Sunday, May 18, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Ramapo third baseman Amanda Schellaci knocked a base hit off the second base bag to drive in the game's lone run in the bottom of the ninth.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – When extra innings set in a softball game, especially one that is scoreless and highly pressurized like a Bergen County Tournament semifinal, it is tough for coaches not to think about the possibility of the rule where each team starts their half of the 10th inning with a runner on second base.

The tie-breaker rule as almost a foregone conclusion on Saturday between second-seeded Ramapo and No. 3 IHA as Ramapo’s Brittany Baiunco and IHA’s Christina Miquel each had masterful performances going in a pitcher’s duel that seemed like it could have gone on forever.

If the game had reached the 10th inning, IHA would have gained a clear advantage by holding the edge in speed on the bases and also playing on its home field. However, it would not get that far. Baiunco got her team through 8 1/2 innings and teammate Amanda Schellaci took care of the rest.

Schellaci’s RBI single hit the second base bag, giving courtesy runner Emily Brown enough time to cross the plate with the winning run as Ramapo advanced to the Bergen County final for the fourth straight year with a thrilling 1-0, nine-inning triumph at Immaculate Heart Academy.

Sophomore Christina Miguel took the hard-luck loss for IHA, scattering seven hits and walking three with 13 Ks.

“This game is what softball is all about, a well-played game on both sides,” said Ramapo head coach Leslie Stephen, whose team will look to become the first ever to win three straight county titles when it plays Saddle Brook in the final on Sunday. “Both teams had situations where they could have scored, but both pitchers got out of big spots and both teams played great defense. Amanda (Schellaci) has gotten some big hits for us lately and she came through for us again today.”

Baiunco set the tone by striking out the side in the first inning, but ran into some trouble in the second. A single by Taylor Cosentino, a walk, and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position with one out. However, Baiunco pitched herself out of the jam with two strikeouts.

Ramapo had a quality chance to score in the bottom half of the second with two runners on and one out. The Green Raiders were unable to get a run across, short-circuited by a struckout and a Miquel-induced groundball that ended the threat.

“For such a low-scoring game, both teams had some chances early,” said IHA head coach Anthony Larezza. “When you go against a pitcher like Brittany (Baiunco), you have to take advantage of every scoring opportunity you get or you’re in trouble. I thought Christina (Miquel) pitched great all game, but we didn’t get the big hits we needed to help her out.”

Brittany Baiunco will have a chance to become the first ever pitcher to win three straight Bergen County championships.

Baiunco, a senior, was using her heavy fastball and her riser to baffle the IHA batters. Miquel, a sophomore, was working on getting ahead in the count and then using a drop to keep Ramapo’s lineup off-balance.

Defensively, IHA’s Kaitlyn McGillicuddy made the Frito-Lay Play of the Day with a full-extension catch deep in right-centerfield off the bat of Baiunco in the fourth. Ramapo first baseman Jess Brennan made an over-the-shoulder catch in foul ground to end the eighth.

It remained scoreless until the bottom of the ninth when Baiunco helped her own cause with a leadoff single. Julie Shaw’s sacrifice bunt moved Brown, the courtesy runner, down to second. That brought up Schellaci, who now had a chance to atone for her earlier strikeout with two runners on.

“This game is all about redeeming yourself and this was my chance,” said Schellaci. “I just tried to relax and hit the ball. I figured that if I hit the ball hard and put it in play, something good would happen.”

Schellaci drilled a Miquel fastball back through the box when she caught a lucky break. The ball hit the second bag and kicked towards right-center. Instead of Brown facing a close play at the plate, she came around to score easily as her teammates mobbed her at the plate.

Alyssa Sceppaguercio had a hit and three stolen bases for IHA.

“This is such a great feeling,” added Schellaci. “To get a game winning hit in extra innings over IHA in the county semifinals is amazing. When I saw the ball hit the second base, I knew we had it.”

Baiunco struckout a season-high 19 batters, allowed just two hits, and walked four for Ramapo. Schellaci and Kaitlin Taranto each had two hits for the Green Raiders.

Miquel took the hard-luck loss for IHA, scattering seven hits and walking three with 13 Ks. Alyssa Sceppaguercio, who also had three stolen bases, and Cosentino had the hits for the Blue Eagles.

Ramapo will face fourth-seeded Saddle Brook, a 3-1 winner over top-seeded Ridgewood in the other semifinal, in tomorrow’s Bergen County Final. The game is scheduled to take place at Ramapo College with a 2:00 p.m. start time.

“This game was so intense, I’m glad we got through it,” said Baiunco. “I was living pitch to pitch and I had stay focused on every single batter. We want to win a county title and we couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by. I think this is the only extra-inning game we’ve won this season, but I’m glad it happened at the right time. I’m so excited for the game against Saddle Brook tomorrow, I wish we could play it right now.”

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