Chris Iseman – Staff Writer, @chrisiseman / Record Sports
LODI – Throughout each of Immaculate Conception’s games, Ashley Callahan delivers a reminder to sophomore pitcher Caylee English.
English stepped into a position with a big legacy, but Callahan routinely reinforces the fact that the Blue Wolves are confident she can uphold it.
“Before every inning,” the senior catcher said, “I look at her and I say, ‘Be you.’”
That’s all Callahan and Immaculate Conception are asking for.
After taking over for Sarah Piening, a dominant right-hander who last season became the first pitcher in New Jersey history to win four state championships, English has begun to forge her own legacy. The sophomore is 26-3 with a 1.32 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 175 innings.
English has helped lead the third-seeded Blue Wolves (26-3) to their first appearance in the Bergen County tournament final, where they will play No. 1 Ramsey on Saturday at Mahwah at noon.
“I think it’s a big accomplishment for us this weekend,” English said. “Our team’s made history. I’m super excited to see what we have this weekend.”
Coach Jeff Horohonich said that when English was starting her time at Immaculate Conception, he told her, “This is going to be your program.”
That time arrived this season.
“This year, she had giant shoes to fill,” Horohonich said. “But I really wasn’t worried. I knew once she got comfortable, she would be fine. It was just, I think, her believing in her.”
English, who didn’t start pitching until she was 12, is not an overpowering pitcher. She thrives on spin, movement and location.
The strides she has taken in the last year have been significant.
“She honestly surprised me so much within a year,” Callahan said. “I remember catching her last year, and to this year, it’s amazing how far she’s come.”
Freshman leftfielder Angela Lignelli, who’s also a catcher and has caught English for their club team since she was about 10, said all of her pitches have improved.
And English has put in all the work she’s needed to in order to become this successful.
Having a team that never succumbs to pressure and believes it can overcome any deficit has also helped.
