Shore girls just refuse to let their season wrap up
By chris kelly
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY Shore Regional’s Robyn Apicelli stretches to complete a putout at first base during the Blue Devils’ 7-0 win over South Hunterdon on Tuesday in West Long Branch.

Every postseason there seems to be that one team that refuses to let its season come to an end. This year that team is the Shore Regional softball squad.

With a new pitcher at the helm, Nancy Williams’ charges have surprised team after team, recently beating South Hunterdon, 7-0, in a Central Jersey Group I semifinal matchup.

Rookie right-handed hurler Michele Polizois stunned the visiting Eagles over seven innings, facing 28 batters, scattering five hits, walking three and striking out three.

"Polizois has improved a lot since the beginning of the season," said Williams. "She’s becoming more of a pitcher with each game."

Polizois only gave up a single in the second, fifth and sixth innings, while giving up two solo base hits in the fourth.

After getting into a little trouble in the second inning, she ended with a 2-2 rising pitch to catch Kris Morgan looking at a third strike.

It wasn’t just Polizois who shut out South Hunterdon as Shore’s defense was also up to the task.

In the second and sixth innings, the Eagles made some noise, getting runners to third base; however, Lisa Wim was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice play in the second inning.

Wim would later be stranded a short distance from the plate in the sixth after reaching first on a walk, then advancing on a fielder’s choice play and a single. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Wim was stranded on a flyout to center field, a putout to first thrown by Shore’s right fielder, and Polizois catching a low line drive.

On the other side of the tape, the home team produced seven runs on as many hits. Robyn Apicelli and Lauren Hennessey led the way with two hits, while Missy Somers, Plesnarski and Corradino each earned a single.

The Blue Devils stunned their guests early on, putting three of their first four batters into the base paths on bunts.

Hennessey led off the inning easily, beating the throw to first and eventually advancing from second to third on a wild pitch.

The speedy shortstop didn’t wait long to score the winning run, stealing the plate on a passed ball thrown to Lauren Koenig. In the second inning, Corradino mirrored her infield teammate, stealing home herself on a wild pitch.

Earning RBIs for the win were Apicelli (two), Plesnarski, Hennessey and Koenig.

The win improved Shore to a 13-6 slate and keeps them alive in the tournament, where they are set to face top-seeded Middlesex (21-1) later today at Hightstown. The Blue Jays have been the Greater Middlesex Conference’s top team all season and have breezed their way to the sectional final. A loss to Shore Regional would certainly come as a surprise to Middlesex at this point, but that will not keep the Blue Devils from trying to extend their season one more time.