Spring Sports: Batting Leads the Way for SPF Softball

Sparked by returning players Olivia Brokaw, Liz Gallo, Aysia Peterson, Kelly Lapham, Amanda Schroeder and Courtney Zyla, the softball team is looking to ignite its offense this season.

“We want to improve our hitting,” head coach Jess Hulnik said.  “We’re concentrating on our strategies when at the plate, especially contact…. When you put the ball in play it can become an adventure. We’re working on making contact more.”

Zyla, a senior who is listed as a catcher and third baseman, batted .320 last year. Brokaw, a senior and solid fielder, is back at shortstop. Gallo, a junior, is back in the outfield, while Peterson, a senior, returns at first base. Lapham, a sophomore, is listed as a second baseman and outfielder, and Schroeder, also a sophomore, is listed as a catcher and outfielder. 

The Union County Conference’s Watchung Division will likely prove much tougher this season, given the arrival of last year’s co-Mountain Division champions Cranford and Gov. Livingston. Cranford won the Union County Tournament last year, and Gov. Livingston won Central Jersey, Group 2.

“It we want to get better we have to play better teams and we certainly will be doing that this year,” Hulnik said. “We’re not going to go out and get 20 runs on these teams.

“We’ll work hard and do our best and I think it will be a lot of fun.”

2011 SCHEDULE:
April 1 Gov. Livingston, 4 p.m. – Cancelled due to inclement weather
April 2 at North Hunterdon, 11 a.m.
April 5 Elizabeth, 4 p.m.
April 7 at Union, 4 p.m.
April 8 at Linden, 4 p.m.
April 11 at Bridgewater-Raritan, 4 p.m.
April 12 Cranford, 4 p.m.
April 14 Brearley, 4 p.m.
April 16 Villa Walsh Tournament
April 19 Westfield, 4 p.m.
April 20 Wallkill Valley, 4 p.m.
April 21 at Gov. Livingston, 7 p.m.
April 23 Linden Classic, 2 p.m.
April 23 Linden Classic, 4 p.m.
April 26 Union, 4 p.m.
April 28 Linden, 4 p.m.
April 29 South Plainfield, 4 p.m.
April 30 at Cranford, 10 a.m.
May 2 Roselle Park, 4 p.m.
May 3 at Elizabeth, 4 p.m.
May 5 at Union Catholic, 4 p.m.
May 10 at Westfield, 4 p.m.
May 17 Johnson, 4 p.m.
May 18 at Boonton, 4 p.m.
Raiders in Union County Conference’s Watchung Division 

UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE
SOFTBALL FOR 2011

WATCHUNG DIVISION (7 schools): Cranford, Elizabeth, Gov. Livingston, Linden, Scotch Plains, Union, Westfield.
Defending champion: Union

MOUNTAIN DIVISION (8 schools): Brearley, Johnson, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle Catholic, Summit, Union Catholic.
Defending champions: Cranford, Gov. Livingston 

VALLEY DIVISION (8 schools): Benedictine, Dayton, Hillside, Kent Place, Oak Knoll, Roselle Catholic, Roselle, St. Mary's, Elizabeth.
Defending champion: Roselle Park 

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD RAIDERS
SOFTBALL 2011

PITCHERS:
Amanda Raphael, sophomore right hander
Dana DeCarlo, sophomore right hander
Erin Weber, freshman right hander
Amanda Marcus, freshman right hander 

CATCHERS:
Courtney Zyla, senior
Amanda Schroeder, sophomore
Arielle Zaro, freshman

FIRST BASE:
Aysia Peterson, senior
Kelly Lapham, sophomore 

SECOND BASE:
Multiple candidates

THIRD BASE:
Courtney Zyla, senior
Kelly Yutz, senior 

SHORTSTOP:
Olivia Brokaw, senior

OUTFIELDERS:
Liz Gallo, junior
Sharon Yutz, senior
Amanda Schroeder, sophomore
Arielle Zaro, freshman
Kelly Lapham, sophomore
Jackie Friedman, junior
Sarah Ailleen, junior
Ali Zurant, junior