By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Apr. 5: Cora Bridgers has literally come full circle in the circle, with Hamilton West symbolizing both the beginning and the end of her frustration.

Last year, prior to Steinert’s Apr. 27 softball game with the Hornets, Bridgers had a chat with coach Jean Ruppert.

“I told Rupe I didn’t think I’d be able to pitch,” she recalled. “And it just got worse from there.”

It got so bad, that Bridgers did not see game action again until today, when she toed the rubber for the first time since last Apr. 22 against Hightstown. If the effort was any indication, happy days are here again as Cora fired a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in Steinert’s 7-1 victory over visiting Hamilton.

Bridgers said she felt great and, after allowing four walks over the first four innings, she looked great. Cora retired the final 10 batters she faced, and 15 of the last 16. Seven of her strikeouts came in the final three innings as she got into a nice rhythm.

“She threw really well against Allentown (last opening day) and shortly after that we lost her with a scapular related injury,” Ruppert said. “At the time we were concerned for her and for us, because she’s an important part of the staff.”

Steinert overcame that, of course, and went on to win the state title with Kaylee Whittaker and Kaley Wise anchoring the staff. Wise is gone but Bridgers gives the Spartans three strong arms again, including Whittaker and Morgan “The Menace” Comfort.”

“I felt like I went out on such a good note (in her final appearances last season) and I wanted to continue that,” Bridgers said. “It was disappointing not to pitch, but we won states and that was amazing to watch. Even if I wasn’t playing, it was awesome to see my teammates do so well.”

It’s even more awesome to be in the middle of it, which Bridgers was against Hamilton.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, she was staked to a lead when Carli Backlund homered over the centerfield fence. Bridgers then lost her control, walking the bases loaded with one out in the top of the second. She responded with two straight strikeouts to survive her first crisis upon return.

It appeared to lift the weight of the world from her shoulders.

“It did, definitely,” she said with a smile.

A much-improved Hamilton team did get to Bridgers in the third with its only two hits, as Ashley Gerstnicker singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Julia Martine’s single. That would be it for West, however, as the Hornets could only muster a walk over their final 16 at bats.

Ruppert felt escaping the bases loaded jam did wonders for Bridgers’ mindset.

“I think it’s huge and I think it will do a lot for her,” the coach said. “I think you saw a different kid the next inning. She came back and threw with that confidence.

“When you haven’t been on the mound for a year you’re gonna get that inning where ‘Oh boy, oh boy.’ It’s still relatively early. Like everybody else, we’re all trying to get time outside, get pitchers throwing to hitters instead of just catchers. Overall I’m really happy with her performance, I thought she did a great job.”

Ruppert usually doesn’t tell her pitchers who is starting until game time, but because of Bridgers situation she gave advance notice to make sure her shoulder was OK. Actually, jitters were more of a problem than her arm.

“First game coming back live is definitely a little nerve wracking; so yeah, I did feel kind of iffy,” she said. “But I definitely feel like I did OK.”

She sure did, as she also got what proved to be the game-winning hit with an RBI single in the bottom of the third. Steinert put it away in the fourth when Cassidy Wood singled, Courtney Danser tripled and scored on a wild pitch, Alex Haley walked, Backlund singled and Madison Balke delivered a two-run double. Balke’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly completed the scoring.

“Courtney Danser’s hit was huge,” Ruppert said. “We really needed that to bust things open, and then we really kind of got going again after that.”

Grayson Cooke pitched a decent game for Hamilton, but was victimized by five errors that left Lindsey Diamond less than happy.

“I believe we beat ourselves today,” the Hornets coach said. “You gotta come ready to play 100 percent and these kids see Steinert as state champs, they don’t see them as a new team they can play, as a new opportunity and a new 21 outs.”

Hamilton (1-2) did have one memorable moment, when Kelly Keane smoked a ball off third baseman Devon Onorati’s glove with the bases loaded. Shortstop Martine dove to catch the ball just before it hit the ground to save two runs.

That’s the kind of play Diamond expects to see more often.

“It’s a greatly improved team,” she said. “It’s reflected by the leadership we have with Ashley Gerstnicker, Megan McTamney, Megan Misciascio and definitely Julia Martine.”

Ruppert also had praise for the Hornets.

“Kudos to Hamilton, I thought they did a really nice job,” the Spartan coach said. “Early in the game I thought they hung right with us, Julia made some nice defensive plays, Grayson threw well. But we stayed cool and didn’t panic. I’m really happy about that.”

And even happier that her pitcher made a successful return.