Softball: North Brunswick edges South Brunswick in state Central 4 opener

NORTH BRUNSWICK — In addition to breezing through the GMC Blue Division without a loss, the North Brunswick High School softball team played 10 games against upper division foes, which had a two-fold purpose.

Playing bigger opponents helped the Raiders accumulate sufficient power points to earn the No. 4 seed in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 Tournament bracket. It also helped prepare North Brunswick for what transpired on Wednesday afternoon against a Red Division opponent, South Brunswick, in the opening round of the playoffs.

North Brunswick had the composure to succeed on a 90-degree afternoon in a taut contest in which the lead was never more than one run to prevail, 4-3, and set up a sectional quarterfinal game against Marlboro on Tuesday.

“We’re not perfect, but we can always work and strive to be,” pitcher Jordan Tarabokia said. “Playing the Red Division teams, it shows it to us. It also gave us the opportunity to get that confidence to say, hey, we can battle with this team.”

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Tarabokia (16-6) allowed three unearned runs over the first two innings before retiring 16 of the final 18 batters she faced -- a single and an infield error the lone exceptions. The junior right-hander tossed a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks. Her confidence never wavered despite the Raiders not securing the lead for good until the fourth inning.

“I have so much confidence behind me that I’m able to actually stay calm in the center,” Tarabokia stated. “It did take me a bit to settle in. I was having some problems with my shoulder and my back. I stretched it out, I took my time and, after two innings, I was able to bring it back and get it going.”

South Brunswick (8–17) took North Brunswick’s best hitter, Victoria Frobosilo, out of the picture after she singled and scored in the first inning. She walked in each of her next three at bats -- two intentional and the third on four consecutive balls that appeared to be just as intentional.

That meant someone else would have to do the heavy lifting at the plate, and that someone was shortstop Gabriella Melendez, who doubled Frobosilo home in the first and then snapped a 3-3 deadlock with a single that drove in Frobosilo in the fourth.

The Vikings scored in the top of the first when freshman pitcher Gianna Lagomarsino singled and scored on an error.

Frobosilo was on second base when Melendez batted in the top of the frame and quickly moved to third on a wild pitch.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play,” Melendez said of her double to deep left center. “I didn’t think it was going that far, but it worked out.”

Melendez and cleanup hitter Caleigh Shulas each made South Brunswick pay for its generosity to Frobosilo. Shulas went 2-for-2 with a double and walked twice, taking second on the first walk for a stolen base. Melendez, who bats third, was not offended that the Vikings would walk a batter to get to her. In fact, she rather enjoyed it.

“I’m glad they pitched to me because then I could hit balls like I did,” Melendez offered. “Walking Victoria was a mistake because now it just puts the runner on base and helps me bring ‘em in.”

Lagomarsino, one of several talented freshmen in the GMC this year, yielded four runs and five hits over her four innings with five strikeouts and six walks. She and South Brunswick will no doubt enjoy better days over the coming seasons.

With a senior-laden team, North Brunswick’s time is now.

“We talked about when we’re the home team against a good team they might score first,” North Brunswick coach Danielle Tamarana said. “If we fall apart, we’re going to lose the game. If we come back fighting, we’re going to win the game. That became what we worked on in practice and today it showed off.”

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Softball: North Brunswick edges South Brunswick in Central 4 opener