Madison Boro Softball Begins 2011 Season

For the past three months, the softball leadership team has been working hard to prepare for a successful 2011 season.  We started in January with registration sessions. February saw over 70 players attend the spring trainingat Drew University clinics; over 40 players were part of the tryouts for our 12U and 14U travel teams.  We also completed all team drafts, ordered uniforms and equipment for the new season.  During March, all teams enjoyed the chance to hold indoor practices at both the B/E and MHS gyms.   The new MHS coaches also held a very successful series of pitching clinics, which attracted over 50 players each Saturday during March.  Finally, we also had 137 Mom's and Dad's complete their background checks and coaches training and prepare to make a positive difference in the lives of their daughters and neighbors this season

The 2011 program is our biggest ever with 337 young ladies registered to play on 29 teams. That’s a 25% increase in players over the past 3 years (in 2008, 266 players participated) 

Players in grades 5/6 and 7/8 will complete against our neighbors in Chatham and Summit in an interleague Divison comprised of 24 teams. In addition, 12U and 14U travel teams have already begun play and will participate in local tournaments over the next few months.  In total, 250 softball games are scheduled to be played on local fields between now and mid-June.
 
Here are a few highlights from select games in week 1.

Grades 3 and 4
As the rains finally let up, spring officially arrived when and Harris Landscaping locked horns in Madison 3rd 4th grade softball.  And as first games go, this one had it all.

Led by starting pitcher Kylie Davidson and some clutch hitting from Sophia Esposito, Megan Tierney and Camille Miller, Playwrights built a 3-0 lead after 3 innings.  Ella Grant and Madison Camp also scored singles and scored runs in a 2 run 2nd inning. Harris Landscaping settled down a bit and got some steady pitching performances from Karson Girvin, Sadie Kim and Nina Bisco.  Bisco, Kim, Emilee Griggs, and Cara Pierce also flashed some nice leather keeping things close headed to the 4th inning. Emma Hatlem led off Harris’ inning with a single.  Three singles followed by Girvin, Griggs and Fiona Doherty.  A stellar defensive play by Playwright’s catcher Tierney kept it at 3-1.  But Juliette Occhino and Pierce followed with singles completing the comeback.  4-3 Harris after 4. Bisco had to get through the heart of the order with Julia Anderson, Tierney, Miller, Annabella Devincenzo and Ava Cozzolino.  Naturally, Playwrights made it dramatic.  A few singles were not enough as Harris held on.  If this crisp, well-played game is any indication of how this season will go…buckle up.

Grade 5 and 6
Madison-, playing its first game of the season, overcame a strong start by Chatham Center for Dentistry to take the win, 10-8.   Chatham Center for Dentistry took a 6-0 lead through the top of the third inning behind solid pitching and heads up base running.  But, Chef Loryn found its footing in the third, scoring four runs to narrow the gap.  Chatham Center for Dentistry added two more runs through the top of the fifth and again kept Chef Loryn off the board.  However, Chef Loryn's bats came alive in the bottom of fifth when they scored six runs, with Jacqueline Cook, playing in her first softball game, slamming a three run home run to end the inning.  Izzy Dagon closed out the game for Chef Loryn with three straight strikeouts, bringing her total to nine for the game, in addition to hitting two triples.  Chef Loryn's Ashley Brill shook off a tough inning in her first rec league pitching assignment and ultimately recorded three strikeouts, while adding a single and double at the plate.  Other notable Chef Loryn performances were by both catchers at the plate and behind it, with Jenna Tierney going 2 for 2 and Olivia Kranefuss laying down a perfect bunt, while Kaitlin Miller made a nice scoop at second base followed by a dart to first for the out.  Chef Loryn's coaches commented that the most impressive thing about all of the girls' performances was that they refused to get discouraged despite falling behind early.


Grade 7 and 8
Madison and Chatham kicked off interleague play on Wed 4/20 as Chatham-Morris Animal Inn came to visit the young ladies from Madison-Whitehorn Financial Services.

Casey Beronilla started on the mound and handled the visitors with ease in the 1st inning.  However, Chatham put 2 runs on the board in the 2nd inning as a result of a missed fly ball and a few singles.   Madison got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd as Emily Bolcar, Kristina Qualben and Marissa Dias loaded the bases. Ariel Riveros worked a bases loaded walk for the 1st run of the inning. 2 Batters later, Sara Lynch knocked in 2 runs with a 2 out single into left field to give Madison a 3-2 lead.   Emily Bolcar took over pitching duties in the 3rd inning and struck out the first two batters to face her. She ended the inning with a well-played pitcher to 1st base ground out.  In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Helene Rowland started things up for Madison with a triple into center field.  Two pitches later, she stole home plate on a passed ball to add another run and give Madison a 4-2 lead.   In the 4th inning, Emily again struck out 2 batters while Marissa Dias handled a hard hit grounder to 1st base for the 3rd out.  In the 4th inning, Ariel worked another walk, advanced on Casey Beronilla's single and scored on the next play as Leigh Whitehorn dropped a perfect bunt down the 1st base line and beat the throw to first giving Madison a 5-2 lead.  In the top of the 5th, The Chatham lead off batter smoked a line drive into CF. Sara Lynch played it on one hop and threw a strike to 1st base to get the out. Emily struck out the next two.  In the top of the 5th, Helen Rowland got the lead off base hit as Emily and Kristina combined for single and a fielder's choice to knock Helene in for run #6.  Chatham threatened in the top of the 6th inning advancing their lead off batter all the way to 3rd base before Emily ended the rally with her 7th and 8th strikeouts of the game. Final score: Madison Whitehorn Financial Services 6, Chatham Morris Animal Inn 2.