Paramus opens season with victory as Samantha Settecasi lands a HR on school roof by Darren Cooper of The Record
PARAMUS – You know it was a good win when someone is on the roof when it’s over.
nullnullParamus sophomore shortstop Samantha Settecasi drilled a sixth-inning three run home run on the school roof, pitcher Nikki Remschel homered for the first time and the Spartans downed Glen Rock 7-2 Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Settecasi’s homer came with the Spartans already ahead 4-2, and therefore wasn’t as ‘big’ in the grand scheme of things, but it was momentous and the talk after the game.
“That’s never been done before,” said Paramus assistant coach Marc Gregory, who filled in for head coach Brian Hay, who recently had a minor surgery. “Not as long as I have been here, which is 18 years and I bet Brian would say that too and he’s been here longer. This field used to face the other way, but that’s never been done.”
“I didn’t even bother tagging up,” said Remschel, who was on third base for Settecasi’s blast. “I knew it was over both fences and it was gone.”
About the only person who didn’t know was Settecasi herself.
“I just thought it had gone over the fence,” Settecasi said. “Then everyone said it hit the roof. It felt like I didn’t even hit the ball, it was so clean and nice.”
After the contest, a Spartans fan went up on the school roof and threw the ball back on the field.
Paramus overcame 14 strikeouts by Glen Rock pitcher Olivia Brencovich, but got by on the power of the long ball on a sunny but cool afternoon.
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Remschel had perhaps the key blow of the contest when she smashed a solo homer in the third inning after the Panthers had taken a 1-0 lead.
Gregory was standing in the third base coaches box when he exclaimed, “where did that come from?” and Remschel said after the game it was her first home run. Ever.
“I have never hit one before,” Remschel said. “I was just in shock. It felt great, a home run in my first game of my senior year.”
Remschel followed with a three-run double in the fourth to put No. 19 Paramus ahead 4-1. She would also strike out eight in the circle and finish with four RBI and two runs scored.
“Nikki’s home run was huge to tie it up,” said Gregory. “She is good. She came up clutch and she battled on the mound when she had to. She did well.”
Gregory said he was disappointed in the number of strikeouts, especially the number that came looking, but he tipped his hat to Brencovich for doing an excellent job.
Aside from striking out 14, Brencovich also homered and walked twice for the Panthers, ranked No. 20 in the North Jersey Top 25.
For the Spartans it was the start of what they hope will be big things. Maybe they should keep a ladder handy in case any more roof shots are coming.
“We have been playing pretty well,” said Gregory. “But we have to have some better at-bats because we can’t rely on that kind of long ball all the time, but we are getting there.”