Pascack Valley 5, Ramapo 3 (Sunday)
The perception of the Pascack Valley softball team has
changed frequently throughout the season.
There were high expectations for a team that returns
multiple starters and a second year coach who was ready to make her mark on
Pascack Valley.
Those expectations took a bit of a hit after a season
opening loss to Demarest. All of the sudden, Pascack Valley was just another
mediocre team that would finish the season with the same number of losses as
wins.
That perception quickly changed in the coming weeks as the
potential of Pascack Valley truly showed. They won five straight games and were
playing some of the best ball in Bergen County. Alexa McManus and Rachel
Squiccimarri led the offense while Alex Pleasic and Jenny Schneider became a
two-headed monster on the mound.
Even Varsity Aces recognized the Indians solid play, moving
them up to #18 in the North Jersey Softball Top 25. Pascack Valley was riding
high and ready to take on and defeat an Indian Hills team that has been one of
the best in recent years.
Although Pascack Valley fell just short in their mission to
upset Indian Hills, they showed the county they can play with the best and were
not just a decent squad playing a weak schedule.
When the confidence of Pascack Valley couldn’t be any
higher, they laid an egg against Paramus Catholic, falling 13-1 in only 5
innings of play. They defense was sloppy and the offense could not hit the ball
out of the infield. The Indians had now lost two in a row and the doubters were
starting to return. Maybe their gaudy record was due to poor scheduling. Maybe
this team had a few good games. The Indians were the underdogs once again,
hoping to re-prove that they were worthy of their initial praise.
The latest chapter in the Pascack Valley saga came on Sunday
morning against Ramapo, the 8th ranked team in North Jersey. Coming
into the game with consecutive losses, not many gave Valley a chance against
the Green Raiders.
The game started off well for Pascack Valley. They took a
1-0 lead in the second inning on a fielder’s choice by Sophomore Olivia
Beattie. Ramapo responded with a run of their own in the 4th, tying
the game at one.
Pascack Valley’s Jenny Schneider has been simply dominant so
far this season on the hill. That is why what happened in the bottom of the 5th
was unusual to say the least. Ramapo belted a two run home run to take a 3-1
lead and crush the hopes of the Indians. With only two more at bats and outs
being at a premium, their chance for a signature win was slipping away.
The way this season has gone, it was only fitting that
Pascack Valley score four runs in the top of the 6th and take a 5-3
lead. Even more fitting was the contributors who gave them the lead. On a team
filled with upper classmen, Freshman Alex Pleasic and Sophomore Lindsey Gordon
each had two RBI to give the Indians a two run cushion.
Once the Indians were given the lead, it was all but over.
Jenny Schneider cruised through the final two innings to give Pascack Valley
the season defining win they so desperately sought to have.
Now sitting at 6-3, Pascack Valley is back on the county
radar. Will they lose a game they are not supposed to lose going forward?
Probably. Will they also upset a team who they have no business playing with? I
wouldn’t doubt it. Either way, the second half of the season will probably be
as unpredictable as the first.
Would you expect anything different?
#feartheindiansoftballteam
Record: 6-3
Next Game: Monday,
April 22nd at 4:15 PM against Hackensack (Away)
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