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Bound Brook finals bound
Central Jersey champions end Pennsville’s season, title dream in Group 1 semifinals, keeps own hopes alive
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS Bound Brook 7, Pennsville 2 Dayton 1, Indian Hills 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Two teams looking to make some program history played for their first trip to the state championship game in in generations Monday and the one that came the farthest both literally and logistically came out on top.
Bound Brook, the Central Jersey champions that had come 100 miles down the turnpike for a chance to reach their first state final since 1997, scored four runs in the eighth inning after Pennville tied the game in the seventh, to win the state semifinal 7-3. The Crusaders (16-12) will play Dayton (18-12) for the Group 1 state softball title 11 a.m. Friday at Ivy Hill Park.
“My pitcher (Isabella Marusiak) got injured in the middle of the season and she was out for a few weeks so then we’re thinking we’re never going to get there,” Bound Brook coach Shannon DeLuca said, “but she came back stronger than ever and she literally leads us here.”
The Eagles (18-8) were looking to return to the state finals for the first time since they won it all in 2008 and they gave themselves a chance rallying from two runs down in the last inning to keep those hopes alive.
They were down to their last strike in the seventh inning when the heart of their order tied the game and forced extra innings. Avery Watson doubled home Kylie Harris to make it 3-2 and Kenzie Widener doubled home Watson to the tie game.
Up until that point the Eagles struggled to deliver with runners in scoring position. They collected 12 hits and threatened in virtually every inning, getting a runner to second with one out six times, but each time Marusiak rose to the challenge and got out of the jam. They left six runners in scoring position over the first six innings, eight in the game and 10 total, including bases loaded (with one out) in the fourth.
“We couldn’t get that hit,” Pennsville coach Beth Jackson said. “We made contact. A couple hits here and there, maybe hold them, it might be a different story.”
Marusiak said he doesn’t change anything in her approach when teams put runners in scoring position. She just rises to the occasion.
“She’s a fighter,” DeLuca said. “It doesn’t matter who’s at the plate, she’s gonna battle. She goes right at them.”
“I enjoy playing under the pressure,” Merusiak said. “I think the pressure adds so much excitement and I just own it and play my game.”
The Crusaders are now 9-2 and have won seven in a row since Marusiak returned from a back issue in mid-May.
“She pitched an amazing game, she kept us on our toes all game – they all did,” Eagles catcher Kylie Harris said. “They had a great defense and they did what they were supposed to do, so we all just have to tip our hats.”
Pennsville’s game-tying rally didn’t deter the Crusaders in the least. They’ve been in this situation before. They won the Central Jersey title by by answering in the eighth and tenth innings after Florence took the lead in the top of each inning.
They reached Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber for five hits in the eighth, seeing her for the fourth time in the game. The first batters of the inning delivered singles, Ava Dedousis singled home the go-ahead run, Lily Caprara followed with an RBI single and Brianna Gurczeski broke it open with a two-run single.
“That was a mood killer,” Harris said, “but I think they were just making contact. Graillyn can only pitch so many innings without them knowing what she throws and that’s not on her. They did a great job adjusting to what she was throwing and did what they were supposed to do.”
The Eagles tried not to go quietly. Taylor Bass opened their eighth by reaching second when the Crusaders threw away her infield single. But as had been the case all game, she was left there.
“The girls have nothing to hang their heads about; I’m proud of them,” Jackson said. “It’s been 18 years since we won South Jersey. It’s going to hurt now, be upsetting – they had high hopes and they were so close – but in the overall scheme of things they should be very proud of themselves, because I am.”
Pennsville pitcher Graillyn Weber runs Bound Brook’s Lili Caprara back to the bag during a fourth-inning rundown between third and home.
Pennsville centerfielder Lily Edwards reaches up to show the umpires the ball after making a run-saving catch on a sinking liner to end the fourth inning. Top photo: Shortstop Avery Watson prepares to relay a throw home to nail Bound Brook’s Isabella Marusiak (11). (All photos by Michelle Pedrick)
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