BY Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – Rivals Middletown North and South both enjoyed outstanding softball seasons a year ago with each team winning a major championship. North captured the Shore Conference crown with an extra inning win over the Eagles after stunning pre-tournament favorite St. John Vianney in the semifinals, but South came back to win the NJSIAA Group III championship by defeating Sparta.
The two teams are expected to once again be among the Shore’s best this season, and they began the first of what could be four games Friday with North edging South, 2-1, in a “A” Division North thriller. “were just taking the games one at a time, ” said North coach Marc Rosner.” “We have experienced hitters this year with eight returning starters and everyone is playing very well, but we have to stay focused. This was a big game for us.
“Our catcher, Ryan Rasmussen, did a nice job behind the plate,” he said. “I think she is one of the best catchers around.” North won the game by scoring both of its runs in the fifth inning, helped by two costly South errors, to overcome a 1-0 South lead, and winning pitcher Riley Kernan made them stand. “My best pitchers were a rising fastball and a drop curve, ” said Kernan, who scattered six hits, struck out five and walked three. “It’s a great feeling and big accomplishment for the whole team in beating a great team like South, but it still is just an “A” division North game and we have to play with as much urgency as we would against any other team.
“My teammates played a great game behind me,” said Kernan, who will be playing softball at the University of Rode Island next year. “There are still some things that we have to work on, but we did some things today that I didn’t think we could do.” Freshman Andrea Cerbo got North’s rally started with a double to the fence in centerfield Losing pitcher Maddie McMahon, who allowed five hits, struck out the next batter but payleigh Behan was safe on an error to put runners on first and third. Milena Wilton then drove in Cerbo with a single to right center to tie the game.
“It was a fastball on the outside of the plate,” said Wilton. “I was looking for it and hit it to right field. We sometimes talk about working together as a team, but other times you have to do it yourself and this time I did. This was a big game for us.” Liz Dorsa followed with a grounder to second. The throw home was high and Behan scored, but she would have scored anyway because of her speed.
South, which won the “A” Division North title last year, scored its lone run in the first inning. Sarah Corey and Ally Massa drew walks and Sophie Wilson followed with a two-out RBI single to center. North also had a treat in the first inning when Dorsa singled and Chris Gebhardt walked with one out. McMahon, however, retired North’s two top hitters, Kayla Gallo and Kernan, on an outfield fly and strikout respectively.
Kernan got the first two batters in the seventh inning before Corey singled to keep South’s hopes alive. Julia Blarr then hit the ball up the middle, but shortstop Alyssa Vetrano made a diving stop near second base and tagged it with her glove to force Blarr and end the game. “We had a couple of opportunities but couldn’t score,” said South coach Tom Erbig. “We have some young players and the errors hurt us. It didn’t matter that it was Middletown North. A loss is a loss”
The two teams will play again at South on April 28. Both teams will be high seeds in the Shore Conference and state tournaments and could meet twice more. South, though, will skip the Monmouth County Tournament.
