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Friday, May 24, 2013

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

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

E X T R A I NN I NGS
STARTING NINE
Buena Regional High Schools Carly Linus has been a mainstay in the Chiefs lineup and patroled the outfield for the last three years. Along with her ability to turn extra-base hits into outs with her glove, Linus has provided steady production at the plate too. Shes hitting .432 with 37 runs and 29 RBIs.

Question 1) What has been your best memory of Buena softball so far? A: I think of all the new friendships Ive made throughout the years. 2) What is your favorite restaurant and what is the best item to get there? A: Its (Villa) Fazzolaris (Italian Restaurant in Buena) and I like the eggplant Parmesan. 3) What cellphone app cant you live without? A: Instagram. 4) If theres only one thing you could take

with you from home when you go to West Chester University, what would it be? A: Probably just things Ive learned from my experiences. 5) If they played music when you walked up to the plate, what would the song be? A: I dont know, thats a tough one, probably any Kenny Chesney song. 6) What is your favorite movie? A: The Dark Knight. 7) What are you going to major in and why?

A: Nutrition. Ive always been into that stuff and eat healthy. 8) What are your plans for summer before you go off to college? A: Just to go to the beach and hang out with my friends. 9) What advice would you give to younger players who are coming up through the Buena softball program? A: Theres no need to worry. Just be you and do your best. You have to have fun too because it goes really fast.

CARLY LINUS
Buena Senior Outfielder

MASK OF CONFIDENCE
Field players up use of safety equipment
By Tom McGurk
tmcgurk@thedailyjournal.com

AREA LEADERS
Batting Average Janna Gaburo, Schalick ...............533 Jodi Cook, Cumberland ...............500 Lindsey Gaines, Cumberland .......493 Corie Collins, Millville ..................471 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland............452 Becca Collins, Buena ...................453 Stephanie Walsh, Buena..............443 Kylee Barton, Schalick..................441 Carly Linus, Buena.......................432 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ....427 Janessa Rios, Buena ....................427 Liz Carpani, Vineland ...................421 Kylie Finley, Vineland ...................417 Kaila Smith, Sacred Heart ............410 Hits Janna Gaburo, Schalick .................40 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ......38 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart ..........38 Ashley Surran, Buena ....................36 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart..35 Carly Linus, Buena.........................35 Janessa Rios, Buena ......................35 Becca Collins, Buena .....................34 Jodi Cook, Cumberland .................34 Casey Derella, Millville ..................34 Kaila Smith, Sacred Heart..............34 Corie Collins, Millville....................33 Lindsey Gaines, Cumberland .........33 Natalie Giannascoli, Buena ...........32 Kylee Barton, Schalick ...................30 Emily Pettit, Cumberland...............29 Lindsay Dwyer, Sacred Heart .........28 Kodi Pollock, Cumberland .............28 Jessica Harrell, Schalick .................27 Courtney Miller, Schalick ...............27 Stephanie Walsh, Buena ...............27 Runs Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart ..........42 Carly Linus, Buena.........................37 Janessa Rios, Buena ......................37 Ashley Surran, Buena ....................36 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ......34 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart..33 Natalie Giannascoli, Buena ...........32 Kaila Smith, Sacred Heart ..............31 Janna Gaburo, Schalick .................30 Home runs Julia Voluntad, Delsea.....................6 Casey Derella, Millville ....................5 Jackie Martin, Cumberland .............4 Brigitte Garvey, Vineland ................3 Rachel Rivera, Millville ....................3 Kaila Smith, Sacred Heart................3 Liz Carpani, Vineland.......................2 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ........2 Jodi Cook, Cumberland ...................2 Lauren Dwyer, Sacred Heart ............2 RBIs Linsdey Gaines, Cumberland .........39 Kaila Smith, Sacred Heart..............37 Janessa Rios, Buena ......................31 Ashley Surran, Buena ....................31 Carly Linus, Buena.........................29 Becca Collins, Buena .....................27 Natalie Giannascoli, Buena ...........27 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart ..........26 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart..24 Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ......23 Lauren Dwyer, Sacred Heart ..........22 Brigitte Garvey, Vineland ..............22 SBs Gabby Castellini, Sacred Heart ........8 Samantha Caterina, Sacred Heart....8 Janna Gaburo, Schalick ...................8 Danielle Lugo, Sacred Heart ............8 Emily Pettit, Cumberland.................8 Janessa Rios, Buena ........................8 Kayla Rodriguez, Vineland ..............8 Pitching Wins Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart.........19 Shayla Loud, Cumberland..............14 Janna Gaburo, Schalick..................13 Demi Murray, Vineland..................13 Sam Fiocchi, Buena ........................11 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville..................11 Sam Monfredo, Buena ...................11 Julia Voluntad, Delsea.....................9 Alyssa Waddington, Sacred Heart ...7 ERA Sam Fiocchi, Buena ....................0.64 Julia Voluntad, Delsea ................1.38 Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart......1.46 Shayla Loud, Cumberland ...........1.76 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville ..............1.95 Demi Murray, Vineland...............1.95 Sam Monfredo, Buena ................1.99 Strikeouts Julia Voluntad, Delsea .................144 Cassidy Gorgo, Millville ................111 Demi Murray, Vineland.................111 Sam Fiocchi, Buena .......................88 Janna Gaburo, Schalick .................88 Rosie LaGrotta, Sacred Heart ........77 *Stats compiled by coaches through Wednesday; for a complete list go to our website at thedailyjournal.com/playmakers

Lindsey Gaines flies around the infield from her shortstop position, turning sure-fire base hits into outs with her slick fielding skills. Theres no fear in the eyes of the Vineland High School sophomore, not even from an infielders worst nightmare the bad hop that can appear without warning when a ball hits a hidden crevasse or stone. A softball fielding mask, which resembles one worn in the sport of cricket, has helped ease any fright, and in Gaines case, pain that comes from potential danger. Gaines donned the mask after getting hit twice in the face on bad-hop grounders last season. She said that while her nose wasnt broken in either incident, she wanted to make sure that all her facial features stayed perfectly in place. I didnt want it to happen again, this was a way to prevent it, Gaines said. It took some time to get used to wearing it, but I definitely feel more comfortable now and more confident. Vineland coach Alex Gomez, an infielder during his playing days, says he knows the damage a bad hop can do to a player, both mentally and physically. I got hit plenty of times, its not the fun part of the game, Gomez said. If she feels more comfortable with the mask on, thats fine, great. I want her to play the game the right way, not shy away from the ball. Of the areas core schools, Sacred Heart pitcher Rosie LaGrotta wears one and Vinelands Liz Carpani puts one on when she enters the pitching circle. Its not exactly a fad that is catching on quickly. However, that could change in the future. According to an article on nj.com, two schools in North Jersey require that all infielders wear masks and another school, Park Ridge, is pushing for its conference to pass a rule that would require the safety equipment for all infielders. Buena coach Pam Pickett said some

of her players, especially the younger and more inexperienced ones, wear masks in practice and that mouthpieces have become a popular piece of safety equipment for Chiefs infielders. Theres been some talk about masks becoming mandatory and obviously, safety issues for the kids always have to come first, Pickett said. I love the fact that cages were added to the helmets years ago, that definitely improved the safety of the players. In the mid-2000s, the NJSIAA made cages for batting helmets mandatory. While many players balked at the time that the new safety equipment affected their play, the new generation doesnt know what its like to play without cages on helmets. In the field, pitchers and corner infielders are the positions most in the line of fire by hard hit balls off the bat. I think it would be a good idea for those position players, Sacred Heart

coach Les Olson said. You see some really hard shots down the line and up the middle. There just isnt a lot of reaction time on some of those plays. Although pitchers gained another split second to react to batted balls a couple years ago when the state moved the pitching rubber back from 40 to 43 feet, they still have absorbed welts on comebackers to the circle. While the masks prevent facial injuries, they do make communicating a little more challenging, according to Gaines, since the equipment sits tight around the jaw line. You have to move it a little bit to talk, I just lift it up when I have to call the number of outs, she said. While Gaines believes players should have personal choice when it comes to the equipment, in her eyes, the mask keeps her sight perfect. I dont have to worry about getting hit, I can just go play, she said.

Vineland's Lindsey Gaines is one of a few players in the area that have donned a mask in the field to protect against injuries.
STAFF PHOTO/CRAIG MATTHEWS

MEAN 15
1. Washington Twp ..............................25-2 2. Sacred Heart ......................................26-3 3. Shawnee .............................................20-8 4. Eastern .................................................21-8 5. Haddon Heights ................................21-3 6. Buena...................................................22-4 7. Camden Catholic...............................19-7 8. Florence...............................................20-0 9. St. Joseph ............................................17-4 10. GCIT ....................................................17-5 11. Gloucester Catholic .........................15-9 12. Millville ..............................................13-8 13. Vineland ...........................................13-6 14. Cumberland .....................................15-5 15. Williamstown ..................................14-9
*Records through Wednesday

LOCAL POLL
Super Six

1. Sacred Heart (26-3) The Lions are looking to make their final season the bestever in program history. 2. Buena (22-4) The Chiefs have posted 11 shutouts; only given up a total of seven runs in their last 12 games. 3. Millville (13-8) The Thunderbolts suffered their first shutout loss of the season in the opening round of the Group IV playoffs. 4. Cumberland (15-5) The bats have quieted down in the last two games (three runs total), but the Colts still possess firepower, averaging 7.8 runs per game. 5. Vineland (13-6) If the Fighting Clan hit, they have the potential to beat any opponent. 6. Delsea (10-9) Entering Thursdays quarterfinal, the Crusaders were 10-2 in Group III South tournament games since 2010. *Records through Wednesday.

Vineland's Kayla Rodriguez scores as she slides past Cherry Hill West's Linda Kovacs during Tuesdays Group IV South opening round game.
STAFF PHOTO/CRAIG MATTHEWS

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