Ball, Gaeta Help Warriors Rally Past Bound Brook

Lindsay Ball singled in two runs with two outs to highlight a four-run fourth inning, and Jess Gaeta did the same during a three-run fifth Monday as the Watchung Hills Elite League softball team overcame an early deficit to score an 11-7 victory over Bound Brook at Watchung Hills Regional High School.

IN SHORT
Bound Brook got on the board on a first-inning error, before Brianna Paltan singled in Tina Scolaro in the bottom of the first to tie it. Stephanie Teixeira then doubled in Paltan to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead.

The Crusaders put up four runs in the top of the third to nab 5-2 advantage, but Paltan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the
bottom of the third, before Scolaro scored on an error to draw Watchung Hills to within a run.

Bound Brook added two in the top of the fourth to make it 7-4, before the Warriors went on the attack during the next two innings to clinch the victory.

Tara DiDonato and Julie Smith picked up Watchung Hills RBIs in the fourth inning to go with Ball’s two-run knock.

Shannon Butler notched the victory in relief, going the final four innings and allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two.

WARRIOR OF THE GAME
Brianna Paltan – Paltan singled in a run and scored another during the first inning, and took one for the team in the third when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCE
Lindsay Ball – Ball delivered a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning that was followed by a pair of RBI-singles and sparked the Warriors seven-run, two-inning rally.

Jess Gaeta –Gaeta lined a two-run single to center field with two outs in the fifth inning to give the Warriors two more insurance runs and cap the rally.

Tina Scolaro – The leadoff hitter singled twice, stole a base and score two runs. The only time she was retired Monday was on a line drive up the middle that was snagged by the pitcher.

THEY SAID IT
“I’ve been going to the batting cages a lot, I got a new bat and I’m looking into a hitting coach. I really want to be a lot better with my bat and be one of the top hitters.”
– Brooke Nitti, who is a key glove at third base for the Warriors during the varsity season, on the work she’s been doing on her offense. Nitti, who will be a junior next spring, has looked a lot better with the stick during the Elite League season after collecting just three hits in her rookie season on varsity. She went 2-for-3 with a run scored Monday, with a well-hit drive to left field her only out.

UP NEXT
Bernards – The Warriors play host to the Mountaineers at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at WHRHS