Lakeland’s Jen Stoll, the ace on The Record’s 12th-ranked team in the Preseason Top 25, led the Lancers to an Opening Day win over Passaic Valley with 10 strikeouts.
A look at some of the highlights around North Jersey on Opening Day 2013. Most of this information came from scores called into The Record. It doesn’t include every game we got, but most of them. I’ll try and do this as much as I can throughout the year. Remember, the more calls we get and information coaches provide, the better these can be.
1. DePaul’s Ashley LaGuardia and Lakeland’s Jen Stoll picked up right where they left off last season, each leading their respective teams to Opening Day victories. LaGuardia racked up 14 strikeouts in the Spartans’ 7-3 win over Holy Angels (a game that was tied at 3 in the 5th; Ronnie Vergara homered and drove in two in this one), while Stoll struck out 10 in the Lancers’ 3-1 win over a pretty good Passaic Valley team (Nicole Mahoney drove in two in this one). DePaul and Lakeland are considered the top two teams in Passaic County.
2. West Milford’s Missi Townsend also had a nice Opening Day, striking out 12 in the Highlanders’ 2-0 win over Wayne Valley. Teammates Nicole Hunziker and Mackenzie Porch each provided one RBI in the Highlanders’ two-run third inning.
3. One of the best games of the day came out of Northern Highlands, as No. 6 Ridgewood held off the Highlanders, 4-3, after jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the second. Kelly Skettini and Kelley Ekert did the offensive damage for the Lady Maroons, driving in all four runs. Skettini homered and doubled. Zoe Singer earned the win for Ridgewood, striking out six.
4. Another good game in Ramsey, between River Dell and the Rams. The Golden Hawks prevailed, 4-2, with an RBI each from Cathy Antonelli (also the winning pitcher), Lindsey Clark and Jordyn Rocca.
5. Pitcher’s dual in Dumont between Westwood’s Dana Klarer and Dumont’s Lindsey Gray, as the two teams battled for 10 innings before Westwood pushed a run across in the 10th thanks to E. Romero (sorry, don’t have the first name).
6. Ridgefield’s Alexis Reyes sure had a day in a 17-1 win over Queen of Peace. Reyes went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs — including a three-run shot and grand slam — and finished with 9 RBI. … Old Tappan’s Mary Wiley also had a day, going 3-for-4, including a home run and all five RBI in OT’s 5-3 win over Teaneck. … Saddle Brook’s Alexia Russo homered and drove in three, while also picking up the win with six strikeouts, in SB’s 15-0 win over Becton. … Park Ridge’s Emily Kline drove in five runs and also picked up the win in the circle with nine strikeouts in Park Ridge’s 18-0 win over Palisades Park. … And Immaculate Conception’s Samantha Krakower and Lea Georgatos each homered and drove in four in IC’s 16-3 win over Wood-Ridge.
7. Nice start from Glen Rock, with a 9-5 win over No. 23 Elmwood Park, led by Jessica Bell‘s pair of triples and four RBI. Carly Benjamin and Alexa Aramburu also tripled and combined for 3 RBI.
8. Fair Lawn’s Marissa Spinuzzi struck out 14 in an Opening Day 13-0 win over Wayne Hills. She also drove in two at the plate. I’m keeping an eye on Fair Lawn and Glen Rock in regards to the Top 25. Both seem close to cracking it.
9. Indian Hills’ Devin Durando got the start in the circle for the pitching-heavy Braves and struck out 12 in a 6-1 win over No. 14 Paramus. Madison Levine doubled and drove in three, while Shelby Allen doubled and drove in two. Indian Hills was The Record’s No. 2 ranked team in the Preseason Top 25.
10. Clifton pitcher Amanda Marakovitz struck out 14 in the Mustangs’ 14-1 win over Passaic Tech, and also doubled and drove in three at the plate. Teammate Jen Chupick homered and drove in a pair.
11. Lyndhurst and Manchester exploded for a combed 55 runs on Opening Day in wins over Dwight-Englewood and Mary Help, respectively. Lyndhurst beat Dwight Englwood, 25-0, while Manchester defeated Mary Help, 30-5. Julie Schneidenbach led Lyndhurst in the RBI department, driving in five with a pair of triples, while Manchester’s Sarah Butera and Kathleen Twomey each provided a team-best 5 RBI for Manchester. Jackie Santiago homered and drove in four.
12. Man, how good is IHA? 33 and counting…