CLARK, NJ – The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity softball team struggled in the early stages of their game Friday afternoon against Immaculata High School (Somerville) Spartans. They trailed 6-1 after five and a half innings, with everything going wrong. They gave up three runs in the top of the fifth inning and it looked like they were heading for a tough loss.
All of that changed with a massive spark, as the Crusaders scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take home a come-from-behind 9-6 win.
Johnson junior Nicole Pecoraro got the start. Despite allowing early runs, she limited damage when it looked like the game would get out of control. After the Spartans got an RBI single from freshman Kathryn Nee in the top of the second inning, they loaded the bases, but Pecoraro got the final out to keep it 2-0.
“Definitely keeping my composure on the mound [was important when we were trailing],” Pecoraro said. “[I knew] my defense was going to get it and pick each other up. Staying positive is key to winning a good game.”
Junior Hannah Brogan got Johnson on the board with an RBI triple, scoring junior Jenna Addie to make it a 2-1 Immaculata lead. The Spartans responded scoring three runs, all with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, the big blow coming off the bat of senior Fran Tarroca with a two-run double, as the game became 5-1. She stole home in the top of the sixth inning, the lead now 6-1.
“We didn’t have the focus from the get-go [earlier in the game],” Johnson head coach Chris Di Nucci said. “It’s from top to bottom. I wasn’t great today, I’ve got to be better and that trickles down from the head coach all the way down. You want to come out with a little more energy [early on].”
As Johnson came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, everything began to change. Senior Nicole Cassano smoked the first pitch she saw for a leadoff double. Junior Victoria Zatko followed it with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Sophomore Megan Tinger walked to load the bases.
Brogan hustled out a tough groundball for an infield single, scoring Cassano to trim Immaculata’s lead to 6-2. It was junior Bailey Rosenmeier who came up, looking to keep the rally going, that provided the big blow with one swing.
She smoked a pitch deep to left-center field, clearing the bases to cut Immaculata’s lead down to 6-5 and suddenly, she represented the tying run in scoring position. Rosenmeier, who missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury, knew the chance to set the tone was now-or-never as she connected for the game-changing hit.
Full Coverage of Johnson Varsity Softball’s Comeback Win Over Immaculata HS Here
