By Simon Toffell
On a Nice spring day where temps were in the low 70s under Partly Cloudy to mostly Cloudy skies the Glen Rock Varsity Softball team beat Garfield 11-1.
it was a special game at Coleman School, it was senior day. The day started with GR players handing each Garfield Senior a white rose after that the GR Seniors were given a Red Rose from a teammate.
The game started with Garfield scoring their only run of the Afternoon in the 1st inning. GR Panther pitcher Olivia Brencovich struck out the next 2 Garfield batters. GR came to bat and tied the game and then took the lead a lead that they never looked back on.
Glen Rock center fielder Zoe Bender who was 2-4 2 runs scored and 2 SB and RBIs her last hit of the day came in the 5th inning and that hit will be one that stays with her for a long time to come as her last a bat of the day would end up being her 150th hit and 150th career Run scored. Old teammates that were home from college and Parents ware all on hand to root her on as she hit 150. After the hit Zoe stopped on 1st and coach Kelly Dowell ran over to congratulat her Zoe who has been on the team since she was a freshmen in HS and who has been playing the game of Softball since she was 5.
Zoe had played GR Rec and travel softball up until she was 14. She started playing club softball since she was 12. Zoes’ Dad, Jeff Bender, said to BTN after the game,
“I was extremely proud but not surprised that Zoe would get her 150th career hit today. She needed 2 hits to get it and has been playing great. She just needed to be patient to get a good pitch to hit and when she did, she ripped it up the middle. She stole 2nd and 3rd, then scored the game wining run to record her 150th career run scored. Just an amazing day, especially on Senior Day. “
Zoe talked about her 150 hits / runs to Banana Tree News after the game.
As soon as I made contact with the ball, I knew it was going to be a hit. Reaching first base was a moment of pure joy and reassurance that my hard work has paid off. My focus immediately turned to getting my 150th run scored to win the game. I stole 2nd on the next pitch, and stole 3rd a few pitches later. Vix Small then crushed a ball in the right-center gap, and I scored easily, ending the game in the bottom of the fifth, 11-1. Moments like these motivate me to work harder each and every day, knowing that it will all be worth it in the end. Playing for Glen Rock Varsity Softball for 4 years has taught me many lessons, but most importantly that hard work and dedication will always pay off. Every extra swing, throw, sprint, and ounce of sweat is worth it.
This week also marked a year for Zoe Bender for when she got her 100 hit and it was Vs this same team.
The Baseball team also had there senior day Monday and GR was winners over Garfield 13-3
