Hedrick’s clutch hit sends Ewing to sectional final
COLUMBUS >> When Deanna Hedrick strode to the plate with runners on second and third with one out in the sixth inning, there was the thought Ewing might resort to “Berno Ball’’ and try to squeeze a run home to break up a scoreless deadlock.
Instead, Hedrick delivered one of the biggest hits in the history of Ewing softball by smashing a two-run double in the gap to propel her team past Northern Burlington, 2-1, in the Central Jersey Group III semifinals.
With the victory, Ewing (22-6) advanced to its fifth sectional final and will go for the championship on Tuesday at Steinert.
Enter the thought process of Blue Devil coach Dan Bernoski, who has long been considered the leading softball strategist in Mercer County.
“I thought about it (the squeeze), but Deanna has a good swing and is not a real good bunter,” said the dean of Colonial Valley Conference coaches. “I played a hunch to have her swing away.”
Hedrick’s hit was the difference in a classic pitchers’ duel between Ewing senior Danielle Rinaldi and Northern Burlington freshman Haylei Archer.
Rinaldi was absolutely brilliant. Northern Burlington (20-4) may start six freshmen, but this talented group can hit the ball. What it could not do, however, was hit Rinaldi, who cranked up a four-hitter while striking out seven.
”They are a very good team, but I really felt good in warm-ups,” said Rinaldi. “This is a great win for us. I went to the sectional finals (state finals as well) as a freshman and it’s great to do it again as a senior.”
Archer, meanwhile, was also outstanding. She only had two strikeouts, but ended up firing a threehitter and was able to get out of any trouble until the sixth. This included a top of the first in which Rinaldi smacked a double and Alexis Pope walked before Archer got out of the inning.
In the fifth, Northern Burlington catcher Julia Mayernik picked off a runner at first for the third out, but in a bit of a twist this actually worked out in Ewing’s favor. And the reason was Rinaldi would come to the plate with no outs in the sixth.
Sure enough, Rinaldi was able to work out a walk. Pope then walked as well and Julianna Nisen was able to get down a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third. This led to Hedrick’s monumental double to left center.
“I’m not sure, but I think it was right down the middle,” said Hedrick of the pitch she hit. “I was a little nervous and just wanted to make good contact. To win this game means a lot.”
As so often happens, once the shutout was broken up the other team came right back as NBC opened the bottom of the sixth with singles by Alexa Blue and Jessica Peter. After a ground out, Mayernik cut the lead to the 2-1 with a single to left field.
With the tying run now perched at third, Rinaldi had the answer with a pop up in the infield and then retired NBC in order in the seventh by ending the game with two strikeouts.
“That’s just Danielle; she’s something special,” said Bernoski of his senior ace. “Their pitcher is very good so we set the pitching machine up to max at practice this week. To only strike out twice against her is pretty good. We played them in the pre-season and knew this was going to be a nailbiter.”
So did NBC coach Tara Corcoran.
“Both pitchers were great; it just didn’t go our way,” she said. “We had our chances, but give her (Rinaldi) the credit.”
WP-Rinaldi. LP-Archer. 2B-Rinaldi, Hedrick (E). RBIs: E-Hedrick 2. NB-Mayernik.