's glove, then ricocheted down the left-field line, enabling her to circle the bases.

"It just shows what she's about," St. Mary's coach Frank Venezia said. Dickinson dusted herself off, pitched a perfect eighth, and then celebrated when Valerie Esposito singled home Teresa Wilson with the winning run. Euphoria followed, hugs and high-fives and tears all over the field at Toms River East High School after the Gaels' 3-2, eight-innlng win was finalized. In the three seasons since Dickinson transferred from Clifton, St, Mary's went from Bergen County and state title contenders to BCSL National, county and starred at bat and on the mound in Parochial state champions, the latter two first-time achievements.

"It's complete," Dickinson said of her career afterward. "These were our goals in the beginning of the season. We got the Triple Crown (BCSL National, Bergen County and state crowns)." A little later, Dickinson walked off the field at Toms River East and up the steps, leaving an unparalleled career in her wake. Perhaps the top player in the state and certainly one of the best to ever don the Gaels' royal blue, she heads off to Robert Morris while St. Mary's must answer an obvious question: What does the program do without the player who helped make it one of six to return home champions Saturday night? "She's been tremendous.

She helped us get that final step," Venezia said of his standout, who went 63-5 in three seasons. "She's been a physical leader all year for us. You don't replace kids like that. We have enough kids back that we'll be all right, but you don't replace kids like that You get to coach kids like that very rarely." Seven of nine starters return catcher Carrie DeMarco also departs which makes the lineup almost as formidable, while the Gaels will go for a repeat with much of the same stellar defense Intact. One of the state's better infields is also one of its youngest: first baseman Diana Auteri, second baseman Jessica Perez and shortstop Teresa Wilson are all two-year starters and all sophomores, Fort Lee (2-1) 000 00 0 3 2 Passaic Vaasy (2-1) 350 2x 10 10 2 28: PV Ryan Eland 3B: PV Pal Quinn.

WP: Eric Dewes (1-0). LP: Benedict. American Legion RGEN AREA LEGION Mike Policastro slugged three home runs and drove In eight runs to power the Braves past the Indians in Secaucus. Policasto belted three-run homers in the first and ninth innings and had a two-run shot the lifth Inning. Shortstop Matt Rubino also homered and had a double for Moonachie.

Harmon at Park Ridge 153. 7 River Vale Rec at Perry Post. 7 30 m. Secaucus at Paterson Cougars (Totowa Oval), 730 pm. Wyckoft Raiders at Rutherford, 8 m.

Kearny 98 at Ctfton 8. 6 Bnrnen Red Sox at River Vale Rec, 8 p.m. BERGEN SENIOR BABE RUTH Ridgeiaikt Park at Palisades Park. 6 m. New Milford at Fauview.

7 30 m. Lyndhurst at Waftnglon, 8 GarMd-Lorti at Hiitherfwd-Lyndhurst. 6 pm. BERGEN STAN MU84AL Dumont at Rarhsey. 6pm Saddle Brook Patriots at North Bergen, 8 p.m.

Bergen at Bogota. 6 pm. Fan Lawn at Port Lee, 7 30 Paramua al Denwesl. 6 m. West Milford at River (kie, 6pm WEST BfcRGEN-PASSAlC CONNIE MACK Clarkntown at Oakland.

6 pm. THURSDAY. JUNE 1 1 MET LEAGUE Ranald Vallny at Saddle Brook. 6 pm. BfcRGfcN AREA LEGION Beroan Red Sox at Kearny 90 6 Rnrat Vale Hot Ramnno Valley.

6 pm. BERGEN SENIOR BABE RUTH Weehawken at Fairview, I m. Clifton-347 11, Englewood-58 3 Kevin Lamomco, Joe Franko and Jose Hernandez each singled in runs during four-run fifth inning that propelled Post 347 to the Bergen Area Legion win at Bergen Vo-Tech High School In Hackensack. Lamonico finished 3-for-5 on the day, while Franko. Mike Memmen, Steve Bivaletz and John Martin each had two hits Memmen'i two-run single in the sixth highlighted another four-run outburst.

Left-hander Justin Lopchuk struck out nine In six innings to earn the win He allowed two runt and tour hits while walking three. CHon(2-1) 200 04 1 -11 15 1 ErqkMKott(1-3) 020 000 1 3 6 4 2B Slave Bivaletz. E-John Garcia JB: John Martin; E-lerry Canon. John Ferguson. HR: Dean DoHonis WP: Justin Lopchuk (1-0), LP: Matt Johnson (1-1).

I Moonaohle 300 IflO 303 16 15 1 Sacauoua (0-4) 020 210 000 5 7 5 2B: Armen Simonian. Josh Oltvan. Matt Rubino. Butch Beliencier Osama Abtlalwnhab. Mika Paul.

Sieve Milo 3B: Pal MrKeon HR: Mike Policastro 3, Rubino. Mike Falkiewicr WP; Rob Moore (1-0). LP: Tim Davis (0-1).