Rega helps power South River softball past Dunellen

TL;DR

Reese Rega led South River High School softball to a 15-4 victory over J.P. Stevens with three hits and five RBI. The win keeps South River at the top of the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue-American Division.

Key points

Reese Rega had three hits and five RBI
South River won 15-4 against J.P. Stevens
South River's record is 13-3, 8-2 in the conference
The victory keeps South River atop the division
South River previously lost to Dunellen

South River High SchoolJ.P. StevensGreater Middlesex Conference

SOUTH RIVER — Anabella Almenas was her own worst enemy at times Monday, pitching herself into jams, then, with one exception, pitching herself out of them.

Meanwhile, her batterymate, Reese Rega, provided all of the support she needed with three hits and five RBI as the South River High School softball team recorded a five-inning, 15-4 triumph over J.P. Stevens.

The victory keeps the Rams (13-3, 8-2) atop the heated Greater Middlesex Conference Blue-American Division race, with Dunellen and North Plainfield also sitting with two losses.

South River spotted Dunellen 10 run in the first inning in a key divisional loss on Friday, but played with the lead Monday after scoring three runs of its own in the first inning. Rega drove in two with a single up the middle and scored on Abby Helstowski’s infield hit.

“That was something that was not like these girls this season,” South River coach Nicky Curran said of Friday’s awful start, which followed the team’s late arrival and abbreviated 10-minute warmup. “I commend their ability to keep going, especially with that bad loss on Friday.”

More: Softball roundup, daily April results, links, Skyland, GMC, area UCC

Rega singled in two more runs in a five-run third inning and delivered her final RBI with a single in a six-run, fifth-inning outburst that brought the game to an early conclusion.

J.P. Stevens (7-8, 2-5) put a runner in scoring position in the first inning, then loaded the bases in the second and third, but came away empty each time. Almenas got the first outs in the second by strikeout and fanned the last two batters in the third.

The senior ace was not as fortunate in the fourth as the Hawks put their first five batters on base on two walks, two singles and another walk, scoring four runs, two on bases-loaded walks. Once again Almenas fanned two batters to get out of the inning.

“I do get scared when the bases are loaded, especially when I’m walking a lot of people,” Almenas revealed. “I think it just helps me focus better because obviously I want to win and help my team win and I don’t want to let anyone down.”

She walked the first batter in the fifth, recorded her eighth and final strikeout against the second, then turned a line drive back to the circle into a double play. She matched her eight strikeouts with eight walks and yielded five hits, two by Dhriti Patel.

Q&A

How did Reese Rega perform in the game against J.P. Stevens?

Reese Rega had three hits and five RBI in the game against J.P. Stevens.

What was the final score of the South River vs. J.P. Stevens softball game?

The final score was 15-4 in favor of South River.

What is South River's record in the Greater Middlesex Conference after this victory?

After the victory, South River's record is 13-3 overall and 8-2 in the conference.

How did South River's performance against Dunellen affect their standings?

South River's earlier loss to Dunellen, where they gave up 10 runs in the first inning, put them in a competitive position in the division standings.