Sunday, April 20, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Alex Scibetta hitting the groundball that led to the game's only run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Ridgewood's 1-0 win over Saddle Brook.

EMERSON – After Tenafly’s upset loss to Dumont on Saturday, Ridgewood stood alone as Bergen County’s only unbeaten team. That unblemished record would also be put to the test on against Saddle Brook, a Group 1 team looking to make a statement. Ridgewood’s Ali Vagianos and Kim Prevedel of Saddle Brook locked up in a classic pitcher’s duel with just one seventh-inning run making the difference. As it has all year, it was Ridgewood that found a way to get it done in the end.

Alex Scibetta’s groundball was deep enough in the hole between shortstop and third to score courtesy-runner Francesca Marino with the only run of the game as Ridgewood survived with a 1-0 victory that took just 54 minutes to complete.

“We were hoping to scratch a few runs across and one run proved to be enough,” said Vagianos.

Junior Kim Prevedel pitched one of her best games of the season for Saddle Brook.

Saddle Brook’s best chance to score came in the top of the first inning. Christina Esposito had an infield single and Lauren Gramegna followed with a two-out walk. Vagianos was not rattled and induced a pop-up to end the inning.

“I don’t know what it is about this tournament and this field, but we can’t seem to score a run here,” said Saddle Brook head coach Darren White. “In the (27) innings we’ve played here, we haven’t scored a run. We had a chance in the first inning, but we couldn’t get one across. (Ali) Vagianos is a good pitcher and Ridgewood plays great defense.”

From that point on, Vagianos did not allow a runner past first base. But her mastery in the circle was matched by Prevedel, who did not allow a runner past first through the first five innings.

“The big positive for us was the way Kim Prevedel pitched,” added White. “If she can pitch like that for us in big games, we have the potential to do big things. We feel more often than not that we can put runs on the board. Today we just ran into a team equally as tough to score against.”

Courtesy runner Francesca Marino came home with the game's lone run.

Ridgewood had its first scoring chance in the sixth after Emily Trent stroked a leadoff double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Morris. The Falcons defense helped keep the game scoreless on a solid two-pronged defensive play. Esposito made a nice backhanded stop off a hard ground ball from Mary Callaghan. Her throw to first was low, but Stephanie Gilronan scooped it up to record the out and end the inning.

After the sixth inning, it appeared that the game was destined for extra innings and plenty of them. The Maroons had other plans and won the game without registering a base hit in the bottom of the seventh.

Kelly Hommen drew a walk and Marino came on as a courtesy runner. After a groundout, a passed ball moved Marino up to third base. Scibetta then hit a groundball in the hole that Esposito came up with. Esposito threw the ball to first base and Scibetta was safe, but it did not matter as Marino crossed the plate with the game’s lone run.

Christina Esposito had one of Saddle Brook's three hits.

Vagianos tossed a three-hitter with five walks and six Ks for Ridgewood (9-0). Trent and Hommen had the lone hits for the Maroons.

Despite the loss, Saddle Brook (10-3) got a fantastic pitching performance from Prevedel. The junior right-hander allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out three. Esposito, LaCass, and Brielle Ratajczak had the hits for the Falcons.

The upcoming week is a big one for both teams, especially Ridgewood. If it can get through the week without a loss, they will likely earn the top seed when the Bergen County Tournament is seeded a week from Monday.

“We really having a lot of fun right now and we want to keep it going,” said Vagianos about Ridgewood’s hot start to the season. “After a tough first inning, I calmed down a little. I know my defense has my back and they are going to make the plays behind me. We figured to have a good season this year. But after the start we’ve had and how well we’ve played, we hope to have an even better season than what we expected.”

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