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Varsity softball team is five for five
(by Kathryn A. Burger - July 08, 2008)
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Staff Photo By Kathryn A. Burger
The Park Ridge High School Lady Owls Girls Varsity Softball Team took its fifth consecutive Bergen County Scholastic League Olympic Division Championship this spring, posting a 14-2 league record and going 24-5 overall for the season. The team and coaches were honored at a recent board of education meeting. Pictured from left, front row are Coach Cindy Turner; Dana Carroll, Michelle Turner, Rachael Losco, Kristen Menniti, Nicole Kalafut, and Sammy Sacco. Back row from left Nolyn Birch, Jamie Kalafut, Cailyn Lavender, Gabby Katz, Jacyln Masterson, Hillary Cwirko, Lauren Lucanie, Kelsey Wimmershoff, and Coach Al Taliaferro. Not pictured is Head Coach Frank Baldino.
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The Park Ridge Girls Varsity Softball Team won on the Bergen County Scholastic League Championship for the fifth consecutive year, fighting back after two losses early in the season.
During a recent board of education meeting, where the team and coaches were honored, Chris Brown, the district’s athletic director, provided a recap of the team’s season. “Coming off of four consecutive BCSL Championships, many wondered if this group would continue the successful trend. ‘Drive for Five’ was a slogan that easily could have been used, but after two quick losses early in the season, the team had to dig deep and turn it into a ‘A Matter of Pride.’”
They went on to defeat the two league teams they had lost to early in the season. “The girls rallied to avenge their earlier losses to Cresskill and New Milford. After trailing New Milford 3-0 in the first inning the team came back to win the game and clinch the BCSL Olympic Championship, going 14-2.”
Brown said the state tournament, where the team was in the final four, was another chance for the girls to shine and they did. “The highlights continued to come: one-run victories over Emerson (in 8 innings), Waldwick (in 9 innings), and a colossal battle against Saddle Brook placed the Lady Owls in the State Sectional Finals against Pompton Lakes.”
Even though the girls lost to Pompton Lakes, the team posted a 24-5 overall record.
Can the string of championships continue next year? Brown said, “The future looks bright as the Owls lose only one senior from this year’s team.”
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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