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WATCHUNG – Offense was one part of the Watchung Hills softball team that wouldn’t be considered a strength. Because of it, a matchup with Columbia ace Claire Shupe brought some concern before Friday’s NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 final.
Would the top seed Warriors be able to hit Shupe and repeat as section champs?
Yes they would, though, it took a little longer than everyone expected.
More: Bobrowski tosses second straight no-hitter as Watchung Hills ousts Bridgewater-Raritan
More: Stellar defense helps Bound Brook capture first softball sectional title since 1999
A one-hour weather delay after a scoreless Columbia first inning and a groundout in the Watchung Hills frame left everyone pulling for a resumption.
When the game resumed, the Warriors quickly answered the question of their hitting.
Freshman right fielder Leila Romero doubled on the first pitch Shupe threw and, after a groundout, Madison DiSarno delivered a two-out RBI single and the defending state Group 4 champs led 1-0 on the way to a 6-1 win over No. 2-seeded Columbia.
The Warriors (22-6) will host North 1 Group 4 champion Morris Knolls in Tuesday’s Group 4 semifinal.
Romero and junior pitcher Riley Bobrowski had quite the day in the section final.
Romero delivered a two-out, two-run double in the second to make it 4-0. Kelly Shikar’s RBI-single made it 2-0 earlier in the inning against Columbia (20-7).
Bobrowski didn’t throw a no-hitter like she did in her two previous starts. But she threw a three-hit, 15-strikeout complete game win.
“I’ve honestly run out of things to say about (Riley),” said Warriors coach Brian Figueiredo. “She’s done an incredible job for us these past two years and just continues to give us an opportunity to win every game we play. If we put up early runs, and she’s on her game, it makes it difficult psychologically on the opponent to think they have to get multiple runs to beat us. Just very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach her and Mia (Simon).”
Romero simply set the table.
“Romero has been outstanding all year for us,” Figueiredo said. “She’s done it from start to finish and she continued that today. Her ball after the break was huge because it put a runner in scoring position right off the bat and we were able to cash it in. Big-time season and big-time game from her today.”
The delay wasn’t such a big issue, the coach said.
“I thought it was early enough in the game that the flow really wasn’t established yet,” Figueiredo said. “I think it would’ve been a bigger factor if it happened in the middle innings once the game had its rhythm. They gave both teams time to warm up before we started, so I didn’t think it was too much of a factor.”
Now, the Warriors prepare for Morris Knolls. Knolls beat Watchung Hills 1-0 on April 23.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball: Watchung Hills repeats as North 2 Group 4 champions
Continue reading...
Would the top seed Warriors be able to hit Shupe and repeat as section champs?
Yes they would, though, it took a little longer than everyone expected.
More: Bobrowski tosses second straight no-hitter as Watchung Hills ousts Bridgewater-Raritan
More: Stellar defense helps Bound Brook capture first softball sectional title since 1999
A one-hour weather delay after a scoreless Columbia first inning and a groundout in the Watchung Hills frame left everyone pulling for a resumption.
When the game resumed, the Warriors quickly answered the question of their hitting.
Freshman right fielder Leila Romero doubled on the first pitch Shupe threw and, after a groundout, Madison DiSarno delivered a two-out RBI single and the defending state Group 4 champs led 1-0 on the way to a 6-1 win over No. 2-seeded Columbia.
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The Warriors (22-6) will host North 1 Group 4 champion Morris Knolls in Tuesday’s Group 4 semifinal.
Romero and junior pitcher Riley Bobrowski had quite the day in the section final.
Romero delivered a two-out, two-run double in the second to make it 4-0. Kelly Shikar’s RBI-single made it 2-0 earlier in the inning against Columbia (20-7).
Bobrowski didn’t throw a no-hitter like she did in her two previous starts. But she threw a three-hit, 15-strikeout complete game win.
“I’ve honestly run out of things to say about (Riley),” said Warriors coach Brian Figueiredo. “She’s done an incredible job for us these past two years and just continues to give us an opportunity to win every game we play. If we put up early runs, and she’s on her game, it makes it difficult psychologically on the opponent to think they have to get multiple runs to beat us. Just very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach her and Mia (Simon).”
Romero simply set the table.
“Romero has been outstanding all year for us,” Figueiredo said. “She’s done it from start to finish and she continued that today. Her ball after the break was huge because it put a runner in scoring position right off the bat and we were able to cash it in. Big-time season and big-time game from her today.”
The delay wasn’t such a big issue, the coach said.
“I thought it was early enough in the game that the flow really wasn’t established yet,” Figueiredo said. “I think it would’ve been a bigger factor if it happened in the middle innings once the game had its rhythm. They gave both teams time to warm up before we started, so I didn’t think it was too much of a factor.”
Now, the Warriors prepare for Morris Knolls. Knolls beat Watchung Hills 1-0 on April 23.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball: Watchung Hills repeats as North 2 Group 4 champions
Continue reading...
