Ramsey’s “warship” cruises into Bergen final by Darren Cooper of The Record
PALISADES PARK – Madison ‘Maddie’ Taradash got her scholarship. Ramsey got the win.
The Rams ‘warship’ sailed right into the Bergen County softball tournament final with a 10-0 triumph over Dumont Sunday afternoon at Overpeck Park. It’s the first time in the Bergen County final for Ramsey since 1994. The Rams will face Immaculate Conception.
After scoring six runs in the first inning, the 23-0 Rams, North Jersey’s only undefeated team, didn’t have to deal with much drama on the field. They did have some off of it, however.
Sunday at noon was the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s annual Scholar-Athlete luncheon at the Pines Manor in Edision. Winners from each school receive a commendation from the NJSIAA and a cash amount for their college education.
The only catch is that one has to be there in person to receive it.
The NJSIAA was made aware of the issue, but couldn’t move the luncheon. The Bergen County Women Coaches Association, who oversees the county softball tournament, moved Sunday’s semifinals back an hour to try to accommodate the winners. The tournament schedule had been previously adjusted because of rain, so there is no villain here.
So Taradash got dressed up. She arrived for the luncheon and ate a salad. After about 30 minutes, she got her award, then jumped in the car, where she changed into her Rams uniform. Her grandfather, Anthony LaSala, stayed at the luncheon.
“It was really an honor just to be chosen,” said Taradash, a senior with a 3.8 grade point average. “I am thankful that the county moved the game for me. I didn’t want to have to miss anything.”
“It wasn’t even a question that she was not going to be here,” said Rams coach Chris Caserta. “I am happy that she was here and a part of this. We love her.”
Once she got to the field, Taradash, one of just two seniors for the Rams, was all business.
“In the car I was thinking to myself, this is a big game and we need to play well,” she said. “I listened to my music in the car then I got here and immediately started throwing. We watched them take the field and it felt right.”
There is something that also feels kind of right about seeing Ramsey currently at the top of the Bergen County softball world. The Rams were the Bergen County power in the 1990, led by star pitcher Heather Wilson, who finished with 99 wins in her career, still second most all time in North Jersey. Ramsey’s eight appearances in the county final is the second most for any Bergen County public school (Paramus has 10) and they are currently tied for the second most titles of any school with Ramapo, who has five. Immaculate Heart has ten county titles.
This edition of the Rams is definitely a modern day outfit, but with one old-school catch phrase. The Rams believe in the idea of the warship.
“I think early in the year I said, we are loading up the bus, we are loading up the warship,” said Caserta. “I said are we showing up to war on a sailboat, where we are laying out in the sun, or are we ready to play softball today?”
A slogan was born.
“They get a chuckle out of it,” said Caserta. “So it stuck. Now they talk about the warship.”
“It means we need everybody,” said Taradash. “Even if you’re on the bench, or you’re just helping someone warm up, you’re part of the team and we are a warship and we are here to battle you.”
Ramsey showed they have a warship with plenty of weapons Sunday. It is easy to focus on sophomore pitcher Victoria Sebastian, who struck out four and also had two hits and scored twice, but Ramsey catcher Ryan Henry slugged a two-run homer in the third to effectively end the game, and the Rams athleticism was apparent at every spot.
“Victoria is a huge part of it, but we are so much more than just Victoria,” said Caserta. “I think we have the best catcher in the county, both defensively and at the plate. She is a massive part of our defense and right in the heart of our line-up. And we play defense. These last two days, we have had to make outs, because we knew Mahwah [in the quarterfinals] and Dumont would swing the bats. Victoria is going to give us a chance to make plays and if we can make plays, we will throw our hats in the ring and see if we can muster a few runs here and there. Today we came out swinging.”