Sunday, May 27, 2012

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Stephanie Huang, Paramus' leadoff hitter, came around to score in the first inning and the lead held up an a 1-0 win over Immaculate Conception in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Losing in the state tournament is always disappointing as it often marks the end of a season. Paramus felt that feeling on Friday after suffering a loss at the hands of Jefferson in a North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals. But still alive in the Bergen County Tournament, the Spartans had at least one more game to play. Less then 24 hours lafter the loss to Jefferson, they had to turn around and face a talented Immaculate Conception squad that was looking to make history and end the Spartans’ season in the process.

Second baseman Noel Hodgins made a huge defensive play in the sixth inning and Lauren Feorenzo pitched out of a seventh-inning jam as third-seeded Paramus kept its season alive and advanced to the Bergen County Semifinals with a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over sixth-seeded Immaculate Conception on Saturday at Immaculate Heart Academy.

“We were pretty down after the loss to Jefferson but we battled back and responded, especially Lauren in the circle,” said Paramus head coach Brian Hay. “We haven’t hit the past few games, but we got it done today strictly with pitching and defense. I thought the play Noel (Hodgins) made in the sixth was the play of the game. If she doesn’t make that catch, it would have been tough to keep them from scoring in that situation. But we made the plays we needed to make at the right time.”

IC starter Kelly Hage allowed just two hits in taking the hard luck loss.

Paramus scored its run quickly in the bottom of the first as Stephanie Huang singled, stole second, and came around to score on an error to make it 1-0. The Spartans had a chance to break the game open with runners on second and third with nobody out, but Immaculate Conception starter Kelly Hage wiggled her out way out of trouble with two strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning.

From there it was a showdown between Feorenzo and Hage as both teams only had a runner reach second base only once until the Blue Wolves had an ideal situation when freshman Erin Stacevicz poked a one-out single in top of the sixth to bring power threat Jorrdin Miller to the plate with a chance to get her team back in the game. Miller roped a ball destined for the right-centerfield gap, but Hodgins made a leaping grab, then doubled off Stacevicz to end the inning.

“It was more instinct than anything else,” said Hodgins on her defensive gem. “I just saw the ball and reacted to it.”

Immaculate Conception put the tying run 60 feet away and the go-ahead run on second base in the seventh as Feorenzo finally appeared to tire after facing two quality lineups on consecutive days. But she dug deep enough to get Danielle Distel to line out to center, which ended the game and allowed the Spartans to keep their season going.

Lauren Feorenzo threw a five-hit shutout as Paramus advanced to the Final 4 where it will play Ramsey.

“There were some tough moments at the end but we were able to get through it,” said Feorenzo. “Deep down I was frustrated, I just had to keep my composure and keep hitting my spots. I trust the defense behind me and they made some huge plays today. Now that we’re knocked out of the states, the counties are all we have so we have to be even more focused.”

Feorenzo gave up five hits, walked one, and struck out three to pick up the win for Paramus (23-4). Hage took the tough-luck loss for Immaculate Conception allowing just two hits with four walks and three K’s. Stacevicz was the lone player with two hits in the game.

Paramus moves onto to Sunday’s semifinals where it will face second-seeded Ramsey, a 4-1 winner over Northern Valley/Old Tappan. It will be a rematch of a regular-season meeting last month when Ramsey cruised to an 8-0 victory. The pressure is now off the Spartans and they hope the outcome will be different the second time around.

“I’m glad we put the loss to Jefferson behind us and we moved forward,” added Hodgins. “You just have to stay positive no matter what. One opportunity closed and that allowed another opportunity to open up. We have nothing to lose and we’re going to give it our best shot.”

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