Game of the Week: Fort Lee Crushes Westwood 14-0 on Two-Hitter by Freshman Maldonado

For years, Fort Lee and Westwood have played each other in softball, and recently the result has been a recurring theme of Lady Cardinal victories.

But that was not the case Monday afternoon, when the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen defeated Westwood, exacted some “revenge” and won 14-0 in a mercy rule shortened game.

“It was attitude,” said Fort Lee head coach Bob Aughey. “We had an attitude when we came out to hit today, and [the girls] were very positive. I think it carried over into the game but everything was working.”

Westwood pushed for an early run in the top of the first inning following an error and a base hit, but freshman pitcher Amanda Maldonado recovered with back-to-back strikeouts to prevent the threat.

“It [was] definitely a motivational boost,” said Fort Lee’s senior third baseman Brianna Mattessich.

The Lady Bridgemen then used that boost from Maldonado to plate the game’s first runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Senior outfielder Morgan Romba reached on a bunt single and scored on a sacrifice fly from junior catcher Megan Gimson. Following a passed ball that scored Mattessich, the Lady Bridgemen held an early 2-0 advantage.

After Maldonado once again prevented Westwood from scoring with two more of her nine strikeouts on the day, the Lady Bridgemen bats ignited once again.

Fort Lee batted around, scoring five more runs in the process to take a 7-0 lead. Freshman outfielder Caitlin McKenna drove in two runs on a double, and Romba did the same on a single just one batter later.

“I made a couple errors in the field, so to come back and start hitting felt good to get the team going,” Morgan Romba said. “It felt good to get [Westwood] back a lot.”

But the scoring did not stop after Fort Lee batted around in that inning.

The Lady Bridgemen plated four more runs in the third inning and another three  runs in the fourth.

During that course of the game, every starter in the Fort Lee lineup reached base at least once, and most finished with a run scored as well.

“[The Lady Bridgemen] came to play and they were ready,” said Westwood head coach Dan Rattacasa, whose team committed six errors in the game. “Defense always wins…the fundamentals will allow you to win and again that is stuff we are working on.”

Taking advantage of the Westwood miscues and working a total of seven walks, Fort Lee continuously put runners on base.

Senior Brianna Mattessich collected three hits in the game, including two with the bases loaded. The reigning Fort Lee Patch Athlete of the Week plated a trio of runs on a single and a fielding error in the third inning and then hit a fly ball over that same fielder’s head for a two-run double in her final at bat.

“You hate to say this, but you almost expect it,” said coach Aughey of Brianna’s clutch moments with runners on base. “Just time and again, she comes [through].”

“[Her] big hits are great,” said fellow senior Morgan Romba. “They do a lot for the team to get everyone going.”

Ahead 14-0, pitcher Amanda Maldonado looked to secure the victory but ran into trouble. The freshman loaded the bases with one out only to strike out the final two batters of the game for the win.

“[Amanda] has a tremendous amount of focus,” coach Aughey said after the game. “Nothing really bothers her.”

Westwood falls to 3-6 on the season with the loss as the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen improve to 8-3-1.

GAME NOTES: All 11 Fort Lee student athletes saw time during the course of the game….Pitcher Amanda Maldonado allowed just two hits and two walks to go along with her nine strikeouts…Outfielders Caitlin McKenna and Morgan Romba each scored three runs.

THE NEXT GAME: Fort Lee is back in action on Tuesday afternoon with a road game at Arts High School beginning at 4 p.m.

“It’s a whole new day and a whole new ballgame,” said senior Brianna Mattessich. “We just got to stay focused.”