Category: Ridgewood Sports

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R.H.S. Softball Brings Sectional title to Ridgewood

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JUNE 5, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — In the biggest game of the season last Friday, Ridgewood High School pitcher Lisa Higgins needed a few pitches to get her bearings straight.

The Maroons’ star right-hander fell behind Morris Knolls leadoff hitter Marina Castalluzzo, 3-0, before coming back to strike her out to start the North 1, Group 4 final. Higgins struck out the next two batters, and another pitching masterpiece was underway.

Rachel Pizzuti’s fourth-inning RBI double with two outs broke up a scoreless tie, and Higgins pitched her fourth shutout in as many state playoff starts, allowing just three hits and a walk in a complete-game 2-0 victory to clinch the school’s first sectional title since 2009 at Veterans Field.

“We’ve been a team that goes about our business all year round, so for them to really enjoy this moment was so fun to watch,” head coach Patti Auger said.

The celebration had to be quick for five Maroons who would be heading to that evening’s prom, but senior first baseman Kali Wolfer decided to take her time relishing the moment anyway.

“Winning this, my senior year, I don’t even care if I’m late for prom,” said Wolfer, one of the squad’s co-captains. “I’m not going to remember prom in 20 years; I’m going to remember this game. This is the biggest feeling right now.”

Ridgewood’s chase for a State Group 4 title ended Wednesday in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bridgewater-Raritan at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field at Ivy Hill Park in Newark. Higgins was outstanding again, allowing just two runs on five hits in taking the hard-luck loss.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-softball/softball-wins-sectional-at-hands-of-rival-1.1349608

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RHS Softball: Ridgewood reaches first state-sectional final since 20

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MAY 29, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — Mia Barbera has fond memories of the last time Ridgewood High School won a state-sectional softball title. Even fresher in her mind is the way the Maroons’ most recent playoff runs have ended.

The junior shortstop singled and scored in the first inning of Tuesday’s North 1, Group 4 semifinal at Veterans Field. That, plus the hitting of Emilie Morse, the two-hit pitching of Lisa Higgins and some airtight defense, propelled No. 1 seed RHS past No. 4 Livingston, 1-0, and into its first sectional final since 2009.

Weather permitting, Ridgewood (24-4) will host No. 2 Morris Knolls (24-6) in the title game today at 2 p.m. The Golden Eagles have eliminated the Maroons from three of the past four postseasons, including last year in the sectional semis, 4-3.

“We’re definitely ready to beat [Morris Knolls] this year,” said Barbera. “We don’t want to lose to them again.”

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-softball/rhs-reaches-first-final-since-09-1.1344760

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Ridgewood puts clamps on Wolfpack in boys lacrosse final

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file photo

By KELLY FENTON Sports editor

WASHINGTON TWP. – For all but about three minutes during the North 2, Group 3 boys lacrosse championship at Ridgewood on Saturday evening, West Morris Central played respectable, sometimes outstanding, defense.

But playing without one of its top scorers against the seventh-ranked team that came in allowing just six goals a game, the Wolfpack needed to be nearly perfect. And allowing a goal with six seconds left in the first period and three goals over a one-minute span in the final two minutes of the second period turned out to be the tremors that triggered the avalanche in Ridgewood’s 9-0 victory.

“They kind of had a couple of flurries there,” said West Morris head coach Rob Goodwin, whose team concluded a 12-11 season after winning six of its final eight games. “We aren’t very big and I think we were a little tentative at times against their bigger players.”

Cooper Telesco was a case in point. The 6-0, 190-pound attack pretty much willed his way through two Wolfpack defenders to score three-and-a-half minutes into the game, then added a deflating goal in much the same manner with only six seconds left in the first to make it 2-0.

Still, the Wolfpack were right in it after Joe Reilly made three tough saves in a row over a one-minute span midway through the second period. West Morris trailed only 2-0 with two minutes left in the half and an underdog hanging tough can put pressure on a favorite.

But the Maroons broke through with 1:41 left, then scored 10 seconds later after winning the ensuing faceoff. They added one more goal with 36 seconds left and whatever hopes West Morris might have carried into intermission were seriously dampened after falling behind 5-0.

Making that score all the more ominous was the fact that the Wolfpack managed to get off only a couple of shots on goal the entire half. Twice, Cooper Sloan made a nifty move around the right post and tried to quickly scoop an underhand by Ridgewood goalie Chris Cerrina.

https://www.newjerseyhills.com/observer-tribune/sports/ridgewood-puts-clamps-on-wolfpack-in-boys-lacrosse-final/article_670a9469-65e5-5f4e-8698-4cad60b5f63f.html

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Ridgewood Schools Presents a Concussion Awareness Program on June 1

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May 19,2015

Ridgewood NJ, Parents and guardians are invited to a special program on the topic of concussions in youth sports. RHS Head Athletic Trainer Nick Nicholedes and Gerard Gioia, Division Chief of Neuropsychology and Director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education Program at Children’s National Health System, will be presenting information at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.Click here for more information.
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Ridgewood girls lacrosse adds another Bergen title to its legacy

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MAY 10, 2015    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015, 1:07 AM
BY JJ CONRAD
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

MAHWAH — The soon-to-be Ridgewood graduates, like Jordan Ford and Reid Simoncini, stood and posed for pictures with the trophy, just as the previous 10 senior classes had done before them.

The Maroons’ girls lacrosse team had just carried on an unprecedented dynasty, as Ridgewood captured its 11th straight Bergen County title with a near-flawless 16-2 win over previously unbeaten Northern Highlands (19-1) on Saturday.

Essentially everyone involved said the winning never gets old. But the experiences, they say, always differ.

Each one is special. Each one has different players in different roles.

One thing that remains constant, however, is the annual pressure to live up to the Ridgewood legacy.

“Not on your watch!” one parent shouted proudly during the seniors’ trophy photo shoot, declaring the Maroons’ run of county dominance was not going to end with the Class of 2015.

“The pressure that’s on us to keep this going makes it that much more exciting,” said Ford, the James Madison-bound middie who struck for a game-high five goals and one assist as Ridgewood (16-0) stormed out to an 11-2 halftime lead.

“I think in my mind all the time that there’s no possibility we’re going to lose. It’s a tradition we love and a tradition we want to hold on to. Losing is not an option. That’s our motto. Losing is not acceptable here.”

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/h-s-girls-lacrosse-ridgewood-adds-another-bergen-title-to-its-legacy-1.1330552

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NFL FINDS PATRIOTS EMPLOYEES PROBABLY DEFLATED BALLS

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BY EDDIE PELLS
AP NATIONAL WRITER

NEW YORK (AP) — An NFL investigation released Wednesday concluded New England Patriots employees likely deflated footballs used in the AFC Championship and that quarterback Tom Brady was probably “at least generally aware” of the rules violations.

The NFL began investigating after the Patriots defeated the Colts 45-7 on January 18. The Colts complained that several footballs were under-inflated and the NFL confirmed that 11 of the 12 footballs were under the limit. The investigation started as the Patriots were preparing for the Super Bowl – which they won two weeks later.

Footballs with less pressure can be easier to grip and catch. Some quarterbacks prefer footballs that have less air.

The NFL requires balls to be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch, and each team is responsible for the balls it uses on offense.

https://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_PATRIOTS_DEFLATED_FOOTBALLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-06-13-15-55

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RHS makes jump in Super 25 Girls Lacrosse after win against Moorestown

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By USA TODAY High School Sports May 1, 2015

Ridgewood toppled New Jersey giant Moorestown to move from No. 19 to No. 7 in theSuper 25 Girls Lacrosse rankings provided by 3d Rising.

Hannah Cermack rolled the crease and scored with 27 seconds left in overtime for an 11-10 victory, ending Moorestown’s 88-game win streak. Moorestown had not lost since a 10-9 defeat against Ridgewood in the 2011 Tournament of Champions final.

Moorestown, which had been No. 3 last week and No. 2 for most of the season, fell to No. 8.

https://usatodayhss.com/2015/ridgewood-n-j-makes-jump-in-super-25-girls-lacrosse-after-win-against-moorestown

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‘Amazin’ Opening Day for Ridgewood Baseball & Softball Association

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photo Ridgewood Elks Lodge

APRIL 24, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — On a warm, sunny day, seemingly handpicked for the unofficial start of the season in the village, swarms of young athletes flocked to the 65th annual Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA) Opening Day festivities.

“The baseball gods, softball gods were with us today with the beautiful weather,” RBSA President Jim Albano said last Saturday, referring to the streak of poor weather the event had experienced in recent years.

The association pulled out all the stops this year, expanding the event with a 60-item tricky tray, 28 craft vendors, five food trucks and various other baseball- and softball-related activities.

“It’s a festival now, it’s not just Opening Day,” Albano said.

RBSA board member Lisa Powers, the key figure behind the so-called “grand-slam changes,” had sought a larger event to “bring the community together.”

“I wanted to make it bigger and better and more exciting, not just for the RBSA but for the community,” Powers said. “I wanted to make it fun for the kids, so it wasn’t just a parade, and they could have a day off from their games and play.”

The festivities attracted several hundred youth players to Veterans Field and the early reactions were positive.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/amazin-day-for-season-opening-festivities-1.1317693

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Judge Approves Deal in N.F.L. Concussion Suit

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By KEN BELSONAPRIL 22, 2015

A federal district court judge on Wednesday gave her final approval to the settlement of a lawsuit brought by more than 5,000 former players who accused theN.F.L. of hiding from them the dangers ofconcussions, a major step toward ending one of the most contentious legal battles in league history.

The settlement provides payments of up to $5 million to players who have one of a handful of severe neurological disorders, medical monitoring for all players to determine if they qualify for a payment and $10 million for education aboutconcussions.

The landmark deal, which many players criticized, was originally reached in August 2013, but Judge Anita B. Brody twice asked the two sides to revise their agreement, first to uncap the total amount of damages that could be paid for the conditions covered, and then to remove the limit on how much could be spent on medical monitoring.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/sports/football/nfl-concussion-settlement-is-given-final-approval.html?_r=0

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Michael Thurston of Ridgewood High School Male Athlete of the Week

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Michael Thurston of Ridgewood High School Male Athlete of the Week

APRIL 21, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015, 7:00 AM
BY CHUCK O’DONNELL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

You couldn’t blame Michael Thurston for being tired after running in three races during the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays in Oradell.

Michael Thurston

Sport: Track Class: Junior Age: 17

Accomplishment: Thurston helped Ridgewood win two events and take second and third in two others during the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays.

But two things managed to put a little spring back in the Ridgewood junior’s stride Saturday as he got ready to run his fourth and final event, the 4-x-400.

First, he wanted to do his best. He knew his teammates were counting on him to help them hold on to second place in the Division A standings.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/athlete-of-the-week/h-s-male-athlete-of-the-week-michael-thurston-of-ridgewood-1.1313649

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Surging A-Rod a pleasant surprise

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APRIL 18, 2015, 10:59 PM    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015, 9:17 A

BY BOB KLAPISCH
RECORD BASEBALL COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD

Good luck to anyone trying to figure why Alex Rodriguez has become the Yankees’ best hitter, despite all the factors that should’ve been working against him. That includes his age, the yearlong drug suspension, two surgically repaired hips and going cold turkey on PEDs. We think.

Let’s address this last point first. I have to assume Rodriguez is playing clean in 2015; it would be professional suicide to resume cheating after being caught, confessing and being subjected to industrywide humiliation. Not even A-Rod is pathological enough to return to the scene of the crime — even though, remember, he never did test positive.

But let’s give the slugger the benefit of the doubt in exploring why he went into Saturday night’s game against Tampa Bay with a team-best .344 average, four home runs and .781 slugging percentage. It’s great news for manager Joe Girardi, whose lineup needs the boost, as well as the fans, who are panicking at possibly missing the playoffs for the third straight year while the crosstown Mets are surging.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/klapisch-surging-a-rod-a-pleasant-surprise-1.1312376

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Sports Groups lack of common rules and standards Come under Siege

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April 19,2015

the staff and various contributors of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, May 11th Civility Forum will be about Sports in Ridgewood. The lack of common rules and standards and what can be done to promote civility among coaches, players, and parents. Please come!

Civility Forum – May 11th at 7:30PM
The next Civility Forum will be held at 7:30pm in the Senior Lounge at Village Hall.
Rev. Jan Phillips will lead the discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Business as usual for these Ridgewood sports groups.

I like the term “sports mafia” it has been this way since my daughter played some years ago and i do not believe it will change.

And this is “news” to who??? Many years ago, the Maroons may have been considered relevant. But now, if you want your kid to learn soccer, tryout for one of the many clubs in the more competitive leagues that have emerged. A greater commitment and more money, but a better experience overall.

The Maroons used to be a completely private club and through manipulation got themselves under the Parks and Rec department. In the past they would get fields to use if they were available which is fine or have to travel and use other towns fields which most parents were to lazy to do. Now as being under the Parks umbrella they want more and more field time.

Do you think that Lax is any different? Those that controlled lax for years have high school kids who never get any play time because – they never were any good at the sport. The dads controlled the travel teams for the benefit of their boys. Now that the dads are on the sidelines the kids are on the bench. Thank God for no cut teams.

They controlled the kiddie football too so their kids saw lots of play time there. Lots of boys wanted to play but if dad was not one or the six coaches (who worked out together because they thought that they were young bucks) they never got onto the field.

Youth sports in Ridgewood are all about the parents.

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Ridgewood Girls Track & Field: opens coach’s final season with a victory

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB BROWN

APRIL 17, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY GREG TARTAGLIA
SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — No matter how much multitasking Jacob Brown does, he keeps at least one eye on his athletes at all times.

The Ridgewood High School girls track and field coach was chatting about his 44th and final season Wednesday at Ben Franklin Middle School. And that was in between a practice with the Maroon distance runners and the opening events of the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays, in which RHS was competing the high jump and pole vault.

The latter happened to catch Brown’s attention when Maxine Earl vaulted 7-foot-6.

“I tell you what, Earl just looked really good going over [the bar],” the coach said with an admiring lilt. “She cleared that by six inches or a foot.

“I need to get my camera and take pictures of this,” he said, turning to head for his car.

Brown’s love and appreciation of the sport is just one of the reasons the Ben Franklin facility was recently rededicated as the Jacob Brown Track & Field Complex. The founder of the RHS girls program, who will retire at season’s end, was conferred the honor in a surprise ceremony prior to the April 4 Steve Pawlowski Ridgewood Relays.

The Maroons then went out and edged Ramsey, 110 1/2-110, to win the large schools title

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-track/maroons-open-coach-s-final-season-with-a-win-1.1311133

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Ridgewood Tennis readies itself for season on the road

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Photo Courtesy of Deirdre Tobin
Nine seniors lead highly ranked Ridgewood into the 2015 season. FRONT ROW, from left: Scott Ho, Harrison Feenaghty and Lucas Veca. BACK ROW, from left: Thomas Kelly, Roshaan Iqbal, Eric Park, Derek Etzrodt and Nikhil Mendiratta. Not pictured: Berfu Yildiz.

Ridgewood Tennis readies itself for season on the road

April 10, 2015    Last updated: Friday, April 10, 2015, 12:30 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

RIDGEWOOD — Not even a week into the 2015 campaign, the Ridgewood High School boys tennis team has already faced a season’s worth of challenges.

The team has been forced to relocate all its home matches to its opponents’ courts until further notice after snow removal efforts damaged two of the high school’s five courts, rendering them unplayable.

Then, after winning the team’s opener on Monday versus Paramus, the Maroons’ match with Ramapo was postponed due to rain and foreboding skies threatened the rest of the week’s slate.

“It’s been that kind of season so far,” head coach Deirdre Tobin said with a laugh Tuesday.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of it. Just minutes after making that statement, Ridgewood’s best player and captain, Berfu Yildiz, sprained his ankle on a team run and was expected to sit out the rest of the week, according to Tobin.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-tennis/rhs-confident-it-can-overcome-obstacles-1.1306140

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RHS Girls Golf: State bid is on the radar

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April 10, 2015    Last updated: Friday, April 10, 2015, 12:30 AM
By Ron Fox
CORRESPONDENT |
The Ridgewood News

A trip to the Cherry Valley Country Club in Montgomery on Tuesday allowed Ridgewood High School’s girls golf coach Brian Quirk a moment to think ahead.

“We’ve been on the cusp of qualifying for the state championship round and we hope to get there this year,” Quirk said once he arrived home Tuesday from the Montgomery Lady Cougar Invitational — also known as the Cherry Valley Invitational. “And since the state matches are played at Cherry Valley, it was nice to get in a round on that course.”

Familiarizing oneself with the field of battle is one thing, but now Quirk is working to align his troops for the surge that lies ahead.

The Maroons begin with their lone senior, Jessica Chang; sophomore Hyoyi Joo and junior Kiley Chmiel, all of whom stood out in the shoot-four, count-three event.

“When we count four [golfers in the scoring process], Diana Soriano, another junior, is probably the one,” he said. “She’s in the same boat as the first three. We’re looking for Diana to start to contribute regularly.”

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-golf/girls-shooting-for-a-state-bid-1.1306136