Thursday, May 22, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

HAWTHORNE – This was supposed to be ‘the year’ for the Hawthorne softball team, a team filled with speed, hitting, solid defense, and experience. Throw in one of North Jersey’s top hurlers, four-year starter Michelle Graham, and there was no reason to believe that the Lady Bears were not ready to contend for league, county, and section titles. Heading into last weekend though, the season was somewhat of a disappointment. Despite winning 15 of its 22 games, the Bears felt their season was unfulfilled.

That was until last Saturday’s Passaic County semifinal when Graham tossed a five-hit shutout and Hawthorne beat Pompton Lakes, North Jersey’s last unbeaten team, to reach the Passaic County final. Finally, the talented group’s play had caught up to its potential. This spelled bad news for the Bears’ first-round state tournament foe, Ramsey, which has been reeling ever since a red-hot start to the season.

Graham twirled her second consecutive shutout. This time, she gave up just two hits, as eighth-seeded Hawthorne needed just 50 minutes to dispatch of ninth-seeded Ramsey, 3-0, in the first round of the North 1, Group 2 state sectional tournament.

“Michelle (Graham) hit her spots, we played great defense, and we got some timely hits,” said Hawthorne head coach Lynn Shortway. “Getting the run early gave us confidence and helped us settle in. Coming off the win over Pompton Lakes, we’re very positive and we have a lot of confidence.”

Ramsey’s only offensive threat came in the top of the first inning. Karen Ullmann led off the game with a single and stole second. That was enough to awaken Graham, who promptly ended the threat by striking out the next three batters.

The Bears got Graham all the run support she needed with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Katie Goitz tripled to right-center and was brought on a two-out single to left by Olivia Gagliardi to make it 1-0.

“I was looking for an outside pitch, but it came right down the middle,” said Goitz about her first-inning triple. “We know if we can get Michelle some runs early, then we have a good chance to win every game.”

Gagliardi singled to center leading off the bottom of the fourth. Courtesy runner Farhana Chowdury went all the way to third on a sac bunt by Graham and came home on an error off the bat of Alicia Bonazzi to give Graham a two-run cushion.

The Rams had one last chance in the fifth after a leadoff single by Jessica Poracky. She moved over to second on a bunt by Mary O’Connor. Graham did not allow her to get any further, inducing a pop-up then getting a strikeout to end the inning.

“You have to get runners on to score and we didn’t get enough on to make something happen,” said Ramsey head coach Karen Finn. “(Graham) kept us off-balance and we just didn’t show up offensively. Ever since the ninth game of our season, we got into a rut and never really came out of it.”

Goitz was the star offensively for Hawthorne (17-7) going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Graham did not walk a batter, had eight Ks, and drove in a run. Gagliardi finished two hits and Caitlin Smith added one.

Brooke Garlick took the loss for Ramsey, which fell to 12-13 on the season after having won seven of its first eight games. The freshman allowed six hits, struck out six and also did not walk a batter.

Hawthorne will carry its late-season momentum into Friday when its travels to face top-seeded Tenafly in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals. That will be a great test heading into Saturday’s showdown with West Milford for the Passaic County title. That game will be played at 6:30 at Main Memorial Field in Clifton.

“This last week or so has been really exciting, we’ve been waiting for this all year,” said Graham, who will pitch at William Paterson University next year. “I knew we had the potential to do great things. We have big wins lately over Eastern Christian, Pompton Lakes, and now Ramsey. We’re excited for the Tenafly game tomorrow and then for West Milford. It took awhile, but we’re finally playing at the top of our game. We’re ready for anyone and we just want to keep our season going.”

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