Ewing blanks Burlington Twp. to reach semis
EWING >> It’s a game you could pretty much pencil in as soon as the Central Jersey Group III softball bracket was published.
On Thursday afternoon it’s going to be a collision of Ewing (21-6) at Northern Burlington (20-3) in a game in which a very good team is going to see its state tourney hopes come to an end.
Ewing did its part Tuesday afternoon by cruising past Burlington Township, 5-0, behind a big day by senior Danielle Rinaldi.
Pitching-wise, Rinaldi completely shut down Burlington Township (13-8) with a dominating two-hitter and 10 strikeouts. No Falcon was able to drive the ball against Rinaldi with the two hits coming on a bloop to center and a bleeder in front of the plate.
Rinaldi also tore it pup at the plate with a 3-for3. The third hit was the 100th of her career as Rinaldi became the 18th Blue Devil player to reach the century mark.
“I had been pressing,” replied Rinaldi when asked about reaching 100 hits. “I just wanted to go out there and get good at bats.”
Rinaldi’s first hit — a single to center — resulted in her scoring in the first inning on a single to right by Julianna Nisen. Ewing added a second run in the first on an RBI fielders’ choice by Deanna Hedrick.
Burlington Township freshman pitcher Bailey Enoch got through the next two innings without much of a problem, but Ewing then put the game away with three more in the third.
Hedrick started this inning with a single and Lauren Christensen then walked. Burlington Township got one out on a force at the plate, but on the play the throw to first was wild, allowing Bryanna Vaughn to race home from second.
No. 9 batter Kourtney Schneider followed with a sac fly behind first base and Rinaldi drove the final run of the inning home with a single. Enoch finished with three strikeouts and only gave up six hits, but with the way Rinaldi was pitching she couldn’t afford to give up anything.
All it all it was a solid effort by Ewing, which has six players with 30 or more hits and played errorless ball against Burlington Township.
“Absolutely, definitely,” said Township coach Nicolette Cannizzaro when asked if she thinks her program made progress this year. “We only have three seniors. We want to expose these girls to as much tough competition as we can so we can get better.”
That’s for next year. For Ewing, the future is Thursday.
“We scrimmaged Northern Burlington during the pre-season,” said Ewing coach Dan Bernoski. “We know it’s going to be a tough game.”