Monday, May 5, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

PARK RIDGE – Hitting the ball to the right side or getting a bunt down is not the most fun part of the game for a softball player. However, it is those basic fundamentals that can be the difference between winning and losing. Through five innings, neither Park Ridge nor Tenafly were hitting much of anything as Jaclyn Masterson and Jessie Shevins were locked in a pitcher’s duel. That was until Park Ridge loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, which Park Ridge head coach Frank Baldino knew might be the team’s last shot to score. Fortunately, he had hit two best contact hitters coming up and they did exactly what was asked of them.

Kristen Menniti’s seeing-eye single to right side of the infield put Park Ridge ahead. Jaime Kalafut followed with a bunt that was thrown away. Two more runs scored on the play as 12th-seeded Park Ridge scored a 3-0 upset over Tenafly, the No. 5 seed, at Park Ridge High School.

“A scoreless game is always nerve-wracking to be involved in,” said Masterson, Park Ridge’s starting pitcher. “You know that one bad pitch or one mistake can cost you the game. I just focused on throwing first-pitch strikes and staying ahead in the count. I know my defense will make the plays, I just have to throw strikes.”

Masterson cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit. Her counterpart, Shevins, allowed a hit in each of the first innings, but she ended all three frames with strikeouts.

Tenafly’s best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out rally. Megan Birch and Michelle Koles lined back-to-back singles and Marisa Silber walked to load the bases. Masterson was not rattled by the flurry and notched a strikeout to keep the score 0-0.

“Their pitcher (Masterson) had good control and we weren’t as selective as we should have been at the plate,” said Tenafly head coach Megan Williams. “I’m proud of the way the girls battled all game long. At this point though, we figured it was going to come down to one play to decide the outcome and it did.”

The Tigers had another chance in the fifth, but also came up empty. Casey Flores singled with one out and then attempted to go to third on a bunt by Amy Pfund. Park Ridge was prepared and executed a 3-4-5 double play to end the inning.

“I thought that play was as important as any in the entire game,” said Baldino. “If we don’t execute there, then the whole game could have changed. Instead, we make that play which gave us a big lift. From there, we had to keep scratching and clawing until we caught a break.”

Park Ridge broke through in the sixth, spurred by a leadoff single from Kelsey Wimmerschiff. After a sacrifice bunt moved Wimmerschiff up to second, an infield single and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases for Menniti. The pressure situation might be too much for some players, but not Menniti. This was the at-bat she been waiting for all year.

“Who wouldn’t want to be up with the bases loaded in a tie game in the county tournament?” said Menniti. “I was excited to be in the batter’s box and have that opportunity. My only job was to hit the ball hard. I just tried to hit the ball on the ground and it got through.”

Menniti’s squibber got in between the right side of a drawn-in infield to score Wimmerschiff for a 1-0 lead. The Lady Owls bunted well all game long with Kalafut’s ensuing bunt being the most crucial of them. She dropped a bunt down in several feet in front of the plate and Shevins’ throw to first glanced off of Kalafut and went up the right-field line. Two runs scored on the play to make it 3-0.

“We wanted this game so bad, once we scored I knew we had it,” added Menniti. “Jaclyn (Masterson) pitched great. She carried us, we just needed to get her some runs.”

Masterson was masterful for Park Ridge (14-2). The junior right-hander allowed four hits, walked two, and had nine Ks. It was her second shutout in as many days (Midland Park). The Owls also got two hits and solid defense from Nolyn Birch.

Shevins also struckout nine batters for Tenafly, which fell to 17-2 on the season. Flores, Koles, Megan Birch, and Ana Brown had the hits for the Tigers, who are still a game ahead in the race for the BCSL-American Division crown.

Park Ridge appears to have the number of every higher seeded team in the Bergen County Tournament in recent years. But to advance any further, it will have to get past the one team that has the Owls’ number. Next Saturday, they will face fourth-seeded Saddle Brook, the same Falcons team that ended Park Ridge’s season in the North 1, Group 1 semifinals last year.

“It comes to down to execution and we were able to do what we’ve practiced all year,” said Baldino. “We knew if we didn’t get a run across there that we were in trouble. This was a well-pitched game, a great game between two teams who wouldn’t give an inch to one another. Saddle Brook has gotten the best of us the past few years, but I think we’re playing with a lot of confidence right now and anything can happen in this tournament.”

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