Monday, May 26, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Mallory Brown's two-run double in the first inning drove in the two runs that Ramapo needed to win its third straight Bergen County title.

MAHWAH – Whether it was Saddle Brook becoming the first Group 1 school to ever win a Bergen County title or Ramapo becoming the first team to ever win three straight county championships, either way history was going to be made on Sunday afternoon. Ramapo senior pitcher Brittany Baiunco was well aware of the stakes and the big-game pitcher was not about to let anyone celebrate at her or her teammate’s expense.

After being bailed out by her defense on three occasions as Ramapo managed a slim one-run advantage, Baiunco took it upon herself to close out the 2008 Bergen County Softball Tournament.

With the tying run and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Baiunco recorded her sixth, and clearly her most important, strikeout of the day to lift second-seeded Ramapo to a thrilling 2-1 triumph over fourth-seeded Saddle Brook and thus became the first team ever to win back-to-back-to-back Bergen County titles in the tournament’s 35-year history. In doing so, Baiunco won her third straight county final game, also a first.

Kim Prevedel allowed just five hits and threw shutout ball over the final six innings for Saddle Brook.

Ramapo gave Baiunco all the run support she needed in the opening frame. Kaitlin Taranto walked, stole second, and moved to third on a passed ball during a walk to Maggie Scarpelli. That brought up Mallory Brown with two outs and a chance to make something happen. Before the game, her father ‘promised’ to buy her a car if she hit a home run in the game. She missed by about three feet as she drove a fastball from Kim Prevedel high off the fence in right-centerfield, scoring both runners and giving the Green Raiders an early 2-0 lead.

“I just wanted to hit the ball hard and put it in play,’ said Brown. “When I saw it go over the outfielder’s head, we were going to score at least one run. When we scored two, it felt good because we have so much confidence in Brittany (Baiunco).”

Brown once again played a major role on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning, only this time it was keeping the Falcons off of it. With runners on second and third, Brielle Ratajczak hit a line-drive that seemed destined for the right-centerfield gap. Brown, Ramapo’s second baseman, took two steps to her right and made a great leaping catch, then stepped on second for an inning-ending double play. Instead of Saddle Brook tying the game up, the Green Raiders were out of the inning, still holding a two-run lead.

Brittany Baiunco was the winning pitcher in the Bergen County final for the third straight year.

The Falcons cut the two-run lead in half in the fourth inning. Seton Hall-bound Christina Esposito singled with one out. Lauren Gramegna followed with a long double to the base of the fence in left-center to score Esposito and make it a 2-1 game.

Saddle Brook kept the pressure on in the fifth inning when Ratajczak drew a leadoff walk and was moved to third on a pair of sacrifice bunts by Lori Hickey and Kaitlyn LaCass. Stephanie Gilronan then hit a screaming liner down the first-base line. But the Falcons were denied again, this time by Ramapo first baseman Jess Brennan, who grabbed the hot liner head-high to end the threat.

“We put the bat on the ball and we had our opportunities,” said Saddle Brook head coach Darren White. “I think we made a good showing for ourselves here. Ramapo did a great job handling our bunts and they made some great plays in the field. If one of those drops in, maybe it’s a different game. Overall though, this was just a great high school softball game between two very good teams.”

Lauren Gramugna knocked in Saddle Brook's lone run on this swing in the fourth inning.

Prevedel settled down after a tough first inning and pitched well over the final six. No Ramapo batter reached third base over the final six frames. However, the Falcons were running out of chances and made one last-ditch effort to bring across the equalizer in their final at-bat.

With one out, Prevedel and Ratajczak poked consecutive singles. A slapped sacrifice by Hickey moved the runners up, putting both in scoring position. But having been in tight spots so many times over the past four years, Baiunco was able to remain calm. She struck out the final batter of the game on five pitches to secure the three-peat for Ramapo.

“I’m a senior and a leader on this team. My main focus was just staying calm and keeping my cool,” said Baiunco. “I knew if I freaked out and showed I was nervous, it would make everyone else nervous too. We were on the verge of doing something great that no team has ever done before. I knew that I had to get just one more batter to do it, so I was able to bear down and just try to hit my spots.”

Baiunco allowed four hits, walked two, and had six Ks for Ramapo (24-6). She picked up the ‘W’ for the third consecutive year in the Bergen County championship game. Brown’s two-run double was the difference and Amanda Schellaci went 2-for-3. Kaitlin Taranto and Baiunco had the other hits for the Green Raiders.

Prevedel took the loss for Saddle Brook, despite giving up just five hits. She walked three, struck out four, and reached base in two of her three plate appearances.

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Both teams still have plenty to play for on Tuesday in their respective state sectional semifinals. Ramapo will travel to face top-seeded Mount Olive in a North 1, Group 3 semifinal, while Saddle Brook will host a familiar foe in Park Ridge in the North 1, Group 1 semis.

However, this game was about doing something no program in Bergen County history had ever done before. Ramapo earned it by doing what has been its calling card over the last four years: Playing outstanding defense, getting clutch hits, and leaving the rest up to Baiunco.

“This was a scary game and I’m glad we were able to make these first two runs hold up,” said Ramapo head coach Leslie Stephen, whose last loss in the county tournament was a 1-0 setback against Ridgewood in the 2005 final. “I thought a key was that we played great defense throughout the game and we handled their bunts well. I don’t think the kids right now can put in perspective what they have done. This senior class has really put Ramapo on the map both in the county and the state. To do what we have done, finding a way to win against some great teams in this tournament three years in a row is incredible. I hope our players can look back one day and realize what a special accomplishment this is. It’s an amazing feat that no one can ever take away from them.”

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