Sophomore Kylie LaCroix struck out 12 and allowed just 1 hit as Pompton Lakes opened its season with an 11-0 win over Saddle Brook.

SADDLE BROOK – Over the past several decades Pompton Lakes has always fielded a formidable a team, if not a contender for county and state sectional titles. However, with both of their main pitchers and five top hitters having graduated along with a lot of faces in new places, conventional wisdom would think this is a rare rebuilding year for the program. However, nobody on this team got the memo, least of whom is right-hander Kylie LaCroix. As the clear-cut option in the circle, the sophomore wanted to set a tone for the season and did so emphatically.

LaCroix tossed a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts as Pompton Lakes gave her some early run support before cruising to an 11-0 win over Saddle Brook on Tuesday at Smith Field.

“We don’t have anyone who started where they did last year and some newcomers as well, but this was a really good start for us,” said Pompton Lakes head coach Karyn Hennessy. “Our mindset is to be focused and play a clean game, for the most part we did that today.”

The old saying, ‘Hit them where they ain’t’ is something the Cardinals took to heart in the second inning. With two outs, they strung together three straight seeing-eye RBI singles. LaCroix helped her own cause by blooping one into right-center to get Pompton Lakes on the scoreboard. Isabella DeMartinis followed with a single back through the box and then Joelle Scala dropped in another single to make it 3-0.

Saddle Brook had a chance to get a run back in the bottom half of the frame with runners on the corners. The Falcons attempted a double steal, but it was snuffed out. Pompton catcher Lindsey Kulish threw the ball to shortstop Ava Vizueta, who threw back to Kulish for the inning-ending out at the plate.

Helayna Stamm had the lone hit for Saddle Brook.

The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the fourth, two of them driven in on an RBI triple by DeMartinis. It was more than enough of a cushion for LaCroix. She kept the Saddle Brook lineup guessing all game long with her battery mate, Kulish, effectively framing pitches. To show how off-balance she had the Falcons, her last eight Ks of the game were all caught looking at strike three.

“I have to give all the credit to Lindsey (Kulish) behind the plate,” said LaCroix. “She’s great behind the plate and I trust her with what she thinks will work. We’re from a small town and we want to be the best we can be together. We want to compete, we want to win, and we want to have fun doing it.”

DeMartinis was productive out of the No. 9 hole with finishing a homer shy of the cycle with three RBI’s for Pompton Lakes (1-0). Drea Bailey also collected three hits. All nine starters either scored or drove in a run.

Helayna Stamm had the lone hit for Saddle Brook (0-1).

With win No. 1 in the books, the Cardinals feel that the best is still yet to come for that is young, but also hungry for a taste of success.

“We want this more than a rebuilding year, we want to compete, said Hennessy. “It was nice to see us play loose and play good softball. There are things we need to work on and other positive things that we need to keep building on. But overall, for day one I’m pretty happy with how we played today. Hopefully, it is something we will build off of for the rest of the season.”

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