Jamie Farrington struck out a career-high 16 hitters as NV/Old Tappan edged host Rutherford, 2-1, in extra innings at the Breathe Easy Benefit games.

RUTHERFORD – In last year’s Breathe Easy Benefit game, Northern Valley/Old Tappan pitcher Jamie Farrington pitched well but was outdueled by Rutherford standout Giana Yaniero and her 16 strikeouts in a 3-0 loss. Getting another shot at the Bulldogs and Yaniero on Saturday, Farrington knew she had to raise her game to another level. Locked in another duel, Farrington did just that and matched Yaniero pitch-for-pitch in a game that needed extra innings to decide a winner.

Erin Huelster’s RBI single in the eighth inning brought in the game-winning run. Farrington slammed the door shut and finished with a career-high 16 K performance of her own as Northern Valley/Old Tappan earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Rutherford in the 2025 Breathe Easy Benefit games at Memorial Field in Rutherford.

“This was an important win for us,” said Northern Valley/Old Tappan first baseman Mia Ferraro. “We’re just trying to ride the wave from one game to the next and have that positive momentum keep us going. We adjusted throughout the game and showed more patience as the game wore on. We play for each other and we really wanted to pull out this win.”

The game was the first of a doubleheader to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with all proceeds from the game going towards the foundation.

Rutherford ace Giana Yaniero struck out 12 in a hard-luck loss.

Through the first four innings, the Bulldogs had the only true scoring opportunity. Kayla Knapp reached on a bunt single and was on third base with the dangerous Yaniero at the plate. Yaniero hit one on the laces, but right at Golden Knights’ second baseman Leona Sasaki, who made a juggling catch to keep the game scoreless.

It remained that way until the fifth inning when Old Tappan grabbed the lead with one swing of the bat. No. 9 batter Grace McManus has had a great freshman campaign thus far. It continued when she slugged a ball down the left-field line that kept rolling for her first career homerun and a 1-0 lead.

Rutherford could not get anything going until the sixth inning. Sophia Clossey led off with a single and a fielder’s choice moved courtesy runner Briana Nicolas to second base. Kat Castillon then delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate Nicolas and tie the game at 1.

In the top of the eighth inning, Sophia Savino led off with a single and Mia Ferraro with another base knock to put pinch-runner Cameron Greenburg into scoring position. Huelster then stepped to the plate and kept her swing compact. She drove a ball through the left side with Greenburg coming around to score to put the Golden Knights in front. It was all Farrington needed as she retired the side in the bottom half of the 8th, capped by her 16th strikeout of the day to close out the win.

“Once the count went full, I knew I had to shorten up and put the ball in play,” said Huelster. “I made a point to get my foot down a little bit earlier and get my hands going a little quicker.”

Mia Ferraro had three hits for Old Tappan, which improved to 9-1 on the season.

Farrington allowed five hits and walked just one for Northern Valley/Old Tappan (9-1). Ferraro led the way offensively by going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Yaniero took the hard-luck loss for Rutherford (5-4-1). She allowed six hits, did not walk a batter, and had 12 strikeouts. Her battery mate, Clossey, had two of the Bulldogs’ five hits.

The Golden Knights have figured out a way to win in all different ways this season. High-scoring games, pitcher’s duels, regardless of how the game is being played they feel they can adapt to every situation and get the job done.

“These are the types of games we want to be in against a really good team with a great pitcher,” said Farrington. “The (Bergen) County tournament is coming up soon. You’re going to play games like this in the county tournament and the more games you’re in like this the more prepared you’ll be. We have to make sure we stay in it and stay focused every pitch like we did today.”

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