Spartans rounding into form as postseason looms

BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer

Coming into the season, the Ocean Township girls softball team fully expected to be among the top teams in the Shore.

And that is exactly what they've been to this point, playing to a 12-5 mark, with all five losses coming to quality teams in close contests.

Now, as the postseason rapidly approaches, the Spartans are looking to round into top form - something they appear to be doing.

"We've really turned it around since the beginning of the season," said head coach Mark Frankel. "We've won seven of eight with the one loss a quality loss to Manalapan. We're playing better now than we have all year."

This young team is led by the only senior in the lineup - center fielder Ashley DeMeter. DeMeter is a four-year varsity player who's not only been hot at the bat but a true leader in the field as well.

"She's doing a great job at second and leading off at bat," said the coach. "She's always shown leadership, and is up to her role as captain."

Frankel also attributes much of the team's recent success to junior pitcher Lauren Pembleton and junior lefty shortstop Nora Bosmans. Pembleton has pitched in every game for the team, while Bosmans, generally considered one of the top all-around players in the Shore, has proved to be the team's top offensive threat once again.

"Pembleton has kept us in every game. Without her we're not 12-5," said Frankel. "And Nora has been our offensive catalyst."

Behind the plate, the team has also seen quality play from upstart freshman Lauren Ernst. Ernst had some big cleats to fill this season replacing a four-year varsity player but has come through for the team.

"She's picking up both her offense and defense. She came in with a lot of pressure on her, but has done a good job," said Frankel.

With all five of the team's losses coming in close games, Frankel and his team are certain to be a tough out in both the Shore Conference and state tournaments. Frankel feels that if his team can find ways to manufacture some runs, they'll be able to play with anyone in the Shore.

"On any given day, if we can hit, we'll be in any game," said the coach. "If our bats are on, and a couple kids break out, that'll be the key to our success."

Another key to this team's success in the postseason will be its continued ability to play next-to-perfect defense. With all of their losses coming down to a hit or two, the one thing Frankel has been able to rely on is his team's defense.

"We've been playing outstanding D," said the coach. "And with our pitching being consistent since day one, we've just got to manufacture some runs."

Ocean faces off against one of the Greater Middlesex Conference's better teams in South Brunswick today, yet another challenging contest that will help the Spartans prepare for the upcoming postseason.

With the A North division race wrapped up (Manalapan clinched that title), and their berths in both upcoming tournaments secure, the Spartans can now think about chasing down some hardware over the next couple of weeks.

Local softball, baseball teams postseason-bound

The postseason will be a busy one for local softball and baseball teams, as a flurry of squads have assured themselves of spots in both upcoming tournaments.

There is, however, one local softball team that finds itself on the bubble this week, with the cutoff for the state tournament coming on Friday and the SCT cutoff on Monday (teams must be .500 or better at the end of the day to qualify).

The Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs dropped an 11-4 contest to Ocean on Monday to fall to 9-9 on the season, with four more games to go this week.

Yesterday, they hosted a 5-10 St. Rose team, and will host 3-13 Henry Hudson later today. With wins in both of those games, tomorrow's contest at 6-10 Keansburg will not be nearly as important to the Bulldogs, who need to win two out of three to qualify for the state tournament.

The Bulldogs also have a game on Saturday that could have double the importance. With their 18-3 routing of Raritan last Saturday in the Monmouth County Tournament's Blue Division semifinals, the Bulldogs earned a shot at the Blue Division title this Saturday, when they'll take on St. Rose (a 2-1 winner over Manasquan). That game will be held at Wall Township's Rash Field at 6 p.m..

The RBC Caseys are also alive and kicking in the Monmouth County Tournament, having beaten Manalapan, 2-0, on Saturday in the Red Division semifinal, behind freshman Brittany O'Donnell's brilliant one-hit, 16-strikeout performance on the mound. O'Donnell also smacked the game-winning hit in the fifth inning when her single scored Maureen Stevens from first.

RBC will take on top-ranked St. John Vianney (a 6-1 winner over Freehold Borough on Saturday) in the Red Division championship game on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Rash Field.

Among the local softball teams that are assured of berths in both the state and SC tournaments are Red Bank Catholic (14-4), Ocean, Shore Regional (12-4) and Monmouth Regional (13-7).

On the baseball diamond, there are no local bubble teams, as RBC (12-4), Ocean (13-5), Shore (11-7) and Monmouth Regional (12-6) have all secured berths in both tourneys.

Ocean (who plays RBC in a Monmouth County Tournament game tomorrow) and Shore are also in the midst of tight division races, with the Spartans entering the week tied with Freehold Township for the A North public schools lead at 10-4 (Township would get the tie-breaker because of two wins over Ocean), while Shore held a slight one-half game lead over Keansburg in the B Central public schools race entering the week.