Sunday,
April 13, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Devin Durando threw a one-hit shutout and also drove in two runs as defending Group 3 state champion Indian Hills stayed unbeated with a 4-0 win over Park Ridge on Saturday at the EDSAF Tournament in Emerson. |
EMERSON – After an exhilarating 1-0 nine-inning win last weekend over High Point and three-time all-state pitcher Ally Frei, Indian Hills asserted itself as the favorite to repeat as Group 3 state champs and as one of three major contenders for the Bergen County title along with IHA and Immaculate Conception. But county nor state championships are won in April. Led by the battery of Devin Durando and Madison Levine among a slew of experienced seniors, the Braves just focus on the game ahead of them as the biggest of the season.
Next in line for the Braves was no slouch as Park Ridge was coming off its biggest win of the season as well with a wild 5-4 victory over previously undefeated Midland Park, also in nine innings. Something had to give in this battle of unbeaten teams and Durando proved to be the difference-maker both in the circle and in the batter's box.
Durando's two-run single in the third was all the run support she needed as she allowed just one hit and let no runner past first base as Indian Hills scored a 4-0 victory on Saturday at the EDSAF Tournament at Emerson High School.
The game was billed as a pitching duel between two of Bergen County's best, Durando and fellow senior Emily Kline. Each tossed two scoreless innings before Kline left with an injury and Erica Huber came on in relief for the top of the third inning. Nicole Leocata drew a leadoff walk and Levine was hit by a pitch. Then with two outs and two strikes, Durando laced a single up the middle that scored both runners to put the Braves in front, 2-0.
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Melissa Dulberg had Park Ridge's lone hit and also threw out 3 would-be basestealers. |
“We set a goal to score first and set the tone one game at a time,” said Durando. “I have so much confidence in our defense. When we score some early runs, it only gives us more confidence. This team has a lot of experience, but we are still trying to put the pieces together and play together. Even though a lot of us are familiar with each other, there's still a learning curve and we will always work hard to become a better team.”
The score stayed that way until the top of the seventh when the Braves' bats finally got going with three consecutive hits with two outs. Shelby Allen doubled and scored when Durando's single was misplayed in the outfield. Karley Jo Greulich's double then brought home courtesy runner Amanda Shepard for the final 4-0 margin before Durando closed the game out by retiring the side in the bottom half of the frame.
“That's a very, very tough team over there,” said Park Ridge head coach Cindy Turner about Indian Hills. “I'm really proud of our team and especially Erica (Huber) to pitch well in the situation she came into against a defending state championship team. We were very excited for this opportunity and I thought we represented ourselves well. We just ran into a team that didn't make any mistakes and a couple of two-out hits that ended up being the difference.”
Durando fired a one-hitter with three walks and had 11Ks along with having two of the Braves' six hits. Levine has shown so far to be a fine replacement for Nicole Paiotti, the school's all-time hits and home run leader, behind the dish as she cut down both runners who tried to steal. Second baseman Nicole Mellon also had a strong defensive effort taking away a pair of hits ranging to her left for one ground ball and making a leaping catch on a line drive.
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Shelby Allen had a double and scored a run for Indian Hills. |
Senior catcher Melissa Dulberg had the lone hit for Park Ridge (6-1) and threw out 3 of 5 would-be base stealers. Huber pitched well in relief against a loaded Indian Hills lineup and Kelly Hansen made a trio of nice catches in left field.
With a state championship from last season already in hand and with a fantastic start to this season, the Braves are right where they want to be going into a measuring stick week for them. They will face a talented Northern Valley/Demarest team before facing undefeated Pascack Valley and defending North 1, Group 2 state champ Mahwah.
“This is a good win coming into a big week for us,” said Indian Hills' head coach Joe Leicht. “I thought we played well defensively, Maddie threw out a few runners, and Devin was good as usual in the clutch. Experience is huge in these types of games against quality teams and we have that. When you're up by two runs with two girls on and two outs in a state final, can you get that last out? We have the players who have thrived under pressure and that definitely gives an edge going into the big games we have coming up.”
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