Winning pitcher Sophia DeMarco helped her own cause by going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored as the Cranford High School softball team got past theAL Johnson Crusaders, 63, on May 6. The very next day, the Cougars drilled the Union Farmers, 10-2. On May 8, DeMarco recorded seven strikeouts in a 10-inning, 1-0 shutout of the 15-5 Hanover Park Hornets.

Against the 12-9 Crusaders, Maddy DeLong went 2-for-4. Ellie Queenan and Ava Orr each singled and scored once. Sarah Hartmann scored twice and had an RBI. Ciara Conley had an RBI. Crusader pitcher Cassie Conforti recorded six strikeouts. Gianna Calleja had a pair of singles and two RBI. Shannon Lancellotti went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Krista LaBianca and Madden Puerari each singled and scored once.

DeMarco had a huge afternoon against the Farmers, going 4-for-4, which included her 13th home run of the season (47th career), three RBI and three runs scored. DeLong blasted her sixth home run of the season and went 3-for-4, including a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. Brooke Jones went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Hartmann went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Conley had an RBI single and scored once. Orr had an RBI. Sophia Alvarez-Gomez had an RBI single and scored once. Queenan had an RBI and Claire Kelly singled. Pitcher Brooke Bentrewicz tossed four innings and recorded six strikeouts.

Losing pitcher Jenna Wakefield and Allessandra Silvestre each had an RBI single for Union. Rebecca Rivera singled and scored. Jalah Fenner scored once and Kaiya Koonhow singled.

DeMarco actually went 2-for-4 with a walk and scored the winning run on Alvarez-Gomez’s RBI against the Hornets. DeLong singled and walked three times. Jones singled and Queenan walked. Losing pitcher Jules Piano recorded no strikeouts. Grace Waldren had two singles, while Tara DeFazio and Sabrina Casola each doubled.