Week 1 musings

After a wet opening day that saw about half the games postponed, a wetter Friday that cancelled the entire slate, and a Saturday that looks grim with a bunch of games already washed out, let’s take a look at what some of what did get in this week means for our area squads.

Life isn’t fair, but nobody at Hunterdon Central feels bad about it, I’m sure.

Every year, the Red Devils lose talent to graduation, and every year they reload, win their conference, and are right in the thick of things in Hunterdon/Warren county and Group IV.

This year’s potential gem has a familiar last name, but is wearing an unfamiliar uniform.

Freshman right-hander Courtney Yard made her debut for Hunterdon Central on Thursday and matched up with Immaculata and veteran right-hander Kaitlyn Piazzolla, and Yard came out on top as Meghan Everett’s two-out, 2-run double in the 10th inning boosted the Red Devils to 2-0.

You might recognize Yard’s last name. She is the cousin of former Hillsborough standouts Chrissy Yard (grad. 2005) and Katie Yard (grad. 2007).

She’ll be in a rotation with senior righty Jenna Carmon, among others.

For Immaculata, meanwhile, it was their second heartbreaking defeat in as many games.

The Spartans opened Wednesday against Westfield and fell 2-1, as the Blue Devils got a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

No surprise that Immaculata is still having trouble scoring runs and that Piazzolla is keeping the Spartans in games.

I keep saying this, and I’ll keep saying this; Immaculata’s going to have to find some offense soon or – considering the conference they play in – they’ll have plenty of time to study for finals come state tournament time.

The Spartans managed just 4.3 runs per game last year, and just 3.2 against Skyland Conference Delaware Division opponents not named Franklin. And that was with Jen Lapicki in the lineup.

By the way, Saturday’s Immaculata-Rutgers Prep game has already been postponed until April 9.

Elsewhere in the Skyland Delaware, North Hunterdon has to be encouraged by its start.

The Lions beat Ridge 2-0 on opening day, and came back Thursday and blanked Hillsborough 3-0.

Kudos to Jenna Gonzalez, who is now North’s ace after she split time with Ali Freedman last year.

More importantly, kudos to the Lions’ offense for not letting the loss of Sam Pellechio to graduation get them down.

Take note, Immaculata.

And while we’re all taking notes, jot this down; I think Voorhees will be one of the surprise stories of 2008.

The Vikings’ 9-0 blanking of Warren Hills on opening day was an eye-opener. I know the Blue Streaks lost a lot to graduation, but for Voorhees to thoroughly dominate a team that went to the Hunterdon/Warren final last season, well, that tells me something.

I’m not saying Voorhees is going to win the conference – especially when you consider it has to play North and Central twice, as well as those East Division teams we all know and love – but the Vikings went 5-12 last year, and that simply isn’t going to happen again.

Before I wrap things up, for those real softball junkies out there that will be chomping at the bit when all the high school games get rained out, if you still need a fix, head down to Rutgers on Saturday.

The Scarlet Knights softball team will be facing the University of South Florida, and former Governor Livingston right-hander and New Jersey's all-time strikeout queen Capri Catalano will be pitching for the Bulls in the second game of the doubleheader.

I will leave you with this thought:
How bad must Elizabeth be if Piscataway can beat them 26-3??

Piscataway isn’t exactly the cream of the GMC Red. The Chiefs won just three games last season, and then lost their top players to graduation, and has lost its other two games of this season by a combined score of 16-1.

Now we know why Westfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood want to stay in the Watchung Conference. Two games a year against Elizabeth!! Not to mention those games with East Side, Irvington, etc.

SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK AND TOP 10 RUNNING SATURDAY. DON’T MISS IT!