LINDEN, NJ – In their previous four trips to the Union County Tournament semifinals, the No. 1 ranked Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity softball team has been on the wrong end of the game. But not on Saturday.
The Crusaders overwhelmed No. 5 Westfield High School with a dominant offense Saturday afternoon in Linden, advancing to the UCT finals on a 12-1 win.
“It’s awesome,” senior Crusader Stephanie Visconti said. “Me and Gabby [Zatko] have been working four years for this moment, Gianna three [years], Shannon Brogan three [years], so it’s really a good feeling just to get there.”
Westfield struck early with an RBI single from freshman Erica Lawrence.
A bloop RBI single with two outs from sophomore Nicole Cassano helped Johnson tie it up.
It was in the bottom of the second inning, though, when the Johnson Crusaders broke the game open at the plate.
Sophomore Mackenzie Purcell led off with a double, and sophomore Jennifer Tinger hit an infield single. The momentum changed with a misplay in the infield. Junior Shannon Brogan reached on an error, and the bats kept heating up.
