Softball excels in second half

Kendall Riggleman, who pitched 33.2 innings this season as a freshman, keeps her eye on the ball ready to swing.

BY JAMIE HAZEL

The 21-6 softball team made it to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament Final round and the semi-finals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Tournament.

Last season, the team suffered a first-round exit from GMC’s. Making it so far this season illustrates the team’s improvement. “We knew that this year was our year to get far, and we did,” explained senior Savannah Martinez, who finished third in hits this season with 30. “Our coaches always reminded us to never be content, want to win, and never dwell on a bad game/loss.”

After finishing the regular season on a six-game winning streak where they outscored their opponents 36-7, the girls started strong in the GMC Tournament with a 10-0 win over Edison, where Zoe Milonopoulos knocked in five runs. The girls followed with a 2-1 victory against Sayreville, where Zoe Milonopoulos hit her seventh homerun of the season and junior Amanda Jupinka added a run. “I feel blessed that I am able to produce for my team and my school,” said Zoe Milonopoulos.

This brought them to the semi-finals, where the girls beat Saint Thomas Aquinas 7-2, piggybacking off their previous win against the talented private school earlier this year. “The highlight of the tournament was beating St. Thomas in the Semis. We were so ready to play and beat them after falling short to them in the finals in 2022,” shared Martinez, who contributed an RBI to help the team get the win, adding to her team leading total of 88 RBI’s.

Sophomore pitcher Gianna Lombardi winds up to throw a strike at the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament where she did not allow a single run.

Senior Ava Accettulli came through on the big stage by knocking in four RBIS and hitting her first homerun of her high school career. “Being able to contribute like that against a team like St Thomas with the pitcher they have felt unbelievable,” explained Accettulli. “All we wanted was to win, and I felt that I had to do my part to get us there, and to hit a home run while doing so felt unreal.”

The girls outscored their opponents 19-3 through the first three rounds of the tournament. “Everyone was hitting the ball from the top of the lineup to the bottom,” said Martinez. “Everyone was confident and made active adjustments.”

Senior Ava Accettulli, who hit a triple and a home run int he GMC Tournament win over St. Thomas Aquinas, covers second base during a steal attempt.

Unfortunately, the bats fell quiet in the GMC Finals when South Plainfield knocked them out. “After the amazing season we had, it was very disappointing because we definitely had it in us to go all the way,” said sophomore pitcher Gianna Lombardi.

In the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Tournament on May 22, the girls beat out-of-conference opponent Manalapan 7-0. “Our defense this season has been incredible,” said Lombardi, who pitched a complete game shut-out. “I knew that if a ball was going to be hit, the play would be made.”

Two days later, the girls defeated Hightstown 7-4 in the second round. Sophomore Danielle Flores went 3 for 3 with one RBI. “The best part of our game against Hightstown was the rally we had in the 5th inning. Everyone’s bats were going and there were contributions from 1-9,” explained Martinez.

Senior Zoe Milonopoulos Swings through one of her 132 career hits.

The girls ended their season with a 8-6 loss against Marlboro, who ended up winning the entire tournament. They said goodbye on a positive note with seniors Dimitria Milonopoulos, Zoe Milonopoulos, Jaylen Campbell, Ava Accetulli, and Emma DiMartini all recording hits and Zoe Milonopoulos hitting her eighth homerun of the season and 19th of her high school career. “Our girls fought hard and well and didn’t give up at any given point during the game,” shared Dimitra Milonopoulos, who led the team in hits(39) and runs-scored(31) this season.

The well-loved seniors get to say goodbye to their high school years knowing they made a difference in reshaping the softball program. These girls took the team from last year’s 11-16 record to this year’s 21-6. The team will go into next year in good shape. Underclassmen Jupinka, Nicolette Ampania, Flores, Kendall Riggleman, and Lombardi have contributed a lot this season and will prepare to bring it in the 2025 season.

Senior Emma DiMartini, who scored 18 runs this season, stands in the box and waits for the pitch.
Senior Ava DiMartini returns to the base after taking her secondary lead.
Junior Gianna Velez gets low to stop the ground ball coming her way.
Senior Savannah Martinez, who contributed 53 career RBIs, runs to first base.