Softball scorching hot into playoffs

In her seventh season at the helm as head softball coach at Highland Park High School, Lori Szentgyiorgi stated that this season so far is "our best."

This year's squad did not lose any starters from a year ago, the coach said. "We're starting a couple of levels higher than (had we) lost some players . . . . We’re working more on situations, different defensive plays and different styles of batting," she added.

The Owls come into the Greater Middlesex Conference and Central Jersey Group 1 state tournaments with a 13-5 record and plenty of momentum. Highland Park advanced to the state tournament quarterfinals with a ten-run victory over Perth Amboy Tech on the 19th. Their opening GMC round, versus New Brunswick High School, played after press time.

Leading the Owls to a steady diet of wins is sophomore hurler Alyssa Schwartz, who brings a 10-5 record into the postseason.

 

"When she was a freshman, I never thought she would get there so fast in terms of her solid play," said Szentgyiorgi. "I'm proud of her and the way she has been pushing herself," and senior Samantha Mundy has logged a 3-0 record this year on the mound while also playing at third base. At the plate, first baseman Jasmin Robertson leads the team with 4 homers and in batting with a .526 average; catcher Dahlia Moyal is hitting .500 and leads the team in runs batted in with 32. "Dahlia is a strong leader on the field, a solid hitter and has been a clutch hitter for us," said the coach.

Senior Sacha Lugo has filled in well in both the infield and outfield for Highland Park. Senior Jessica Avila is a new addition to the team and has been supporting her teammates strongly. Szentgyiorgi says the team also benefits from the leadership of senior outfielder Julie Romero. "Julie knows what to say when she needs to at the right time," said Szentgyiorgi.

Right fielder Stefanie Perez, a junior, is "a great bunter and not afraid to try new things," said the coach. Junior centerfielder Lexi Schickner is a defensive stalwart: "best center fielder in the Gold Division . . . great speed, a good eye for the ball and makes all the right decisions," said the coach.

A quintet of talented sophomores on the team include shortstop Vikki Valenta, with a "strong arm, very smart and is a quick-decision maker. She can only get better the next two years"; second baseman Kaitlin Kovalchik (a "born second baseman, I see great things with her"); left fielder Kristen Galayda, who "has improved a lot and has come along in recognizing her talents" as the season goes along; and utility infielder Tali Petkov, a three-season varsity athlete who "hadn't played softball in a while, but I'm impressed with how well and how quickly she is learning about the game."

 

Sara Bortolon is the team's pinch runner and has good speed on the bases. Freshman players who have also seen time this year off the bench include Davanna McCarthy at first base, and in the outfield Maggie Olarra and Emily Yang.