Sports
Watchung Hills Drops Finale to Juggernaut Central
Red Devils explode for six first-inning runs to sink Warriors.
The Watchung Hills Regional High School softball team couldn’t quite cap its most successful season in five years in winning fashion, as Hunterdon Central posted a six-run, seven-hit first inning and held the Warriors to just two hits of their own to claim a 9-0 victory Monday at Watchung Hills Regional High School.
IN SHORT
Hunterdon Central, which captured its 24th straight conference championship with Monday’s victory and will be playing for a berth in the state final Tuesday, collected seven first-inning hits – all singles. And while most of those didn’t leave the infield, it put the Warriors in an early hole.
Central ace Courtney Yard, who no-hit Watchung Hills in last week’s NJSIAA North 2 Group IV semifinals, was almost as dominant, allowing just an Ashley McKenna single through the first four innings and striking out seven before giving way to Jessie Dreswick, who finished up with three scoreless frames that included just one hit, one walk and five strikeouts.
Find out what's happening in Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Brianna Paltan reached on an error to start the fifth inning, but was stranded, while Meghan Kovac walked and Jamie Schoenbach singled with one out in the sixth to represent the Warriors’ only other base runners.
Right-hander Grace Hurley wrapped up her four-year varsity career in the circle and deserved better, as she allowed just two earned runs on seven hits and one walk over the final six innings.
Find out what's happening in Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
WARRIOR OF THE GAME
Jamie Schoenbach – The senior center fielder singled in the sixth inning for one of only two Warriors hits, and turned in a great sliding catch in center field to end the fourth inning, stranding a Central runner on second base.
OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
Ashley McKenna – The senior designated hitter singled off Courtney Yard to start the second inning, but couldn’t advance past second base.
Meghan Kovac – The shortstop wrapped up her stellar freshman campaign with a sixth-inning walk, one of only three base runners to reach for Watchung Hills.
THEY SAID IT
“The first inning was rough, but this was not a game that was going to define our season.”
-- Watchung Hills first-year head coach Michael D’Alessandro after his team wrapped up a 14-win season with a stinker against juggernaut Hunterdon Central
UP NEXT – A well-deserved break, as the Warriors closed their very successful 2011 campaign
