BORDENTOWN, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity softball team found themselves trailing early and being for the most part, off-balance at the plate as they took to the road to play at the Bordentown High School Scotties. This was the third consecutive season the two teams faced off, with Johnson winning 4-2 in 2016 and Bordentown winning 13-3 (six innings) last season.
The Crusaders only got their first hit in the top of the third inning, a leadoff double from junior Hannah Brogan, but couldn’t bring her home.
However, as the game shifted to the fourth and fifth innings, everything changed. The Crusaders scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning and tallied five more runs in the fifth inning. They received clutch hits from sophomore Megan Tinger, junior Victoria Zatko and senior Lauren Donah as the third-seeded Crusaders defeated the second-seeded Scotties 7-3 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Semifinals Friday afternoon in Bordentown.
The Johnson Crusaders (19-5) advance to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Sectional Final. They will travel to play at top-seeded Robbinsville HS Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
Johnson senior starting pitcher Nicole Cassano kept Bordentown off the board, before surrendering the first run of the game, an RBI single from Bordentown sophomore starting pitcher Annabella Prispia as the Scotties took a 1-0 lead.
On the mound, Cassano was in control from the start of the game. Although she didn’t record a strikeout in the circle, she kept a hot-hitting Bordentown team to the lone run in the bottom of the third inning and dazzled on the mound. She scattered six hits and only allowed one earned run (three overall) for a hard-fought win.
But as the game moved to the top of the fourth inning, the hits became to come. Senior starting pitcher Nicole Cassano singled to right field and senior Lauren Donah battled through a seven-pitch at-bat, putting runners at first and second with two outs for Johnson and a chance to break through.
Sophomore Megan Tinger swung at the second pitch that came her way to right field, scoring both runners to give Johnson a 2-1 lead, turning around the tone of the game.
Arthur L. Johnson High School sophomore Megan Tinger got her team the lead with a two-run double in the top of the fourth inning. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“I just knew we didn’t want to worry about it further on in the game,” Megan Tinger said. “It would be close as soon as I saw the pitch I just wanted to get someone home to tie it up, but I was happy I [got] us the lead.”
They would continue hitting as the game shifted to the top of the fifth inning, breaking it open for five more runs. Seniors Sydney Tropeano and Jen Tinger both recorded singles and Johnson was suddenly in business, with runners at first and second with one out. Senior Mackenzie Purcell worked a walk on a full count to load the bases.
Cassano hit a groundball, but a mishandle from Bordentown junior Michaela Luyber allowed Tropeano to score, making it 3-1 Johnson. Zatko came up to the plate, looking to rebound after becoming 0-for-2 on the day following a flyout and strikeout. With the count 2-2, she swung at the next pitch, getting over the head of Bordentown’s Haley Cope, scoring Jen Tinger and Purcell to make it a 5-1 lead for Johnson.
Arthur L. Johnson High School junior Victoria Zatko recorded a two-run single in the top of the fifth inning to give Johnson a 5-1 lead. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“I’m just happy that as a team, we can bring home more runs after my hit,” Zatko said. “I started it up and everybody behind me brought me in and kept hitting, just hit after hit after hit. This was a big team win and I’m happy we’re now onto the [sectional] final.”
Donah came up to the plate looking to add to it and she continued the rhythm of the hits and did so, knocking a single, scoring Cassano and Zatko to give Johnson a 7-1 lead. Bordentown removed Pisapia from the game after the five inning and replaced her with junior Annabella Marino.
Arthur L. Johnson High School senior Lauren Donah recorded a two-run single after Zatko did, increasing the Johnson lead to 7-1. Photo Credit: Daniel CollinsThe senior players also had words of praise for their teammates with their effort towards the victory and the way they came through in the two big innings.
“We have had a lot more energy and cheering every moment in the game,” Jen Tinger said. “That definitely helped a little being into it. Everyone contributed today. Nicole pitched amazing and Lauren hit amazing today. Sydney and Mackenzie made outstanding plays in the field.”
“Today, everyone came to play,” Nicole Cassano said. “It was incredible as a pitcher to see my entire team have my back. Every single player brought something to the field and there was no inning that our emotions were not high. The energy was crazy today and that’s what kept us motivated.”
“[The] game was amazing. Knowing that we are going to the sectional final is an amazing feeling,” Mackenzie Purcell said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way this year is ending and I’m so glad that me and the seniors get to experience another sectional final.”
“I was very excited that we were advancing,” Lauren Donah said. “I want my season to last as long as possible and I know the other girls want that too. I’m looking forward to the sectional final. All of us will come out strong looking to win.”
“The entire team came with energy today and was into the game every inning,” Sydney Tropeano said. “Everyone contributed out on the field and at the plate, cheering each other on constantly. This is a great feeling to have and we are ready to come out and do the same thing on Tuesday. I couldn’t be more proud.”
The timely hits and plate discipline shown by the Crusaders appeared to also be giving them a much-needed cushion as the Crusaders’ momentum appeared to be feeding off the energy of an often loud and vivacious dugout.
The Johnson Crusaders (19-5) advance to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Sectional Final. They will travel to play at top-seeded Robbinsville HS Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.“It’s someone different every game. From top to bottom, great efforts from middle of the order, top of the order [and] bottom of the order. From game-to-game, it changes,” Johnson head coach Chris Di Nucci said. “Selfless attitude, great defense behind [Nicole] Cassano, great effort in the circle. Across the board, top to bottom, great effort.”
“It’s a credit to our girls,” he added. “They made adjustments from their first at-bat into their second at-bat. That’s a great Bordentown team, a good pitcher over there and we were able to grind it out, stay in the game while dealing with adversity like we have all year and take care of business, get the win and we’re excited to go to the finals.”
Bordentown scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with two runs coming home on a misplayed pop-up that cut the lead to 7-3 Johnson. Cassano and Johnson worked through it and got the outs to secure the win.
Final Out of Johnson’s 7-3 Win Over Bordentown
“We talk about grinding it out day-in and day-out and on any given day, anybody can win,” Di Nucci said. “We know we have a pretty good team. If we play the way we know to play and we go the effort that we got today, like putting the ball in play, good things can happen. We’ve got to have another good effort on Tuesday.”
