Cougars' Kuzma powers All-FRHSD softball team
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Kate Kuzma and the Colts Neck High School Cougars carried the day in girls softball during the 2009 season in the Freehold Regional High School District.

Kuzma, who is heading to Monmouth University, was one of the most feared hitters in the Shore Conference, with a .500 batting average and a 1.067 slugging percentage.

With support from D.J. Slugh and her younger sister, Taylor Kuzma, Kate Kuzma helped to make Colts Neck one of the most productive offenses in the conference. The Cougars exceeded expectations in 2009, going 15-9 and ranking among the Top 10 softball teams in the Shore Conference.

Freehold Township High School had another solid season for Coach Beth English. The Patriots, who were hit hard by graduation in 2008, also exceeded expectations, earning a spot in postseason play and going 12-11.

The big surprise among local teams in 2009 was Marlboro High School. Under first-year coach Nick Scalzo, the Mustangs reached the championship game of the Monmouth County Blue Division tournament before falling to Holmdel High School. The Mustangs won six of the final seven games they played this spring.

The News Transcript's 2009 All-Freehold Regional High School District Softball Team is led by Kate Kuzma and her Colts Neck teammates D.J. Slugh, Taylor Kuzma, Cassie Leo and pitcher Rebecca McKenzie.

Rounding out the team are, from Freehold Township, Carly Friedman, Arianna Barres and pitcher Brooke Witcher; from Freehold High School, Meghan Gibson and Rachel Waldorf; from Howell High School, Jillian Friedman; from Manalapan High School, Jacqueline Eadie and Lauren Piccarelli; and from Marlboro, Isabelle Mecker and Alyssa Bloom.

Shore Conference A North Division pitchers are certainly glad to see that Kate Kuzma has graduated. After four years of being worn out by the Cougars' slugger, they have seen enough. Kuzma was better than ever in 2009, batting .500 for the season and leading the Shore Conference in home runs (9) and RBIs (32) despite missing the team's last four games after suffering an knee injury (no surgery was required). She will be ready to go at Monmouth University in the fall. Kuzma had 33 hits on the season, of which nine were doubles.

Kuzma, who can play any position on the field, leaves Colts Neck with practically all of the school's season and career records. Among her career totals are 20 home runs, 85 RBIs and 135 hits. Few have played the game with as much passion as Kuzma does.

Slugh is one player who can match Kuzma's love of softball. She rebounded nicely from a knee injury that cost her the 2008 season. The senior, who will be continuing her softball career at Hofstra University, showed no signs of rust in 2009. She batted .388. Of her 26 hits, four were home runs. She scored 12 runs and had 18 RBIs.

Taylor Kuzma will be around for two more years to trouble pitchers. She did what leadoff hitters are supposed to do: get on base and score. She batted .361 and scored 28 runs, tied for third in the Shore Conference. And she was a spark on the base paths, swiping 28 bases without being caught once.

Kuzma and Colts Neck third baseman Leo are the Cougars' future. Leo, a sophomore, displayed power to go with her .330 batting average by blasting four home runs. She scored 12 runs and had 15 RBIs.

McKenzie saw brief action last year, but the Cougars had no reason to anticipate her being so effective this year. She was more than someone who could keep a high-scoring team in the game. She turned into one of the Shore Conference's winningest pitchers, with 15 wins (15-9 record). She ranked high with 167 strikeouts, and her earned run average was 2.17.

Carly Friedman was Freehold Township's catalyst at the top of the lineup. She batted .470 and scored a team-high 20 runs. She displayed some pop with four doubles, two triples and two home runs.

Barres was a great glove at third base, and she batted .380 to boot. The Freehold Township senior shook things up on the base paths, stealing 11 bases.

Witcher had another solid year on the mound, going 11-11 for the Patriots. The junior fields her position as well as anyone.

Jillian Friedman, a junior, was Howell's marquee offensive player. She batted .364 for the Rebels, leading the team in doubles (7), triples (2) and RBIs (11).

Marlboro's Mecker is one of the FRHSD's up-and-coming standout players. The junior catcher batted .321 in 2009 with seven doubles, one home run and 15 RBIs. Defensively, she threw out just under 50 percent of base runners attempting to steal.

Bloom was Marlboro's designated player when she was not pitching. She contributed with the bat, hitting .324, and on the mound she was 6-9 with a 3.20 ERA.

The 2009 campaign was a disappointing season for the Manalapan Braves, but Piccarelli (shortstop) and Eadie (second base) did all they could. They were sure-handed with the glove, with each having a fielding percentage above 90 percent.

Piccarelli batted .354 with one home run and five doubles. Eadie batted .348 with three doubles and 11 RBIs.

Gibson wrapped up a great career at Freehold High School, batting .471. She smacked five doubles and three home runs. She scored 14 runs and drove in 11.

Waldorf, another Freehold senior, went out in style, batting .400 with a team-high 32 hits and 13 RBIs.