Friday,
May 21, 2010
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
 |
 |
Jovie
Meneses had two RBI as part of High Tech's 14-run outburt
in a five-inning win over McNair Academic in Thursday's
North 2, Group 1 state sectional tournament quarterfinal
in Jersey City. |
JERSEY
CITY – Forcing other teams into mistakes is what the High
Tech softball team has thrived on for years in staking its reputation
as one of, if not the, best team in Hudson County. High Tech has
always been aggressive both at the plate and on the basepaths
because it knows with four-year starter Erica Colon in the circle,
virtually any lead is safe. So in Thursday’s section quarterfinal
game, when McNair Academic dropped consecutive pop-ups, the Lasercats
pounced.
High Tech put up six runs in the top of the first, which was more
than enough run support for Colon. The senior tossed a no-hitter
as the seventh-seeded Lasercats cruised into the North 2, Group
1 semifinals with a 14-1, five-inning victory over second-seeded
McNair in Jersey City.
With
one out in the top of the first, McNair dropped consecutive infield
pop-ups and they were costly as the first inning proved to be
a nightmare for the Lady Cougars. Brianna Guzman provided the
big blow with a two-run double off the fence in right-center,
one of just two hits in the inning off of McNair starter Erica
Mora. Sybil Lynch followed with an RBI groundout as High Tech
grabbed a 6-0 lead. In total, McNair had three errors, two wild
pitches, and two passed balls in the first inning alone.
 |
| McNair
starter Erica Mora was hurt by some shaky defense. |
“You
give any team, especially a good team like High Tech, that many
extra outs and you are putting yourself in a huge hole,”
said McNair Academic head coach Van McCullers. “Against
a pitcher like Erica Colon, it’s almost impossible to come
back from that big of a deficit. I thought that hurt us mentally
and we never got into it mentally after that.”
High
Tech added three runs in each of the next two innings to put the
game away. Bianca Arroyo provided the knockout blow with a two-run
homer to left in the second inning for a 9-0 lead.
“We
want to score runs early and put pressure on our opponents to
play from behind,” said High Tech head coach Jose Gonzalez.
“Overall, we came into this season with winning championships
on our mind. We have gotten better gradually throughout the season
and we’re getting to where we want to be. Our determination
to be both county and section champs have been driving us to work
hard all season. I thought we came out today with our game faces
on and we set the pace in the first inning.”
Colon
did not allow a hit, walked two, and had nine K’s for High
Tech (19-5). Arroyo, Guzman, and Jovi Meneses each had two RBIs.
 |
| Erica
Colon threw a no-hitter for High Tech, which will play Whippany
Park in the sectional semifinals. |
Ashley
Mendoza walked, stole second, and scored on a wild pitch in the
third inning for McNair, which finished the season with a 21-6
record.
“I
couldn’t more proud of what we did this year with our nine
seniors,” added McCullers. “This team never quit,
they gave me everything they had and we achieved our goal of setting
a school record for wins in a season. We did not have our best
game today by any means, but it doesn’t detract from what
we have accomplished this season.”
High
Tech is now in the crunch time of its season. The Lasercats will
face off against North Bergen today in the Hudson County semifinals
with the winner having to come right back and play Sunday morning
for the title. They will look to avenge a 2-0 regular-season loss
to the Bruins. Next week, they will travel to third-seeded Whippany
Park, which used a seventh-inning rally to beat Secaucus, 4-3,
in the North 2 Group 1 semifinals.
For
senior and four-year starter Erica Colon, her high school career
is coming to an end, but hopefully not without a title or two
on the way out.
“When
I was a freshman I felt like I was going to be here forever and
now every game could be my last,” said Colon, who will pitch
at Division 1 Central Connecticut State next year. “It goes
by so fast and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn’t
end just yet. We have been focused all year on winning both the
counties and the states and now we’re only a few steps away.
You work hard all year to be in this position and we’re
so ready to play these next few games and see what happens.”
FOR
MORE
PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT OR TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT
OF THIS GAME STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com.
|
