Old Bridge softball blowing away the competition thus far
Knights have outscored opponents 49-15 over first seven games
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
After an opening-day loss, the Old Bridge High School softball team has bounced back with six straight victories as it seeks to defend its Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division title.

The Lady Knights entered the campaign as a favorite to repeat as division champs, but East Brunswick drubbed Old Bridge, 8- 1, in the opener, giving coach Mike Bilello's team a wake-up call in the process.

"We weren't very happy at the time, but it was the best thing that ever happened to us," the coach said of the loss. "Maybe we were guilty of reading our press clippings, and we were coming off a perfect preseason. We weren't ready, and East Brunswick just beat us.

Following the loss,Old Bridge had a pair of post ponements, so Bilello worked the team hard in practice and the girls refocused.

And the Lady Knights have been rolling ever since. On Monday they picked up win No. 6 as Maureen O'Kane twirled a no-hitter to lead her team to a 4-0 success against Monroe, the defending GMC champions.

O'Kane was dominant, striking out eight of the first nine Monroe hitters, en-route to a 13-strikeout performance. The Lady Knights pounded home three runs in the third inning as Amy Layton, Ashley Kocsis and Angela D'Amico all drove home runs.

During its winning streak,Old Bridge has also defeated Red Division rivals Edison, 10-2; J.P. Stevens, 7-1; South Brunswick, 11- 0; and Piscataway, 12-4.Bilello's team scored a non-conference triumph over Westfield, 4- 0.

O'Kane was a key factor in Old Bridge's run to the division title a year ago,when the Knights compiled a 16-5 record. In her last three games, the junior hurler has recorded 44 strikeouts in 21 innings.

While opposition hitters are searching for ways to solve O'Kane, the top four batters in the Lady Knights' lineup have been on fire. Kocsis, the second baseman and lead-off hitter, is hitting .340, while DH Krystal Diaz, who bats second, is at .521. "Those two always seem to be on base," Bilello said.

That's bad news for opponents, because D'Amico, the shortstop who bats out of the three spot, is hitting over .400, and cleanup batter Alex Haberman is at .600. Additionally, Layton gives the team another weapon out of the ninth spot in the order, where she is batting .410.

"As a team we're doing a much better job at the plate," Bilello said. "Last year many of the girls were adjusting to the varsity and we had too many strikeouts.Now they've cut down the Ks, they put the ball in play, and they're even doing the little things like moving runners over."

If that continues, the Lady Knights will have an opportunity to go a long way in the postseason. Last spring Old Bridge was eliminated by South Plainfield in the semifinals of the GMC tourney. Bilello's team lost to Hunterdon Central in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV tournament.

Bilello also said that his team is more balanced this season and more players are contributing.Other members of the team include infielder Nicole Tonnisen, and several juniors: first basemen Katie O'Kane and Elaina Boneich, outfielder Cassie Duggan and catcher Brianne McManus. McManus has stepped in behind the plate for Diaz, who has been limited to DH duties with a minor injury. Meanwhile, sophomore Lisa Sypniewski has done a good job in left field.

Old Bridge was scheduled to visit Woodbridge on Tuesday and will host Perth Amboy this afternoon. Following that, there is a rematch at East Brunswick on Friday.