Thursday,
April 4, 2007
By
Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
DEMAREST – After
suffering through three years of sub-.500 seasons of varsity softball,
Northern Valley/Demarest pitcher Jessica Iuliano could look at
her senior season in one of two ways. She could either accept
that things are never going to get any better, or she could work
that much harder to reverse the losing trend.
Lifting a program to
respectability is a tall order in the rugged NBIL, but Iuliano
knew that a turnaround was possible. After only dreaming about
making appearances in the Bergen County and state tournaments
throughout her scholastic career, she is now hoping to lead the
Norsewomen towards those goals that were unthinkable just one
year ago.
Iuliano, a senior right-hander,
twirled a four-hit shutout as Northern Valley/Demarest won its
second consecutive game to open the season with a 2-0 triumph
over Northern Highlands.
“We’re
definitely sick and tired of losing,” said Iuliano. “We
worked so hard all year for this season. Holding our composure
and staying focused is something we have to do to be successful.”
Demarest jumped on
the scoreboard in the bottom of the first without the benefit
of a base hit. Cody Kugler worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Northern
Highlands’ senior southpaw Jenna Stoller before drawing
a walk to lead off the inning. She stole second then moved to
third on an infield error. Michelle Brody brought her home with
an RBI groundout to put the Norsewomen ahead 1-0.
Northern Highlands
bounced right back in the top of the second with back-to-back
singles by Amanda Blake and Katie Rehain with one out. The experienced
Iuliano was not rattled and struck out the next two batters to
end the inning.
“We put in a
lot of hard work for this season and we’re already starting
to see the results,” said Northern Valley/Demarest head
coach Keith Johnson. “This year, we’re focused on
doing the little things well both offensively and defensively.
It also a nice comfort to have Jess (Iuliano) on the mound, an
experienced senior that can get us out of tough spots. She did
that a few times today in key situations.”
The Highlanders threatened
again in the fourth. Danielle Rotonda led off with an infield
single, moving to second on a throwing error. Blake moved her
over to third on a bunt, but she did not get any further. Iuliano
recorded another strikeout on a high fastball to halt the threat.
“I just tried
to get ahead in the count and then make them chase,” said
Iuliano. “It was working for me so I stuck with it.
In the top of the sixth,
the Highlanders had two runners on when Rotonda walked and Stoller
followed with a bloop single. Iuliano has been more of a contact
pitcher in her varsity career, but has emerged as more of a strikeout
pitcher this season. She notched 11 strikeouts in a season-opening
win over Fair Lawn and rung up another ‘K’ to end
the sixth.
For the Norsewomen,
it was an escape from another jam. On the flip side, it was the
third time that the Highlanders had a runner in scoring position
without one crossing the plate, which wasted an equally impressive
pitching performance by Stoller.
“It’s
frustrating with the potential that we have to come out of here
without scoring,” said Tara Madigan, also the Highlands
head girls soccer coach who is in her first season in charge of
the softball program. “We struggled at the plate and we
struggled in the field. Demarest took advantage of their opportunities
and we didn’t and that was the difference in the game.”
Demarest tacked on
an insurance run when Stephanie Manella doubled and scored on
Jaimie Beddoe’s suicide squeeze. That insurance was not
needed however, as Iuliano closed out the game in style by striking
out the side.
Iuliano walked just
one batter in pitching her first shutout of the season for Northern
Valley/Demarest (2-0). Manella, Brody, and Beddoe had the hits
for the Norsewomen. Stoller also walked just one, gave up three
hits, and had 8 Ks for Northern Highlands (0-2). The Highlanders
will look to rebound and put one in the win column on Friday against
Fair Lawn.
Being undefeated after
two games is an achievement that some teams might take for granted.
Not Demarest, however, which suffered through a 9-16 ledger last
spring. The Norsewomen feel this could be beginning of the most
successful season in over a decade.
“We were always
looked at as maybe an easy win for other teams and we’re
not going to be like that this year,” added Iuliano. “This
is what we wanted, to get off to a good start and get a couple
of wins. It feels great to be (2-0) right now. I feel we’re
starting something really good here this season. Our team has
a lot of seniors and this is it, this is our time.”
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