CALDWELL — To Viv Carrero, exiting the game was not an option.
But Ridgefield’s catcher had to leave the field temporarily Wednesday with an injury suffered in the sixth inning of the Group 1 softball semifinal. The junior then went back behind the plate in the bottom of the inning against Cedar Grove.
Unfortunately for Carrero and the Royals, an error in the frame opened the door for the Panthers to score two insurance runs. It was enough for Cedar Grove in its 4-1 victory at Caldwell University to advance to this weekend’s Group 1 final.
Cedar Grove (22-8) had eliminated Ridgefield from the first round of the state tournament last year, when both were in North Section 1.
Five days after winning their first sectional title, the Royals wrapped up arguably their best season at 23-7. And much of the North 2, Group 1 champion’s success can be attributed to the attitude exemplified by its catcher.
“She’s been leaving everything on the field all season for us,” coach Jack Casimiro said of Carrero. “We really don’t have a backup catcher either, so she knew she was going to have to stay in.”
To continue reading the story:
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-softball/gritty-royals-ousted-1.1348922
