Cougars Swing Big: Montgomery Softball and Baseball Power Past Opponents in Run-Filled Wins
Nicholas Mistretta
MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent
Montgomery High School’s softball and baseball teams both delivered big offensive performances, combining for 30 runs in a pair of victories that gave the Cougars momentum as the spring season moves into its final stretch.
The Montgomery softball team erupted for 19 runs in a 19-5 win over North Plainfield, while the boys varsity baseball team rallied from an early deficit to defeat Gill St. Bernard’s, 11-4.
Softball: Montgomery Breaks Game Open With 13-Run Second Inning
Montgomery softball wasted little time turning a close game into a runaway victory, scoring 13 runs in the second inning on the way to a 19-5 win over North Plainfield.
The Cougars, now 10-8, trailed 2-1 after the first inning before their offense took control. Montgomery scored 13 runs in the second, then added two runs in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to close out the shortened game.
The box score listed Montgomery with 17 hits, while the individual player totals showed 16 hits. Either way, the Cougars produced throughout the lineup and took advantage of seven North Plainfield errors.
Nicolette Shackelford led the offensive surge, going 2-for-5 with two triples, four RBIs and two runs scored. Grace Gandolfo went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Allison McKnight had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
Alex Winer also had a strong game, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three runs scored. Stella Cunha went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Ryane Riddell added two hits, including a double, and scored twice.
Matilda Suh helped her own cause with a hit, an RBI, two walks and two runs scored. She also earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits. Suh walked one, hit one batter and struck out five.
North Plainfield, which fell to 15-7, scored two runs in the first, two in the third and one in the fifth.
Baseball: Cougars Rally Past Gill St. Bernard’s Behind Big Fifth and Sixth Innings
Montgomery baseball also used a late offensive surge to pull away, scoring 10 runs over the fifth and sixth innings in an 11-4 win over Gill St. Bernard’s.
The Cougars, now 9-11, trailed 4-1 after Gill St. Bernard’s scored two runs in the third and two more in the fifth. Montgomery responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead, then added six more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Henry Maddox led Montgomery at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Alex Bender went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases, while Ian Quinn finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
Liam McDonnell added two hits and an RBI, and Patrick Fogarty contributed a hit and an RBI. Mason Neufeld also singled and scored, while Kenta Komatsu, Evan Petronella, Luke Awadalla and Carter Olson each crossed the plate during Montgomery’s offensive push.
On the mound, Jake Hayes went the distance for the Cougars, earning the win with seven innings of work. Hayes allowed four runs on 10 hits, walked none, hit one batter and struck out four.
Gill St. Bernard’s, which dropped to 7-9, was led by Niko West, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Andersen Eide, Jack Markovich and A.J. Kolenski each had two hits.
Montgomery finished with 11 hits and committed just one error. The Cougars also took advantage of three Gill St. Bernard’s errors while completing the comeback.
Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomry.com