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Friday, April 26, 2013

T H E D A I LY J O U R N A L

STARTING NINE
Coach Pam Pickett has penciled Rios name into the starting lineup for four years, taking advantage of her excellent defensive skills and timely hitting. Rios glovework helped her earn a first-team All-CAL selection last season. The West Chester University-bound Rios took some time to talk to The Daily Journal about Buena softball, senior year and some of her favorite things.

Question 1) What are your thoughts on the teams fast start in the first 11 games of the season? A: Were having fun. Were competitive. We just have good chemistry I think. 2) What is your favorite restaurant and whats the best item to get there? A: (Villa) Fazzolaris (Italian Restaurant in Buena) and it has to be the pizza there. 3) What is your favorite movie? A: The Green Mile.

4) Game-winning hit or game-saving catch, which is better? A: The defensive play. 5) If Americas got talent did a Buena softball edition, which player would win? A: Natalie (Giannascoli), easy. First of all, shes always dancing or singing something. Last year, we did the Call Me Maybe thing, that all her doing. Shes definitely a jokester too. 6) What would you like to major in at college and why? A: Business management because I love to be

organized and be on top of things. 7) What cell phone app cant you live without? A: Probably my GPS. 8) Without saying friends, what is your favorite thing about Buena High School? A: The school spirit. 9) Prom, senior trip or graduation, which is going to be the highlight of your senior year? A: Definitely the prom.

JANESSA RIOS
Buena Senior Shortstop

WINNING RECIPE
Sacred Heart junior owns 49 career victories
By Tom McGurk
tmcgurk@thedailyjournal.com

AREA LEADERS
Batting Average Janna Gaburo, Schalick .................576 Lindsey Gaines, Cumbelrand .........526 Deidra Turner, Schalick ..................526 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland..............515 Becca Collins, Buena .....................485 Jodi Cook, Cumberland .................485 Amanda Buckson, Millville............484 Rachel Rivera, Millville ..................484 Casey Derella, Millville ..................477 Corie Collins, Millville....................457 Kylie Finley, Vineland ....................455 Hits Casey Derella, Millville ....................21 Lindsey Gaines, Cumberland ...........20 Brigitte Garvey, Vineland.................17 Kodi Pollock, Cumbelrand................17 Janessa Rios, Buena ........................17 Becca Collins, Buena .......................16 Corie Collins, Millville ......................16 Jodi Cook, Cumberland ...................16 Emily Pettit, Cumberland .................16 Amanda Buckson, Millville ..............15 Kylie Finley, Vineland.......................15 Janna Gaburo, Schalick ...................15 Natalie Giannascoli, Buena..............15 Carly Linus, Buena...........................15 Kady Mae Makos, Millville...............15 Rachel Rivera, Millville ....................15 Kayla Rohm, Delsea ........................15 Runs Emily Pettit, Cumberland .................15 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart....14 Jodi Cook, Cumberland ...................14 Casey Derella, Millville ....................14 Rachel Rivera, Millville ....................14 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart.........13 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart.............13 Katie McCormick, Cumberland ........13 Janessa Rios, Buena ........................13 Janna Gaburo, Schalick ...................12 Lindsey Gaines, Cumberland............12 Carly Linus, Buena...........................12 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland................12 Home runs Casey Derella, Millville......................4 Julia Voluntad, Delsea.......................4 Brigitte Garvey, Vineland ..................3 Jackie Martin, Cumberland ...............3 Rachel Rivera, Millville......................3 RBIs Lindsey Gaines, Cumberland ...........24 Casey Derella, Millville ....................17 Natalie Giannascoli, Buena..............13 Kady Mae Makos, Millville...............13 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart....12 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart.............12 Abby Pettit, Cumberland .................12 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland................12 Brigitte Garvey, Vineland .................11 Jackie Martin, Cumberland ..............11 Julia Voluntad, Delsea......................11 Becca Collins, Buena .......................10 Jodi Cook, Cumberland ...................10 Rachel Rivera, Millville ....................10 Lindsay Dwyer, Sacred Heart .............9 Carly Linus, Buena ............................9 Courtney Buck, Schalick....................8 Janessa Rios, Buena..........................8 Kayla Rohm, Delsea ..........................8 SBs Janessa Rios, Buena..........................5 Kayla Rodriguez, Vineland ................5 Amanda Buckson, Millville................4 Brittany Rivera, Millville ....................4 Corie Collins, Millville........................3 Casey Derella, Millville......................3 Jalene Garcia, Vineland.....................3 Katie Volov, Millville .........................3 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ..........2 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart .....2 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville.....................2 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart ..............2 Emily Pettit, Cumberland...................2 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland .................2 Pitching Wins Demi Murray, Vineland .....................8 Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart ............7 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville.....................6 Shayla Loud, Cumberland .................6 Julia Voluntad, Delsea.......................6 Janna Gaburo, Schalick .....................5 Sam Monfredo, Buena ......................5 Sam Fiocchi, Buena ...........................4 ERA Sam Fiocchi, Buena ......................0.48 Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart........1.08 Julia Voluntad, Delsea ..................1.40 Demi Murray, Vineland.................1.63 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville ................1.86 Alexa Calareso, Millville ...............2.06 Shayla Loud, Cumberland ............2.47 Strikeouts Julia Voluntad, Delsea.....................69 Demi Murray, Vineland ...................60 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville...................54 Sam Fiocchi, Buena .........................45 Shayla Loud, Cumberland ...............40 Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart ..........35 Janna Gaburo, Schalick ...................33 *Stats compiled by coaches through Wednesday; for a complete list go to our website at thedailyjournal.com/ playmakers

Push the Wheaties aside: Sacred Hearts Rosie LaGrotta may have found the new meal of champions. During her remarkable run in last years postseason that included a no-hitter in the sectional final and a one-hit gem in the state championship, the very superstitious right-hander went for the unconventional pre-game meal of macaroni salad. It worked, so I didnt change it, said LaGrotta, who also says she has lucky clothing and performs good-luck rituals on the field too. While eating creamy pasta on a hot afternoon right before first pitch might not exactly catch on with future players, LaGrotta could be the poster girl for another interesting trend. Faster isnt always better when it comes to pitching. LaGrotta wont break any speed laws with her fastball, but she has utilized pinpoint control and plenty of movement to find success and lots of it. The junior posted 42 victories in her first two seasons and has added seven more so far this spring, leaving her 10 shy of breaking the schools all-time win mark of 58 set by Kylie Kristovich in 2010. En route to being a 21-game winner in 2012, LaGrotta helped guide the Lions to their first-ever state championship. Its the win record that LaGrotta, who resides in Franklin Township, has eyed since she enrolled at Sacred Heart. And with the school shutting down in June, the pitcher is aiming to be in the top spot when the record books are closed forever. It would be great if I could get the record before its all done, she said. Its really something Ive been working for since I got here. LaGrotta doesnt create many swings and misses, but still causes hitters plenty of frustration. Its very hard to hit balls solid off of Rosie, Sacred Heart coach Les Olson said. She spots her pitches and keeps everything down. Weve always preached to her, you get us groundballs, the defense will make the plays behind you. With her seven-pitch arsenal that in-

cludes the drop and curve as her out pitches, LaGrotta induces plenty of ground balls as hitters constantly pound the low pitches into the ground. However, there is only one stat wins that remains important and catcher Danielle Lugo says theres a reason why LaGrotta can pile up those without the benefit of a blazing heater. Shes able to stay focused no matter what is going on, Lugo said. Shes just doesnt get rattled. If she makes a mistake or doesnt hit a spot, she just comes right back and attacks the next hitter. LaGrotta certainly hit her mark in her final two starts when she was center stage for the biggest moments of the season. In the Non-Public B South championship, LaGrotta faced the minimum 21 bat-

ters during a 4-0 no-hitter over Gill St. Bernards as the Lions earned their first sectional title in eight years. Four days later, LaGrotta twirled a onehitter, retiring the final 19 batters she faced in a 3-1 victory over Immaculate Conception-Lodi in the state final. While LaGrottas pitching speaks volumes, the pitcher likes to keep her words, much like her pitch count, to a minimum and often cringes when its time to be interviewed. Shes a quiet leader, but shes getting better at not holding everything in, Olson said. Two years ago, I had to coax her into giving a high-five. And who knows? If she keeps winning, she might find herself a pitchwoman for macaroni salad someday.

Sacred Heart's Rosie LaGrotta has posted 49 career wins, including a one-hitter in last years state title game.
STAFF PHOTO/ CODY GLENN

MEAN 15
1. Washington Twp .........................15-0 2. Eastern ............................................14-2 3. Shawnee...........................................9-6 4. Camden Catholic............................8-4 5. Haddon Heights .............................9-2 6. Sacred Heart ....................................9-1 7. Buena ..............................................10-3 8. Hammonton ...................................9-3 9. Gloucester Catholic ......................6-4 10. Vineland ........................................8-3 11. Gloucester.................................... 10-4 12. Paul VI. ..........................................10-2 13. Florence ..........................................9-0 14. Kingsway .....................................10-4 15. Pennsville......................................10-4

LOCAL POLL
Super Six 1. Sacred Heart (9-1). After time off for the senior trip, the Lions could play games on nine consecutive days. 2. Buena (10-3). The Chiefs will hit the road for five of their next seven games. 3. Vineland (8-3). The Fighting Clan will try to become second area team to capture a Hammonton Invitational title. 4. Cumberland (7-3). The Colts have won four of their last five games, scoring 44 runs over the span. 5. Millville (7-5). The T-Bolts had a three-game win streak snapped by St. Joseph on Tuesday. 6. Delsea (7-4). The Crusaders are battling inconsistency at the plate, scoring 10 runs against Kingsway (loss) and two against Salem (win). *Records through Wednesday.

Millville's Brittany Rivera was batting .382 entering Thursdays game. STAFF PHOTO/CRAIG MATTHEWS