THE RECORDS: The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School softball team entered its home game Tuesday against Union High School 0-9 overall and 0-5 in the Watching Division. Union, which defeated Scotch Plains in the teams’ first meeting April 7, was 4-6 overall and 2-2 in the Watchung Division.
THE SCORE: 8-7, Scotch Plains. For the first time in 10 games, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood softball team didn’t allow a deficit to grow too big to overcome. Instead, down 5-2 to Union, the Raiders erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead, and ultimately, the win.
“I talked to the kids about staying out of quicksand,” Scotch Plains head coach Jess Hulnik said. “If something went wrong I didn’t want it to drag us down.”
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The go-ahead run came from the bat of senior right-fielder Sharon Yurtz, the number-eight batter in the order, who hit a two-run single.
“I was just pleased with our at-bats in that inning,” Hulnik said. “That was the key there. We took what was given us.”
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Scotch Plains pitcher Amanda Raphael drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and the Raiders scored another run on a bases-loaded walk to take an 8-5 lead in the sixth.
Union came back with two runs in the top of the seventh and final inning, and had runners on second and third, when Raphael retired the game’s final batter on a ground out to second.
“We definitely made it exciting in the seventh inning,” Hulnik said.
THE HEROES: Sharon Yurtz for her two-run single, and Amanda Raphael, who not only drove-in a run, but pitched a complete game. A sophomore right-hander, Raphael tossed a six-hitter, striking out five and walking five.
“Amanda held up pretty nice,” Hulnik said.
Senior catcher Courtney Zyla, who batted fifth in the lineup, was the only Scotch Plains player with two hits. She went 2-for-3, with two RBI and two runs.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Raiders played a make-up game against Cranford Wednesday at 4 p.m.. They have another division game at home Thursday at 4 p.m. versus Linden, weather permitting.
Scotch Plains is scheduled to host South Plainfield Friday at 4 p.m. and, on Saturday, will host Cranford in division play at 10 a.m.
The Raiders will face Nutley and Bloomfield on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The games, part of the Linden Classic, were rained-out last Saturday.
The 36th annual Union County Tournament will be seeded Sunday night.
