The Week in Sports: a Look Back and a Look Ahead

From baseball to cheerleading, golf to softball, and spring track to tennis, here is the latest news in Fort Lee sports:

• BASEBALL - The baseball team continued their season back up north in New Jersey this week. The Bridgemen lost to Cliffside Park 3-2 on Monday as sophomore Nick Gentile collected both runs batted in.  Then, the team fell to rival Ridgefield Park on Wednesday 10-1 and again on Friday 7-2 to Dumont. The Fort Lee Bridgemen look to end the losing streak next week with four more games scheduled. They will host both Westwood (Monday at 4:15 p.m.) and Manchester (Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.) before hitting the road  for the final two games against Dwight Morrow (Friday at 4:15 p.m.) and Bergenfield (Saturday 11 a.m.).
• CHEERLEADING - The Fort Lee High School Cheerleaders returned this week after winning a National Championship in Williamsburg, Va. on Sunday. The team was welcomed home by friends and family, have received congratulations from the mayor and have been gaining more respect from classmates and town citizens as well. The Lady Bridgemen will also be honored in the near future at an upcoming Mayor and Council Meeting.
• GOLF - The girls golf season started on Monday when the Lady Bridgemen (262) defeated both Cliffside Park (289) and Passaic Tech (292) but lost to Holy Angels (228) at the North Jersey Country Club. The girls also beat Cliffside Park again on Tuesday by 29 shots (242-271). Senior Sarah Wi led the team both days with a 51 on Monday and a 50 on Tuesday at the Valley Brook Country Club. Looking ahead, the team will play Pascack Hills on Monday, Westwood on Tuesday and Ridgefield Memorial on Friday. Each match-up will begin at 4 p.m. at the Overpeck County Gold Course.
• SOFTBALL - It was a tough week to root for Cliffside Park, as the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen also beat the Red Raiders in softball on Tuesday 6-2. Then, in an unusual game, Fort Lee tied Ridgefield Park 8-8 on Thursday in a game suspended by worsening field conditions. The Lady Bridgemen were then shutout by Dumont 6-0 on Thursday but recovered with another pair of wins  Saturday. Fort Lee defeated Dickinson High School 12-7 at home behind a complete game by freshman Amanda Maldonado, who also had two RBIs. The pitcher then threw a three-hitter later that night in an 8-4 win against Lyndhurst in the Coaches vs. Cancer Softball Tournament as senior Brianna Mattessich had two home runs. The Lady Bridgemen have another four games this week: Monday at Westwood (4 p.m.), Wednesday vs Elmwood Park (4:15 p.m.), Friday vs New Milford (4:15 p.m.), and hosting Lodi on Saturday (11 a.m.).
• REC SOFTBALL - The Fort Lee Girls Softball League begins their season on Sunday. The opening ceremonies started at 10 a.m. with pictures for each team following that. There are also seven games scheduled among the minor and major league teams as well. Check the link here to see which teams are playing on Sunday and for an updated schedule of games throughout the week.  
• TRACK - The spring track season started on Monday as the boy’s team narrowly defeated Dumont 73-67. The meet was decided on the final race in the 4 x 400 relay, when juniors Frankie Goris, Jonathan Spenst, Alex Chong and senior Shun Sugawara finished five seconds ahead of the Huskies at 3:46 for the victory. Up next, the co-ed teams will compete against Cliffside Park on Monday beginning at 4 p.m. Fort Lee will then compete at the Bergen County Relays on Wednesday at Ramsey, while the Friday and Saturday part of the races will be held at River Dell High School.
• TENNIS - After being seeing their season opener delayed twice this season, the Fort Lee boy’s tennis team competed in their first match this week. The team was postponed on Tuesday from facing Cliffside Park but did face off on Wednesday. The Bridgemen defeated Ridgefield Park 4-1 behind their senior leaders. Both Jason Halpern (6-0, 6-3) and Henry Huang (6-2, 6-2) won their singles matches in straight sets as the doubles teams also won their season opening matches as well. Fort Lee will now host Westwood on Monday at 4:15 p.m. before having a re-match on Tuesday at Cliffside Park beginning at 4 p.m.. The Bridgemen close out the week by competing at Dwight Morrow at 4:15 p.m. on Friday.