Cougars Roll Across the Board: Baseball, Softball and Girls Lacrosse Open with Statement Wins
Nicholas Mistretta
MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent
Montgomery’s spring sports teams opened the season in impressive fashion, turning in decisive victories in baseball, softball and girls lacrosse to give the Cougars a strong early surge across the board.
Baseball: Montgomery 13, Warren Hills 1
Montgomery baseball wasted little time making a statement, erupting for eight runs over the first two innings on the way to a 13-1 win over Warren Hills in the season opener.
The Cougars (1-0) scored three times in the first and added five more in the second to seize control early. They kept the pressure on with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth, finishing with 13 runs on eight hits while taking advantage of four Warren Hills errors.
On the mound, Jake Hayes delivered a strong season-opening performance, earning the win after allowing just three hits and one run over five innings while striking out seven.
At the plate, Montgomery got contributions throughout the lineup. Alex Bender scored three runs and added two hits, while Kenta Komatsu also scored three times and drove in two runs. Henry Maddox collected two hits and two RBIs, and Michael Englert delivered one of the biggest blows of the day, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a triple. Patrick Fogarty added a hit and a run scored, while the Cougars also showed aggressiveness on the bases with five stolen bases.
Warren Hills managed just three hits in the game and was held scoreless until the fourth inning.
Softball: Montgomery 19, North Plainfield 4
The Montgomery softball team opened its season with a lopsided 19-4 win over North Plainfield, a victory that also marked the 100th career win for head coach Bryan Upshaw.
The Cougars broke the game open immediately, exploding for 12 runs in the first inning and never looking back. Montgomery added two more in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth to cap a dominant offensive showing.
Montgomery finished with 10 hits and drew nine walks, capitalizing on seven North Plainfield errors along the way.
Grace Gandolfo led the offense with a perfect 2-for-2 day and four RBIs, while Allison McKnight went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Isabella Malek drove in three runs, Ryane Riddell added two RBIs, and Nicolette Shackelford scored three times while collecting two hits and two RBIs. Alex Winer and Charlotte Spina also drove in runs as the Cougars received production throughout the lineup.
Riddell earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits and four runs — two earned — over three innings while striking out five. Matilda Suh worked a scoreless inning in relief.
For Montgomery, the season-opening win carried added significance as Upshaw reached the 100-win milestone, giving the Cougars both a commanding victory and a memorable moment to begin the season.
Girls Lacrosse: Montgomery 16, Cinnaminson 11
Montgomery girls lacrosse also opened with a victory, defeating Cinnaminson 16-11 behind a standout offensive performance and a dominant effort in draw controls.
The Cougars (1-0) built momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Cinnaminson 7-2 to take command of the game. Montgomery added three goals in the third and held off a late push in the fourth to secure the win.
Elliana Pizzulli led the way with a huge performance, scoring seven goals while adding six ground balls and nine draw controls. Lexi Lopez was a major playmaker, finishing with one goal and four assists, while Sophia Soron added two goals and five draw controls. Lexi Sambol contributed a goal and an assist, and Carson Benedict and Emma Scrudato also scored.
Montgomery controlled possession for much of the game, finishing with 18 draw controls and 22 ground balls, while also outshooting Cinnaminson 25-22 in shots on goal.
In net, Elizabeth Andes made eight saves and allowed six goals, while Victoria Formica added three saves.
Strong Start Across the Program
Taken together, the three victories reflected an impressive start to the spring season for Montgomery athletics. Baseball combined timely hitting with strong pitching, softball delivered an offensive outburst while celebrating a coaching milestone, and girls lacrosse showed both firepower and control in its opener.
For the Cougars, it was a season-opening stretch that could hardly have gone better.
Hero Photo Credit: Jim McGlynn