Union County’s 2023 high school softball begins

By JR Parachini Sports Editor

When Union and Cranford clashed at Kean University’s Cougar Field on May 11 of last year in the softball Union County Tournament semifinals, a berth in the championship game was on the line.

Cranford High School junior righthander Avery Toddings mowed down the fourth-seeded Farmers and kept them off the scoreboard.

Union High School junior right-hander Alexa Liquori was just as masterful, keeping the top-seeded Cougars off the scoreboard as well.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Cranford found a way to break through as junior Katie Bendert drove in the game’s only run to send the Cougars to the final.

Cranford proved to be a bit more dominant in the championship game at Kean, rolling to a 9-0 triumph against second-seeded Elizabeth.

For the second time in program history, the Cougars repeated as county champions. Cranford won three straight UCT titles from 2006-2008, so the Cougars will be attempting to three-peat once again this spring.

Standout hurlers Toddings and Liquori are back for their senior seasons. Softball is back and another exciting Union County campaign awaits.

Pitchers and catchers reported Mon- day, March 13, with practice beginning for the rest of the players Thursday, March 16.

The first scrimmages can be played on Thursday, March 23, a little more than a week before Opening Day on Monday, April 3.

Cranford finished 20-6 last year with first-year head coach Melissa Moreno, who became the first player and coach at Cranford to win a county championship. Moreno won a UCT title as a player as Cranford’s starting catcher in 2010.

“As the season went on, we were able to settle into what we were doing,” Moreno said. “To be here, where I started playing, and to be in this position now, feels really great.”

“As long as we stick together, focus, and play as a team, good things usually happen,” Toddings said.

Moreno gave Toddings the ball and Cranford’s offense did the rest last year, as the Cougars outscored four UCT opponents by a whopping 27-1 margin. David Brearley High School was able to produce a solo home run in the seventh inning of its quarterfinal at Cranford. That was it.

Toddings tossed a four-hitter in blanking Elizabeth High School in the championship game. Samantha Brunton went 3for-3 with three runs and three singles, while Maddy DeLong and Sophia DeMarco both banged out two hits and scored two runs, each slugging home runs.

On its way to also capturing the Union County Conference’s Watchung Division crown with a 7-1 record, Cranford was just as dominant against Elizabeth in the regular season. Cranford won at Elizabeth 9-3 in early April and then downed the Minutemen 12-3 at home later in the month.

Cranford fell in its bid to repeat as North 2, Group 3 champs when the Cougars lost at home to West Morris Central High School 2-1 in the semifinals. Cranford beat West Morris in the semifinals the year before.

Union was also guided by a first-year coach, Shannon McMahon. The Farmers turned in a solid 14-10 campaign that included one state tournament victory at home against Perth Amboy High School 7-0 in North 2, Group 4 play.

David Brearley won the UCC’s Mountain Division crown at 6-1 and went 11-8 overall. The Bears were sparked by senior Brianna Bowles, who led the team in hits with 26, home runs with two and RBI with 16.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School captured the Valley Division title with a perfect 7-0 mark. The Raiders finished 16-9 overall.

Linden High School and Kent Place shared the Sky Division crown, both coming in with league marks of 7-1. They split against each other in division play, both winning at home. Linden was 8-10 overall and Kent Place 9-9.

Another solid Union County senior last year was Linden’s Allisson PenaTavares. She paced the Tigers with 19 hits, 23 runs, two home runs and 14 RBI. Sophomore pitcher Molly McDonald fashioned a total of 129 strikeouts.

Kent Place was sparked by the play of senior outfielder Allie Sussman, junior catcher Kay Lyon and sophomore pitcher Cassie Miller.

Cranford UCT championships

2002: Head coach Terry Biunno

2006: Head coach Shannon Norton

2007, 2008, 2010: Head coach Bob Bruno

2021: Head coach Christine Pemoulie

2022: Head coach Melissa Moreno

To our readers,

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself.

My name is Joe Ungaro and I was recently named editor at Worrall Community Newspapers. I’ve been a Maplewood resident for the last 14 years and have been involved in various activities around town, including youth sports (baseball, football, soccer and wrestling) and activities at our church, St. George’s.

My wife and I have two children; one attends Columbia High School while the other is, well, let’s just say he’s “finding himself” right now.

I’ve spent more than 30 years in journalism, working at four newspapers, The Providence Journal, The Daily-Post Athenian in Athens, Tenn., The Norwich Bulletin in Connecticut and the Daily Record of Morris County, N.J. I also spent about 10 years with The Associated Press in the New York City bureau.

I’ve worked as a reporter, editor and most recently as general manager in Morris County. I also owned and operated a sandwich shop but that’s a story for another time.

I’m excited about this opportunity and I look forward to our being involved in the community. If you have informa- tion you would like published and posted on the web or you have a story tip, you can email me at jungaro@thelocalsource.com or call me at 908-6867700, 129.

Best,

Pleased to annouce that Anthony has received the New Jersey Realtors Association Circle of Excellence Award. The last four years have been challenging times for the Real Estate market and its agents. Anthony has been consistenly listing and selling both residential and commercial properties locally and beyond. His services also include residential real estate appraisals. Anthony has served Union county and beyond since 1968. Has also received the Realtor Emeritis State for serving over 40 years. He is the owner broker of Village Green Realtors since 1972.