Hawks hope to prolong coach's career in states BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer EDISON - After a much-needed six-game winning streak, the J.P. Stevens High School softball team had its string of victories come to an end in the first round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament in a 4-3 defeat to South Plainfield. Stevens struck first, putting two runs on the board in the fourth inning. Third baseman Caroline Vitale scored the first run of the game after reaching base on a single. After pilfering second base, Vitale touched home on a fielder's choice. Second baseman Katrina Howard scored the other run of the inning. South Plainfield responded with a run in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the Stevens lead in half. In the top half of the fifth, Stevens' right fielder Tori Ferrante drove in shortstop Kim Shjarback with a single to increase the Hawks' lead to 3-1. Unfortunately, Stevens had no answer when South Plainfield tied the game in the sixth behind pinch hitter Gina Curcio's two-run single. In the bottom of the seventh, South Plainfield catcher Stephanie Szeliga knocked in Lauren Fry from third base with a two-out single to deliver the victory for the No. 5 seed. "We were in the game the whole time," Stevens head coach Pete Catenacci said "It was just a matter of they outplayed us down the stretch." Stevens came into the tournament the No. 12 seed and reached the first round with a 6-4 win over Piscataway in the preliminary round. Center fielder Kristina Patrocinio led off the bottom half of the first inning with a solo homer to jump-start the Stevens offense. Left fielder Leah Ferrante enjoyed a solid day at the plate with a 2-for-3 outing with a double and two RBIs. Shjarback went 1-for-4 with a two-run double. The win over Piscataway was the third victory over the Chiefs for Stevens this season. It also marked the end of a six-game winning streak that enabled the team to qualify for the North Jersey Group II state tournament. "We were in a must-win situation and playing for the states during the run," Catenacci said. "We were fortunate in that some players really came alive during the streak. Players like Kim Shjarback, Caitlyn Seamster and Caroline Vitale were instrumental to the team's success." The team will look for its players to come alive once again with a meeting with crosstown rival Edison to kick off the North Jersey Group II State Tournament. The two teams split their two games this season with Stevens taking the first 5-4. Edison blanked the Hawks 5-0 in their last meeting behind Kristy Mokar's two-hitter. "The game plan is simple," Catenacci said. "We'll have to score more runs than Edison." Stevens will go with starting pitcher Kristine Rosko. Rosko enters the contest with a 6-5 mark on the year. When the season comes to a close so will the storied coaching career of Catenacci. After five GMCT titles and over 400 wins, Catenacci is stepping down. The Stevens dugout will surely miss its longtime coach.