Since it was returning a lot of players off a squad that won the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament in 2010, the East Brunswick High softball team was expecting 2011 to be a good year.
Thus far, the Bears are living up to expectations.
East Brunswick has won all eight of its games in May and is 18-1 on the season. It has already won its division title and it is the top seed in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament.
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"We want to win everything," East Brunswick pitcher Beth Ann Hyland said. "We want to do the best we possibly can."
Hyland, a junior, has certainly done her part. She is 18-1 and has an ERA under a run a game.
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Hyland has also stepped up in big spots when East Brunswick really needed her.
With Hyland on the mound, the squad shut out Edison, 3-0, on May 10. Shannon Costello (two runs) and Alex Krantz (two RBI) led the offense. Edison is 19-3 and two of its losses are to East Brunswick.
Hyland also kept the game close and gave her teammates a chance to rally for a 2-1 win over South Brunswick on May 5. Sarah Gunia, Caitlen Hertel and Gabrielle Kelliher had key hits in that one.
"The year is going well," Hyland said. "We knew we would be just as strong -- if not stronger -- than last year. We have nine seniors and six of them are starting."
For the most part, East Brunswick usually has a very potent offense. It's so strong that a lot of its games are stopped after five innings because of the 10-run blowout rule.
In an 11-1 win over South Brunswick on May 2, Shannon Costello hit two homers. Dallas Ostin, Lauren Pensavalle, Deb DeWitt and Alex Krantz added two hits each.
In a 19-0 win over Piscataway, Hertell had five hits and Krantz had four. Costello and Kelliher both homered.
In an 11-0 win over Old Bridge on May 9, Costello homered twice. DeWitt also homered. Jackie O'Connor and Ostin added two hits each.
In a 16-1 win over Colonia on May 16, Kelliher, DeWitt and Pensavalle had two hits each.
East Brunswick's other win this month was 6-0 over Lawrence on May 13. Costello and Kelliher both homered in that game. DeWitt and Krantz both had two hits.
East Brunswick will open play in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament on May 22. East Brunswick is the top seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and will open up against Marlboro on May 24.
"We're like ranked number four in the state," Hyland noted. "We're looking forward to the tournaments. We'll be a tough team to beat."
