The St. Dominic Academy softball team is steamrolling along these days, putting up an impressive 12-4 record.
“Honestly, I’m not surprised by it,” said second-year head coach Mike Nieves. “We had seven of our nine starters returning. I expected us to be successful.”
One of the major reasons why Nieves had high hopes for the season was the return of senior pitcher Christina Mezey, who was the Hudson Reporter Pitcher of the Year last season.
“She’s the epitome of what you want in a high school pitcher,” Nieves said of Mezey. “She is so determined. She walks around, carrying the weighted ball, just to get stronger. She wants to play in college. That’s her goal, so she knew she had to get in better shape for this season. She’s worked hard to physically prepare for this season.”
Nieves applauds Mezey’s efforts on the mound.
“She’s kept us in every game,” Nieves said. “What I’ve noticed is that she’s become more of a complete pitcher this year. She’s working off her off-speed pitches and done very well. We’ve faced some good opponents this year.”
The Blue Devils had a huge win last Saturday, shutting out Paramus, 3-0.
“When I took over the program, I knew that the only way we were going to get better was facing the better programs,” Nieves said.
Having a top-flight pitcher makes those independent games a little easier to take. Mezey fired a three-hitter and struck out 14 in the win over Paramus.
“She’s been phenomenal,” Nieves said of Mezey, who has pitched five no-hitters and two perfect games this season. Mezey is also batting .484 at the plate with 24 RBI.
Senior catcher Gabriella Contey has also been a force for the Blue Devils.
“Gabby and Mezey are a good combination together,” Nieves said. “Gabby is someone who has grown physically and mentally. She’s matured well and has a great attitude. She’s become one of the leaders on the team. It’s only her second year of being a catcher. Last year, she was a third baseman and I asked her to be the catcher. She gave it a try and has been excellent.”
The third baseman is now senior Alexis O’Callahan, who moved from first to third base this season.
“She’s a great kid who was willing to do the switch,” Nieves said.
First base duties are now handled by sophomore Rachelle Avila.
“All I can say about her is ‘Wow!’” Nieves said. “She makes good contact and she’s fearless.”
Senior Sabrina Stampe is the team’s second baseman
“By far, she is the toughest kid we have,” Nieves said. “She’s a solid fielder. She’s not flashy, but she makes every play look routine.”
The shortstop is sophomore Mary Kate Cannito, who handled those duties last year as a freshman.
“She led the team in RBI last season as a freshman,” Nieves said. “She played third base last year and we moved her to shortstop.”
Senior Brianna Campbell is the left fielder, where she played last year. Senior Nicole Cichetti is the center fielder. The right fielder is senior Bethany Lopez.
Nieves thanks his two trusty assistant coaches, namely George Brew and Edwin Rodriguez.
The Hudson County coaches will convene this week to determine the seeds in the upcoming Hudson County Tournament. Nieves believes that his team should be among the top seeds in the tourney.
“It’s not up for me to decide, but do I think we’re one of the top seeds? Absolutely,” Nieves said. You still have to play the games.”
But Nieves has enjoyed the time of his life right now.
“I couldn’t be happier with the group of girls that I have,” Nieves said. “They’re great listeners who want to work on things and work on their own. They just want to work and they want to win. I can’t be more proud of them.”…
New Jersey City University completed its baseball season last week with an astounding 22-10 win over the College of Staten Island, a game where the Gothic Knights pounded out 30 hits.
In the game, senior Michael Martucci went 5-for-7, becoming the school’s all-time hits leader with 197. Martucci, the former Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree out of St. Peter’s Prep, needed four hits to tie the all-time record and came up with five. Martucci also earned second team All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors earlier that day, so it was a memorable day for one of Hudson County’s premier baseball players…
The NFL Draft takes place this weekend and there’s a chance that Secaucus native Betim Bujari, the former Rutgers center, might get selected in the later rounds, so watch for Bujari’s name to be called.
Hudson Reporter High School Baseball Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (17-1). 2. Memorial (9-4). 3. Ferris (11-7). 4. Secaucus (10-6). 5. Weehawken (9-5).
Hudson Reporter High School Softball Top Five: 1. St. Dominic Academy (12-4). 2. Bayonne (11-2). 3. Hudson Catholic (9-4). 4. North Bergen (10-5). 5. Ferris (8-5)…
In closing, Weehawken lost one of its jewels recently, when Clara Keating passed away at the age of 81. Mrs. Keating, the wife of former Weehawken deputy mayor Edward Keating, was a fixture at St. Peter’s Prep and St. Dominic Academy sporting events, cheering on her sons and her grandchildren.
Clara Keating was also a huge fan of the UConn women’s basketball team, which offered a get well video greeting to her just last week.
On a personal note, Mrs. Keating was always a sweetheart to me, throughout my high school days _ I was a classmate and wrestling teammate of her son, Steve and then my journalistic ventures, covering Weehawken for the Weehawken Reporter for 14 years. I could count on receiving a call, a note, a card from Mrs. Keating all the time, offering encouragement and praise.
She will be certainly be missed by me, but also countless others in her hometown of Weehawken. My condolences go out to Ed, sons Anthony and Steve, and her grandchildren. May she rest in peace. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.