Stevens softball loses two to end season
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
The J.P. Stevens High School softball team ended its season last week with a pair of hard-to-swallow defeats.

The Hawks were bounced from the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV Tournament with a 1-0 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in the semifinals. The No. 7 Hawks advanced to the semis after a 10-0 hammering of No. 2 Union.

Stevens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and built its lead to six runs after three innings. Kim Shjarback led the way offensively with a 4-5 performance with a pair of RBIs and two runs. Teammates Caroline Vitale and Tori Ferrante both finished with three hits. Freshman sensation Alexa Garrison tossed a no-hitter to record the win. Garrison walked just one batter and fanned four.

"The entire team hit the ball that day, and that was the story," Stevens head coach ChristineNixon said. "Wewere able to score early and we kept the pressure on Union."

The win pitted the Hawks against No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan. Garrison pitched another gem, allowing just one run on eight hits. She walked just three and struck out nine.

"Alexa has had an excellent season," Nixon said. "She posted an 11-5 record in just her first year on varsity against some really good competition. She has an amazing future ahead of her."

Stevens' Danielle Martin led the team offensively with a pair of hits.

The other loss the Hawks suffered last week was a 4-3 defeat at the hands of JFK. Behind the stellar pitching and power hitting of Heather Corica, Kennedy eliminated Stevens in the quarterfinal round of the GMC Tournament.

"We were down 4-0 but were able to put some hits together against Corica in the sixth inning," Nixon said. "Leigha Ferrante

came through with a big two-RBI single."

The Hawks scored all of its runs in the sixth, but it was not enough to upset Corica and the Mustangs. Leigha Ferrante and Katrina Howard led the Hawks with two hits apiece in the loss.

The end of the 2008 season marked the end of the playing careers at Stevens for seniors Leigha Ferrante, Shjarback, and Vitale.

"We lose the entire left side of the field," Nixon said. "They will definitely be missed, but we do have some talent returning."

In addition to freshman hurler Garrison, Stevens is expected to return freshman catcher Martin and second baseman Howard. Howard led the team this season with a .376 batting average.

"Last week's losses were disappointing," Nixon said. "However, we lost to two good teams and have a lot to be proud of."