Lombardi, DeLuca give RBC solid foundation
Veteran battery keeps Caseys among Shore’s top teams
Having inherited a Red Bank Catholic High School softball team that looks substantially different from last season’s 16-5 squad, first-year coach Frank Edgerly has guided the Caseys to a 6-2 record thus far.
"Last year’s team was senior-heavy and we have five first-year starters," said Edgerly. "Fortunately we have a pitcher and catcher who were a big part of last season’s club."
The pitcher is ace Kim Lombardi who has done nothing less than toss two perfect games this season, the most recent of which was a 5-0 masterpiece on Monday against Freehold Borough.
JERRY WOLKOWITZ
Pam DeLuca of Red Bank Catholic gets her hand on the plate before Middletown South High School catcher Jill Green applies the tag in a game between the Caseys and Eagles last week.
She’s heading for Monmouth Univer-sity in West Long Branch on a softball scholarship, noted Edgerly of Lombardi, who has a career ERA of 0.57 and an average of 11 strikeouts per game. Lombardi had 14 whiffs against Freehold, but her most dazzling outing was against Holmdel, a game that saw her fan an amazing 17 of 18 hitters. Receiving her bullets is catcher Pam DeLuca, another four-year starter. DeLuca led the Shore Conference in home runs last spring and with 10 career circuit clouts (she has one for the season so far) she is two away from breaking the school record. She’s another scholarship recipient, heading to St. Peter’s College, Jersey City. As for the infield, junior Lauren Jensen, a three-year veteran, is at first base, along side Megan Dugan, a second-year transfer student from Middletown South. One of the more talented Caseys is freshman shortstop Erin Cusmano, who also is an excellent pitcher. "She’s a real athlete," said Edgerly. "Erin was also a reserve for our girls’ basketball team that won the Tournament of Champions." Two senior third sackers split the hot corner duty. Jasmine Pillari is back from an injury that sidelined her for most of last year, while senior Bridget Clark starts in alternate games. "They’re both excellent role players," said their coach. "Very unselfish." One of the Caseys’ pleasant surprises is the emergence of first-year starter Jen Pytlik, a senior rightfielder. The leadoff batter, she leads the club in hitting with a .485 mark and, according to Edgerly, "plays with great confidence; I can’t say enough good things about her." Freshman Lindsay Shields is in center ("as fundamentally sound as anyone we have," Edgerly said of her), while sophomore Lauren Kershnar plays left field. "You’d be very hard-pressed to find someone faster," Edgerly pointed out. "She’s a constant threat." Edgerly, who is assisted by longtime Shore Regional Coach Joe Nappo, led RBC (weather permitting) against Monmouth Wednesday and Thursday. Today brings a game with Point Pleasant Borough, followed by today’s scheduled match with Rumson. "Our No. 1 goal with this young team is to get progressively better," Edgerly said. "We want to be playing our best softball of the year when tournament time rolls around." |
