By Warren Rappleyea
Although Old Bridge High School’s softball team went just 6-18 this spring, the Lady Knights featured a young lineup that should improve with time.
The team got off to a 1-5 start and it proved a tough hole to dig out of. Nevertheless, Old Bridge scored victories over Marlboro High School (15-9), Metuchen High School (12-9) and Piscataway Township High School (13-10) along the way. Eight of the losses were by two or fewer runs. As a team, the Lady Knights batted .270 and scored 94 runs or about four per game.
There are plenty of reasons why those numbers should improve. Third baseman Meaghan Dowdell is coming off a .333 campaign that saw her lead the team with 23 hits. The junior also scored 14 runs and drove in 11 runs.
Catcher Jessica Ahearn has a strong sophomore season, batting .318 with two home runs, six doubles and a team-leading 23 RBIs. Freshman shortstop Jessica Gaughan made a fast adjustment to varsity play and ended the season with 19 hits, 14 runs scored and 11 RBIs. Her .365 average was the best on the team, and she also banged out seven doubles and drew 13 bases on balls to top the Knights in both of those categories.
Center fielder Nicole Cashman provided strong defense and also managed to bat .305 and score nine times. Nia Carrasco, who played second base, hit .274 but drew 12 free passes and also scored nine times. Outfielder Vanessa Driskill hit .267 and scored nine runs. Junior outfielder Marisa Afonso and sophomore infielder Bri Loughlin will also be back.
“Offensively I think our girls are going to do even more next year,” coach Mike Bilello said. “They had some success this season, and they know what it takes. This is still a young team and they are going to improve.”
On the mound, the Lady Knights will lose Miranda Wade and Alexandra Grubiak to graduation, but Dowdell could step up. This spring, she went 4-6 in 57 innings of work with 59 strikeouts to her credit.
“I think our girls proved they can pretty much play with anyone, and now we want to translate that into wins,” the coach said.
