Allentown softball team opens state play today
By george albano
Staff Writer

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Allentown’s Ali Van Horn is tagged out at second base during the Redbirds’ game with Ewing on May 13.

This has always been Bob DiBernardo’s favorite time of year — the postseason.

And after leading the Allentown High School girls’ softball team to their second consecutive Colonial Valley Conference championship, the Redbirds begin play in the Central Jersey Group II state tournament today against Montgomery High.

DiBernardo’s teams always seem to peak at the end of the season when the stakes are raised. He coached at Allentown in 1997, and then after three years away, returned last season and guided the Redbirds to the CVC co-championship.

This season, they won the crown outright, following a doubleheader sweep over West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Monday by scores of 5-1 and 10-0. That gave Allentown five straight wins and a record of 17-7, heading into Thursday’s state opener.

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Allentown center fielder Courtney Kubik covers second base on a ground ball during the Redbirds’ game with Ewing .

And if the Redbirds can put together another five-game win streak, they can claim the New Jersey Group II state championship.

"The next five will be a little harder now," DiBernardo reasoned.

But first things being first, Allentown needs to win three games to capture the Central Jersey sectional title to advance to the state semifinals. After a first-round bye, it all begins Thursday against Montgomery, the fourth seed with a 14-4 record, while the Redbirds are seeded fifth.

Other than that, however, DiBernardo admits he knows very little about his opponent.

"They’re the fourth seed, so I know they’re a higher seed than us," he said with a laugh. "I’ve scouted them in person, and I’ve gotten some scouting reports on them. I know they have a freshman pitcher, and they try to string a couple of hits together and get a couple of runs."

Of course, if you didn’t know better, you’d think DiBernardo was talking about his own team. The only difference is the Redbirds have a senior pitcher in Abby Cotrell, a varsity starter since her sophomore year. Give the edge in mound experience to Allentown.

But like Montgomery, the Redbirds also try to scratch out runs and play solid defense.

"We just have to put the bat on the ball," DiBernardo said. "If we put the bat on the ball, we’ll be fine."

Allentown has been doing a good job at the plate all season as different players have step up each game. If it isn’t Nicole Stanke or Briana Fula, both .300 hitters, it’s Margaret Ryan or Ali Van Horn or Courtney Kubik, all of whom have been coming on lately.

"Margaret Ryan is hitting well now, and Ali Van Horn has been coming on strong," DiBernardo said. "Courtney Kubik is doing well also.

"So we’re getting some hits out of people, which is good, and Abby is throwing well," DiBernardo said.

But while it appears the Redbirds are playing their best ball at the right time of the season, DiBernardo insists it’s not by design.

"I think we play hard all the time. We don’t treat any game different than any other," he said. "The only difference is the stakes are a little higher now. But they just have to relax and play the game that got them here.

"What got you here is what keeps you going."

What also keeps the Redbirds going is the memory of last year’s state tournament when they lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to Watching Hills in the first round of the Group III sectional, the only run of the game crossing the plate in the seventh inning. If nothing else, Allentown should be a little hungrier this season.

"I think so," DiBernardo said, adding the Redbirds have had their share of close games this season as well. "We had a good game the other day when we beat Hopewell Valley 4-3 in 11 innings."

Hopewell Valley was in second place at the time, and that win all but assured Allentown the CVC title. Monday’s twin killing made it official.

Montgomery also played Hopewell Valley this season and lost 1-0. The only other common opponent the two teams shared was Hun High School, a team Allentown lost to while Montgomery beat 1-0 in extra innings.

Add it all up, and it sounds like two pretty even teams squaring off on Thursday. One will move on while the other will be done for the season.

"You can’t change the way you play now," DiBernardo concluded. "We just have to get good pitching, timely hitting and play defense like we have all season."

True, but DiBernardo just seems to enjoy it more this time of year.