Friday, April 22, 2011

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

LEONIA – Through the early part of this season, no softrball team in North Jersey has hit the ball as well as Park Ridge. The Lady Owls have averaged over 12 runs per game and scored less than nine runs only once through their first eight games in getting off to a 7-1 start with their only loss coming in a slugfest against defending Group 1 state finalist Wood-Ridge. But Thursday figured to present a challenge as Leonia came in riding an undefeated start and allowing just eight runs in its five wins to date.

Something had to give and the Owls made it abundantly clear that they would not yield.

Park Ridge batted around in the second, third, and fourth innings, pounding out 14 hits en route to emphatically handing Leonia its first loss of the season with a 17-1 drubbing at Leonia High School.

“It was so important to get some runs early and let that momentum carry us,” said Park Ridge head coach Cindy Turner. “It helps the pitcher and the defense to relax and just play. Our team is so close-knit and our energy level was great right from the first pitch.”

The Owls got on the board in the top of the first when pitcher Claudia Bonvincino helped her own cause with an RBI single and another run scored on an error on the play for a 2-0 lead before they broke it open.

The bats stayed hot for Park Ridge in the second inning with five consecutive RBI singles. Caitlyn Lavender started it, Kelsey Wimmershoff followed with a two-run single and the onslaught continued in the third.

Kelly Frasciello lined a single to bring in two runs and Gabrielle Katz had the only extra-base hit by either team with a two-run double in a six-run third as Park Ridge cruised to victory.

Bonvincino allowed three hits, walked four, and had 10 Ks along with going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Wimmershoff went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Lavender, Frasciello, Nikki Kalafut, and Amanda Criscuolo each added two hits.

Nicole Schloback drove in the lone run for Leonia (5-1). Caitlin Molloy and Miya Okado had the other hits for the Lions.

The Lady Owls will look to stay hot this week with three important games and the county tournament seeding meeting right around the corner. They will face rival Cresskill and then take on North Jersey power West Milford later in the week in what could be a measuring stick of how they stack up.

“We’ve been hitting the ball pretty well all year and we’re still improving in all aspects,” said Wimmershoff, Park Ridge’s three-sport standout. “When you get off to a good start, it’s beneficial for everyone because it helps us get into the game that much more. Scoring early gives us confidence and gives us a lot of comfort knowing we can play with a lead. If we can keep doing what we’ve been doing, it should be a real successful season and we look forward to playing the some of the tougher teams in the county and see where we stand against them.”

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