By: Darren Cooper / Record Sports Columinist
WOOD-RIDGE – Sam Perez said her first hitting lesson was to ‘squash the bug’ meaning rotate your back foot to shift your power and stay back.
Wednesday, the Wood-Ridge sophomore catcher stepped into a couple of big hits, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI as the Blue Devils defeated Wallington 16-1 in the season opener for both teams.
“Sam is amazing for us,” said Blue Devils coach Andrea Marino. “She is a great catcher behind the plate. Nothing gets past her. She blocks everything. She is doing great with [pitcher] Brooke [Biamonte]. She hit the tar out of the ball.”
“I feel so good,” agreed Perez. “I like how we are playing lately and I know we are going to be better this year.”
Wood-Ridge finished with 12 hits. Maddie Marino went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Senior Casey Schulz went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Isabella Nieves had three RBI and a big second-inning double.
Last year, Marino took over a program that had seen three different coaches in as many years and the Blue Devils sagged to 5-16. Marino, also the volleyball coach at the school, admits that the losing had begun to wear some players down.
“Now, we are way closer,” said Perez. “We work well together, before you could tell that some of the girls didn’t want to be there, now everyone wants to be here and we are pumped up.”
Another big reason for the Blue Devils optimism is the freshman lefty, Biamonte. She gave up six hits over four innings, but struck out four and took advantage of the defense behind her.
One of the hidden factors of any good softball program is the relationship between its pitcher and catcher. While Perez and Biamonte may be young, they have worked together in travel ball.
“She amazed me today,” said Perez. “She is much faster, so much better, so much more power and way more accurate. I love catching her.”
Perez, 16, came late to catching. She was a shortstop originally, but in order to try out for a club team, she had to switch to catcher, so she dug out an old catcher’s mitt and began to learn the position.
Now she couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else. She said her favorite part of the spot is throwing runners out, and the minor aches and pains usually associated with the position don’t bother her.
The only thing that slightly bothers Perez is Marino asking her to play volleyball too.
“She tells me that all the time,” Perez laughed. “She wants me to serve.”
“Softball is really like volleyball,” said Marino, also smiling. “You need to be down in a ready position, hands in front, and it’s just competition.”
Thursday the level of competition will get more challenging for the Blue Devils as Saddle Brook comes to visit. The game was moved up a day from Friday in order to beat the next, groan, approaching weather event.
“We hit the ball very well today,” said Marino. “Our 7-8-9 batters have been struggling, but today they hit, and my top three hit. Everyone hit the ball. We have been playing much better than last year.”
