Yes, it's true, this will be the last post here on Blogger, as we've moved to the Courier News' Web site, MyCentralJersey.com
And while this site will remain up for archive purposes, for new posts, as well as some new aspects of The Inner Circle, check out the new site at:
http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/softball
See you there!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tick.. tock....
Opening day of the 2009 varsity softball season -- April 1 -- is coming up fast.
I will resume regular blogging at that time.
Until then, you can look forward to the Courier News softball preview, due out Tuesday, March 31!
Who is your preseason #1?
I will resume regular blogging at that time.
Until then, you can look forward to the Courier News softball preview, due out Tuesday, March 31!
Who is your preseason #1?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Franklin seeks to join GMC
In case you missed Greg Tufaro's story in Thursday's Courier News and Home News Tribune, Franklin has applied for membership in the Greater Middlesex Conference starting in 2010.
Here's a link to Greg's tale
I guess I can't blame Franklin for wanting to move. As one of the reasons Greg mentioned in the story, the Warriors have not been competitive in the Skyland Conference in most girls sports over the past decade and change, and would definitely find better competitive balance in the GMC.
From a softball perspective, while we'll surely miss a program that did have plenty of success in the 70s and 80s, for the good of the student-athletes, I support the move.
ON a related topic, Pingry and Gill St. Bernard's are set to join the Skyland Conference this fall, with rumors abound that Rutgers Prep is to follow (I'll have to try and confirm that at some point, for now it's just rumor).
Of course, with the additions and Franklin's possible secession, the divisions will have to be realligned, which should be another interesting topic for debate when the time comes.
T-minus 68 days until softball season begins!
Here's a link to Greg's tale
I guess I can't blame Franklin for wanting to move. As one of the reasons Greg mentioned in the story, the Warriors have not been competitive in the Skyland Conference in most girls sports over the past decade and change, and would definitely find better competitive balance in the GMC.
From a softball perspective, while we'll surely miss a program that did have plenty of success in the 70s and 80s, for the good of the student-athletes, I support the move.
ON a related topic, Pingry and Gill St. Bernard's are set to join the Skyland Conference this fall, with rumors abound that Rutgers Prep is to follow (I'll have to try and confirm that at some point, for now it's just rumor).
Of course, with the additions and Franklin's possible secession, the divisions will have to be realligned, which should be another interesting topic for debate when the time comes.
T-minus 68 days until softball season begins!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Changes to SCT schedule coming in 2009
Happy new year, everyone!
Now that it is officially 2009, it wouldn’t be too much of a reach if we started looking ahead to the new season – now less than three months away!
There has officially been a key change made to the Somerset County Tournament schedule, tournament director and Bridgewater-Raritan High School athletic director John Maggio announced today.
I saw John a while back at a soccer game, and he told me some of the changes we had thrown around during the tournament last season were going to be put in for this year.
Today it became official.
The semifinals, which had been played on Wednesday night between the quarterfinals and final at North Branch Park, will now be played on Saturday at the higher-seeded team, moving the final back a week.
The championship game will continue to be played under the lights at North Branch Park.
This is a great move, and I applaud John for making it happen.
The biggest problem with the way the tournament was scheduled in the past was two-fold:
1 – The seeding meeting is too early. Depending on the season and how much rain we get, teams have come into the seeding meeting have played as few as only two or three games, making it nearly impossible for the coaches to properly seed the tournament, especially the newer coaches who don’t really have a feel for which teams are historically dominant in the county.
2 – With the semifinals being played Wednesday night, it means that the result of that game counts toward qualifying for the state tournament, which is that Friday. Also, with most teams playing conference games Tuesdays and Thursdays, teams advancing in the tournament have a disadvantage, including being up late playing on a school night (the later game usually doesn’t end until around 10pm).
It isn’t easy to fix both these problems, simply because of the time-frame the state allows for the softball season to be played, but it’s great to see one of them was corrected.
Opening day of the spring season cannot happen until April 1. And since the state tournament starts in the third week of May, it isn’t possible to extend the county tournament past the start of states.
Therefore the choice had to be made whether to start the tournament a week later – allowing for the seeding meeting to happen a week later – or to move the final back a week, correcting the problem of having the semis on Wednesday night.
Now, while we have to walk before we can run, perhaps the tournament committee can consider doing what they do in Union County and Middlesex County, where they play multiple games per week in the opening round.
Here is one proposal, off the top of my head, and I ask you, dear readers, to correct me if I’ve overlooked anything.
Move the seeding meeting back a week. Start the tournament that weekend, with a play-in game Friday and the preliminary round with the 9-16 seeds Saturday – as is done now.
Then, the following Wednesday afternoon, you have the surviving teams face the 5-8 seeds, setting up the quarterfinals the following Saturday on the day that you normally play the second round.
Then you have the semifinals the next Saturday (the day after the cutoff for states), and the championship game the Saturday night after that, ending the tournament before states begin.
The only problem I can see is that now, instead of having four teams playing in a Wednesday night semifinal, you have eight teams playing in Wednesday earlier-round games (of course, not having to play at night would be helpful toward the fatigue factor).
But, like I said, one thing at a time.
2009 SCT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
WED, 4/15: Seeding meeting at Bridgewater High School, 7:30 p.m.
FRI, 4/17: Play-in game (No. 17 seed at No. 16 seed)
SAT, 4/18: First-round games @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 4/25: Second-round game @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 5/2: Quarterfinals @ 2:30 p.m. (SAT day) at higher seed
SAT, 5/9: Semifinals @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 5/16: Final @ 7:30 p.m. at North Branch Park.
Now that it is officially 2009, it wouldn’t be too much of a reach if we started looking ahead to the new season – now less than three months away!
There has officially been a key change made to the Somerset County Tournament schedule, tournament director and Bridgewater-Raritan High School athletic director John Maggio announced today.
I saw John a while back at a soccer game, and he told me some of the changes we had thrown around during the tournament last season were going to be put in for this year.
Today it became official.
The semifinals, which had been played on Wednesday night between the quarterfinals and final at North Branch Park, will now be played on Saturday at the higher-seeded team, moving the final back a week.
The championship game will continue to be played under the lights at North Branch Park.
This is a great move, and I applaud John for making it happen.
The biggest problem with the way the tournament was scheduled in the past was two-fold:
1 – The seeding meeting is too early. Depending on the season and how much rain we get, teams have come into the seeding meeting have played as few as only two or three games, making it nearly impossible for the coaches to properly seed the tournament, especially the newer coaches who don’t really have a feel for which teams are historically dominant in the county.
2 – With the semifinals being played Wednesday night, it means that the result of that game counts toward qualifying for the state tournament, which is that Friday. Also, with most teams playing conference games Tuesdays and Thursdays, teams advancing in the tournament have a disadvantage, including being up late playing on a school night (the later game usually doesn’t end until around 10pm).
It isn’t easy to fix both these problems, simply because of the time-frame the state allows for the softball season to be played, but it’s great to see one of them was corrected.
Opening day of the spring season cannot happen until April 1. And since the state tournament starts in the third week of May, it isn’t possible to extend the county tournament past the start of states.
Therefore the choice had to be made whether to start the tournament a week later – allowing for the seeding meeting to happen a week later – or to move the final back a week, correcting the problem of having the semis on Wednesday night.
Now, while we have to walk before we can run, perhaps the tournament committee can consider doing what they do in Union County and Middlesex County, where they play multiple games per week in the opening round.
Here is one proposal, off the top of my head, and I ask you, dear readers, to correct me if I’ve overlooked anything.
Move the seeding meeting back a week. Start the tournament that weekend, with a play-in game Friday and the preliminary round with the 9-16 seeds Saturday – as is done now.
Then, the following Wednesday afternoon, you have the surviving teams face the 5-8 seeds, setting up the quarterfinals the following Saturday on the day that you normally play the second round.
Then you have the semifinals the next Saturday (the day after the cutoff for states), and the championship game the Saturday night after that, ending the tournament before states begin.
The only problem I can see is that now, instead of having four teams playing in a Wednesday night semifinal, you have eight teams playing in Wednesday earlier-round games (of course, not having to play at night would be helpful toward the fatigue factor).
But, like I said, one thing at a time.
2009 SCT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
WED, 4/15: Seeding meeting at Bridgewater High School, 7:30 p.m.
FRI, 4/17: Play-in game (No. 17 seed at No. 16 seed)
SAT, 4/18: First-round games @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 4/25: Second-round game @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 5/2: Quarterfinals @ 2:30 p.m. (SAT day) at higher seed
SAT, 5/9: Semifinals @ 11 a.m. at higher seed
SAT, 5/16: Final @ 7:30 p.m. at North Branch Park.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Harabedian, Matthew commit to D-I
Two local softball players have signed National Letters of Intent to Division I college programs this winter.
Hunterdon Central senior shortstop Jenny Harabedian, who helped the Red Devils to their eighth Hunterdon/Warren Tournament title in the past 10 years last season and their 21st straight conference crown, will play for Rutgers University, while Westfield third baseman/pitcher Cyndil Matthew has committed to the University of Massachusetts.
Harabedian batted .467 with 33 RBIs as a junior last season, and 
blasted 9 home runs to tie a Hunterdon Central record.
blasted 9 home runs to tie a Hunterdon Central record. Her keynote address came in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Hunterdon/Warren final against North Hunterdon when she hit a 3-run home run to dead-center field to turn a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 cushion.
As a sophomore, Harabedian hit .400, with 5 doubles, 7 triples, 6 home runs and 27 RBIs.
Matthew, who was named first-team all-Area by the Courier News in each of the past two seasons, hit .625 for Westfield with 7 home runs, 27 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
In the circle, Matthew went 9-4 with a 0.88 ERA, and struck out 117 hitters in 79 2/3 innings.
Matthew hit .642 with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs and 34 RBIs her sophomore year, playing exclusively third base.
***
Just over three months left until softball season, folks!!
On behalf of myself and the Courier News sports staff, here's wishing you and yours a very happy holidays and a prosperous new year.
Friday, June 20, 2008
All-Area is here
The 2008 Courier News All-Area package is out today and is available in its entirety in the print edition of the paper.
Most of it is also available online at http://www.mycentraljersey.com/
Here are some direct links:
For the final notebook CLICK HERE
For the feature on 2008 Courier News Coach of the Year, Jeff Steele of North Hunterdon, CLICK HERE
For the feature on 2008 Courier News Player of the Year Lauren Fitzsimmons CLICK HERE
For a capsule look at the other 2008 first-teamers CLICK HERE
Here are the All-Area teams and honorable mention, followed by the season's final Top 10:
FIRST TEAM
P-Lauren Fitzsimmons, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
P-Jenna Gonzalez, North Hunterdon, Sr.
P-Megan McInaw, Hillsborough, Sr.
P-Alyssa Sutherland, South Plainfield, Jr.
C-Erica Gaeta, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
1B-Lindsay Durant, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
2B-Colleen Trecartin, North Hunterdon, Sr.
SS-Jenny Harabedian, Hunterdon Central, Jr.
3B-Cyndil Matthew, Westfield, Jr.
OF-Meghan Everett, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OF-Hilary Murray, North Hunterdon, Sr.
OF-Jeanette Ragucci, Voorhees, Sr.
DH-Katelyn Derewecki, Hillsborough, Sr.
Util-Jenna Carmon, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
P-Lydia deMartino, Watchung Hills, Sr.
P-Lindsay Lehman, Somerville, Sr.
P-Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Immaculata, Sr.
P-Courtney Yard, Hunterdon Central, Fr.
C-Erin Siejk, Watchung Hills, Sr.
1B-Megan Alexander, Hillsborough, Sr.
2B-Stephanie Goines, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr.
SS-Katie Occhipinti, Pingry, Sr.
3B-Katie Watts, Ridge, Sr.
OF-Lindsey Ciresa, Somerville, Sr.
OF-Ally Hanlon, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OF-Kristen Sheft, RutgersPrep, Jr.
DH-Blair Curzi, North Hunterdon, So.
Util-Alex Campanaro, Rutgers Prep, Fr.
THIRD TEAM
P-Jennifer Goldberg, Warldaw-Hartridge, Jr.
P-Casey Niper, Montgomery, So.
P-Gina Richardella, Gill St. Bernard's, Fr.
P-Alex Tragno, New Providence, Sr.
C-Megan Kryeling, Dunellen, Sr.
1B-Kaylee Fry, BoundBrook, Sr.
2B—Shannon Deegan, Union Catholic, Jr.
SS-Katie Zolli, Union Catholic, Jr.
3B-Katie Muglia, South Plainfield, So.
OF-Laura Burger, Watchung Hills, Jr.
OF-Katie Pires, Governor Livingston, Sr.
OF-Katie Abruzzo, Westfield, So.
DH-Jen Disch, South Plainfield, Jr.
Util-Liz Miller, Dunellen, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bernards: Nicole Fresella, Kelly Lallis, Rebecca Sewell, Meghan Sundberg;
Bound Brook: Kristen Longo, Kasey Ludwig, Jillian Mondrone;
Bridgewater-Raritan: Maria Cano, Carianne D'Allessandro, Sammy DeSimone;
Delaware Valley: Amy Mesce;
Dunellen: Michelle Pakenham, Alex Ruskuski;
Franklin: Arielle Liotine;
Gill St. Bernard's: Katie Carbone, Alyssa Creegan;
Governor Livingston: Nicole Koszowski, Christina Kushner, Cat Sacco;
Hillsborough: Margaret Gilroy, Kristi Ann Ivone, Tara Van Doren;
Hunterdon Central: Annmarie Forenza;
Immaculata: Kat Cannell, Ali Cullen, Ariel Doering, Ashley Hartshorn;
Manville: Sam Aichele;
Middlesex: Michelle Casale, Jackie Ferraro;
Montgomery: Elora Daniele, Abby Gray, Taylor Zahn;
Mount St. Mary: Tori Breen, Julia Kennedy, Gina Quartorolo, Alex Russomagno, Marisa Villa;
New Providence: Michelle Ciarrocca, Kelly Marchisio, Caitlin Sneeden;
North Hunterdon: Caitlin McGourty, Sam Rayhon, Rebecca Schaefer, Jenna Taylor;
North Plainfield: Amanda Costello, Tiffany Murphy;
Plainfield: Aliya Davis, Devyn Hale;
Ridge: Sam Fama;
Rutgers Prep: Kelly Prendergast, Anna Steinman;
Scotch Plains-Fanwood: Kelly Cianciotta, Nikki Mineo, Saxoney Neilsen;
Somerset Tech: Jessica Popik, Rebecca Popik;
Somerville: Janelle Jegou, Kim Sacchi, Korri Thompson;
South Hunterdon: Corrine Hart, Amanda Nielsen, Tori Smeigocki;
South Plainfield: Stephanie Szeliga;
Timothy Christian: Sara Poole, Ashley Sivo, Courtney Soucek;
Union Catholic: Angela Sessa;
Wardlaw-Hartridge: Nicole Kopidakis, Alison Monte, Tara Pretty;
Westfield: Katie Esler, Alex Pecora.
FINAL SOFTBALL TOP 10
1. Hunterdon Central 26-2
2. North Hunterdon 25-4
3. Hillsborough 19-6
4. Bridgewater-Raritan 22-7
5. South Plainfield 21-6
6. Westfield 17-6
7. Immaculata 16-12
8. Watchung Hills 12-11
9. Montgomery 15-12
10. Somerville 21-5
Most of it is also available online at http://www.mycentraljersey.com/
Here are some direct links:
For the final notebook CLICK HERE
For the feature on 2008 Courier News Coach of the Year, Jeff Steele of North Hunterdon, CLICK HERE
For the feature on 2008 Courier News Player of the Year Lauren Fitzsimmons CLICK HERE
For a capsule look at the other 2008 first-teamers CLICK HERE
Here are the All-Area teams and honorable mention, followed by the season's final Top 10:
FIRST TEAM
P-Lauren Fitzsimmons, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
P-Jenna Gonzalez, North Hunterdon, Sr.
P-Megan McInaw, Hillsborough, Sr.
P-Alyssa Sutherland, South Plainfield, Jr.
C-Erica Gaeta, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
1B-Lindsay Durant, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
2B-Colleen Trecartin, North Hunterdon, Sr.
SS-Jenny Harabedian, Hunterdon Central, Jr.
3B-Cyndil Matthew, Westfield, Jr.
OF-Meghan Everett, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OF-Hilary Murray, North Hunterdon, Sr.
OF-Jeanette Ragucci, Voorhees, Sr.
DH-Katelyn Derewecki, Hillsborough, Sr.
Util-Jenna Carmon, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
P-Lydia deMartino, Watchung Hills, Sr.
P-Lindsay Lehman, Somerville, Sr.
P-Kaitlyn Piazzolla, Immaculata, Sr.
P-Courtney Yard, Hunterdon Central, Fr.
C-Erin Siejk, Watchung Hills, Sr.
1B-Megan Alexander, Hillsborough, Sr.
2B-Stephanie Goines, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr.
SS-Katie Occhipinti, Pingry, Sr.
3B-Katie Watts, Ridge, Sr.
OF-Lindsey Ciresa, Somerville, Sr.
OF-Ally Hanlon, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OF-Kristen Sheft, RutgersPrep, Jr.
DH-Blair Curzi, North Hunterdon, So.
Util-Alex Campanaro, Rutgers Prep, Fr.
THIRD TEAM
P-Jennifer Goldberg, Warldaw-Hartridge, Jr.
P-Casey Niper, Montgomery, So.
P-Gina Richardella, Gill St. Bernard's, Fr.
P-Alex Tragno, New Providence, Sr.
C-Megan Kryeling, Dunellen, Sr.
1B-Kaylee Fry, BoundBrook, Sr.
2B—Shannon Deegan, Union Catholic, Jr.
SS-Katie Zolli, Union Catholic, Jr.
3B-Katie Muglia, South Plainfield, So.
OF-Laura Burger, Watchung Hills, Jr.
OF-Katie Pires, Governor Livingston, Sr.
OF-Katie Abruzzo, Westfield, So.
DH-Jen Disch, South Plainfield, Jr.
Util-Liz Miller, Dunellen, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bernards: Nicole Fresella, Kelly Lallis, Rebecca Sewell, Meghan Sundberg;
Bound Brook: Kristen Longo, Kasey Ludwig, Jillian Mondrone;
Bridgewater-Raritan: Maria Cano, Carianne D'Allessandro, Sammy DeSimone;
Delaware Valley: Amy Mesce;
Dunellen: Michelle Pakenham, Alex Ruskuski;
Franklin: Arielle Liotine;
Gill St. Bernard's: Katie Carbone, Alyssa Creegan;
Governor Livingston: Nicole Koszowski, Christina Kushner, Cat Sacco;
Hillsborough: Margaret Gilroy, Kristi Ann Ivone, Tara Van Doren;
Hunterdon Central: Annmarie Forenza;
Immaculata: Kat Cannell, Ali Cullen, Ariel Doering, Ashley Hartshorn;
Manville: Sam Aichele;
Middlesex: Michelle Casale, Jackie Ferraro;
Montgomery: Elora Daniele, Abby Gray, Taylor Zahn;
Mount St. Mary: Tori Breen, Julia Kennedy, Gina Quartorolo, Alex Russomagno, Marisa Villa;
New Providence: Michelle Ciarrocca, Kelly Marchisio, Caitlin Sneeden;
North Hunterdon: Caitlin McGourty, Sam Rayhon, Rebecca Schaefer, Jenna Taylor;
North Plainfield: Amanda Costello, Tiffany Murphy;
Plainfield: Aliya Davis, Devyn Hale;
Ridge: Sam Fama;
Rutgers Prep: Kelly Prendergast, Anna Steinman;
Scotch Plains-Fanwood: Kelly Cianciotta, Nikki Mineo, Saxoney Neilsen;
Somerset Tech: Jessica Popik, Rebecca Popik;
Somerville: Janelle Jegou, Kim Sacchi, Korri Thompson;
South Hunterdon: Corrine Hart, Amanda Nielsen, Tori Smeigocki;
South Plainfield: Stephanie Szeliga;
Timothy Christian: Sara Poole, Ashley Sivo, Courtney Soucek;
Union Catholic: Angela Sessa;
Wardlaw-Hartridge: Nicole Kopidakis, Alison Monte, Tara Pretty;
Westfield: Katie Esler, Alex Pecora.
FINAL SOFTBALL TOP 10
1. Hunterdon Central 26-2
2. North Hunterdon 25-4
3. Hillsborough 19-6
4. Bridgewater-Raritan 22-7
5. South Plainfield 21-6
6. Westfield 17-6
7. Immaculata 16-12
8. Watchung Hills 12-11
9. Montgomery 15-12
10. Somerville 21-5
Friday, June 13, 2008
ALL-AREA DATE
After some editorial issues, it has been determined that softball All-Area will run in the Friday, June 20 edition of the Courier News.
I don't expect this to change again.
Sorry for the confusion.
I don't expect this to change again.
Sorry for the confusion.
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