Brett Carroll
Staff Writer
Allentown High School will turn to its defense to help rebound from the loss of its ace pitcher.
During the offseason, Heather Devine, the expected No. 1 starter on the mound, was lost to an ACL injury.
Allentown coach Kim Maurer is confident that the team’s defense will be the key to the team’s success.
“We got to play good defense behind our pitchers,” Maurer said. “That’s the key right there. Especially down a pitcher, we got to play great defense and make our other pitcher’s jobs easier. If we do that, then we will be fine.”
Allentown posted an 11-11 record and qualified for the Central Jersey, Group 3 state sectional tournament a season ago.
Maurer revealed her expectations.
“I want to win the division again this year and win a playoff game,” Maurer said. “I’ve been here for five years, and we’ve never won a playoff game, so that’s the mission this year. We can do it. We have the talent. So, that’s the expectations this year.”
Besides the injury to her ace pitcher, Maurer still likes her pitching staff that will now be headed by senior Dara Ziobro.
Maurer is also expecting big years from senior catcher Madison Storey, junior center fielder Grace Dawson and junior outfielder Alyssa Notarianni.
“Speaking of defense, Storey will be huge for us this year,” Maurer said. “Dawson and Notarianni in the outfield will also be big for us. And obviously, Ziobro, our pitcher, will have to be big for us, along with the rest of the pitching staff too. So, we have a bunch of talent still like I said earlier. I’m excited to see what we accomplish this year.”
The Redbirds were scheduled to start their season on April 2 at home against West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South at 10 a.m.
