By Wayne Witkowski
Jackson Memorial High School’s softball team has shown a knack for the dramatic. It has won its first three games under new coach Haydee Donza, and two have come off rallies in the last inning, while all have been against Shore Conference A South Division opponents.
After opening its season with a 2-0 victory at Toms River High School South, when Jamie Sheeran slapped a two-run single with two out in the last inning, Jackson Memorial unleashed its power hitting to hammer Central Regional High School, 6-0, April 10 and Southern Regional High School, 4-3, on a walk-off home run by Jordyn Calderon in its home opener April 12.
Brick Township High School also comes into the week 3-0 in A South in the early going.
It’s a big turnaround from last year’s Jackson Memorial team that won five games.
“I think we’re going to be able to go far,” said Calderon, a third baseman who is committed to a college career at the University of South Alabama. “We all just want it more than any other year I’ve been here. This is the most drive and desire to me that we’ve ever had. I think with all the new girls meshing well and getting along, we help ourselves in high pressure situations to play as one. Our closeness will move us forward.”
Pitcher Tori Aguilar has been solid on the mound and at the plate, where she has six hits in nine at-bats. She has thrown two shutouts, pitching a three-hitter in the opener and then holding Central Regional to five hits and scattering six Southern Regional hits.
Calderon is off to a 5-for-11 start at the plate.
“I think it’s all going the way I wanted it to go for me [individually],” said Calderon, who had to adjust from playing for the Jersey Intensity travel team. “We all have a different attitude this season, which reflects in our playing.”
Toms River South pitcher Haley Tomaro had held Jackson Memorial hitless until the last inning, when the Jaguars strung four hits and the winning runs. The game had been suspended in the third inning the previous day because of the weather.
In the seventh, Abigail Reist legged out a bunt single and Calderon lashed a single to right. Both runners moved up on a fielder’s choice. Reist was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice that set the scene for Sheeran’s clutch hit.
Aguilar sealed the victory with seven strikeouts and no walks. She struck out five against Southern Regional and helped her own cause with three hits for two RBIs.
Gianna Palmieri, Reist and Calderon each slugged two of Jackson Memorial’s 12 hits. Palmieri drove in a run.
Reist, a sophomore, starts in center field with sophomore Angelina Lopiccolo in left field and senior Sam Herceg in right. Palmieri, a sophomore, starts at second base and Sheeran, a freshman, is the catcher in the infield that includes junior Breanna Sorochka at first base and senior Jill McGuinness at shortstop.
The team plays with nine starters and no extra hitter in the batting order.
Jackson Memorial played Brick Memorial High School April 18 and was home against Toms River High School East April 20 before playing at 10 a.m. April 22 at Toms River High School North.
