The Hoboken High School softball team suffered a big loss last June when veteran pitcher Natalie Viton graduated.
Viton was a four-time selection to the Hudson Reporter All-Area Softball squad.
“When you have a girl like Viton, it’s hard to replace her,” veteran Hoboken head softball coach Vinnie Johnson said. “She gave us everything she had every time she took the mound.”
Pitching is definitely the name of the game in high school softball. If you have a solid hurler toeing the rubber, you have a chance to compete. Without a sure-fire flamethrower who pumps strikes, your team is fresh out of luck.
Luckily, Johnson has senior Javenuz McLean back to take over the pitching duties. McLean won 10 games as a sophomore in place of Viton, who had to miss the first month of the season due to academic difficulties.
When Viton returned to the mound, McLean left the team.
But Johnson spoke with McLean’s mother and the two agreed that it would be beneficial to her if she made a triumphant return to the softball diamond with the Redwings.
“She has a few pitches she can throw for strikes,” Johnson said of McLean. “She has a good curveball and screwball. She has a decent fastball. She came back this year and said that she wanted to play. Her mom came to me and asked me if her daughter could have a second chance. So far, she’s been a good leader for us. She’s been great with the underclassmen. She’s doing pretty well.”
The Redwings own a 3-1 record in the early going.
The starting catcher is fellow senior Elyse Santiago, who is a four-year starter for Johnson at the position.
However, Santiago went on a school trip to Japan, causing her to miss significant time.
Johnson thought he had a suitable replacement for Santiago in freshman Ariana Rodriguez, but then Rodriguez shocked Johnson with the news that she was headed to Puerto Rico with her family for a stint.
“Only in Hudson County,” Johnson laughed.
You can’t play without a catcher, so then Johnson placed freshman Ayana Crandall behind the plate. Crandall made her instant mark with Hoboken athletics with a solid year on the girls’ basketball team.
“All the girls who played basketball have really stepped up,” Johnson said. “They’re really helping us. Right now, we have to play one game at a time and then we’ll see what the results are.”
Junior Lyanni Nieves is the team’s starting first baseman.
“She’s doing well,” Johnson said of Nieves. “She’s handling the bat well.”
Senior MaryJane Dijeres is the Redwings’ starter at second base.
“She played second base then moved to left field last season,” Johnson said. “We moved her back to second this year. She handles the glove well.”
The shortstop is junior Zoe Mattessich, the basketball star, who was Hoboken’s top hitter a year ago.
“She’s my No. 3 hitter,” Johnson said. “She’s definitely one of the top hitters.”
Third base duties are being monitored by another basketball player in senior Janelle Frazier.
“I think she’s a better softball player than she is a basketball player,” Johnson said. “She really is a good softball player.”
Junior Victoria Mullane is the starting left fielder. Mullane did not play softball last season.
Aiyanna Peoples, another basketball star and former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week last winter for basketball, is the Redwings’ centerfielder. Peoples has incredible speed, like breathtaking quickness, and she’s doing a lot more of that fort the softball team.
“She certainly can cover a lot of ground out there,” Johnson said.
Senior Serena Roman is Hoboken’s starting right fielder.
Roman’s father, Lenny, was an excellent baseball and football player for the Redwings during their glory days of the 1990s, so there is definitely an athletic heritage thing going on.
“Her father was a good catcher in baseball,” Johnson said. “She’s doing well out in right. She came through with a clutch hit to help us beat Hudson Catholic.”
Freshman Destiny Colon has emerged as the Redwings’ designated player and No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
“She’s learned a lot in a short time,” Johnson said. “She’s definitely among the top four hitters this season.”
Another player who will see her share of playing time is senior Faith Effinger, who is seeing time in the outfield.
“She comes off the bench and does a lot of things,” Johnson said. “She’s going to play a lot.”
So the Redwings are off to a solid start and will be a contender in the wide-open race to win the Hudson County Tournament. There really is not a sure-fire favorite this spring. A lot of teams are still finding their way in the early going, making for some interesting contests.
“Once we get everyone all together, I think we should be pretty good,” Johnson said. “We will have a pretty decent chance.”
Just like Hoboken always does, come softball season.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com and follow Jim on Twitter @ogsmar.
