Alexis Kral blooped a first inning, two-run double down the right field line, just out of reach of the second baseman, and Old Tappan got all the runs they needed in a 2-0 win over Bergenfield.

With one out in the first Kirsten Savage and Cally Young had back-to-back singles. After Bergenfield pitcher Katie Lapi recorded a strikeout, Kral plated the only two runs of the game.

"I got under it a bit," said Kral. "I wasn’t happy with it, but it got the runs across. That’s what counts."

Lapi and Golden Knight sophomore Jen Capazzi matched zeros the rest of the way.

Capazzi struck out 10 and Lapi four. Capazzi struck out the side in the first and third innings, while Lapi struck out the side in that fateful first inning. Lapi only walked one batter, in the sixth inning, and Capazzi issued two free passes.

"She had a nice performance," Old Tappan coach Melissa Landeck said of Capazzi. "She did a real good job of mixing. She was good on location and speed. For a pitcher like Jen that’s exactly what she needs to do to be successful.

"She needs to mix locations and mix speeds effectively. That’s how she can keep hitters off balance and she did a really nice job with that today."

After getting three hits in the first inning Old Tappan scattered four hits the rest of the way, while Bergenfield got only one hit, a double by shortstop Samm Cain in the fourth inning.

"We go up two runs in the first innings and got lax," said Landeck. "We squandered some opportunities and we need to capitalize on them."

"We don’t get the production from the team," said Bergenfield coach Maria Carluccio. "The pitchers do the job and the defense does a great job. Jaimie Ekiert cut a ball off in the gap. There was a good catch in center field by Jamie D’Esposito. It comes down to our bats."

In the third inning Mia Assante led off with a single to left. Savage had a 1-1 count when Bergenfield sophomore catcher Brook Schmelz suddenly whipped a throw to first baseman Angela Luizzi, who put the tag on Assante.

"I love Brook," said Lapi. "She’s great. She stepped up so much this year. We were down a catcher and being a sophomore behind the plate getting your first varsity experience is nerve wracking. You are in control and she called a nice game.

"For a little girl she’s got a cannon."

Kral led off the fourth with a single to left, but pinch runner Jordan Flavell-Boney left first base too early on a steal attempt, and by rule, was called out. Assante also got her second hit of the game, a two-out single in the fifth, but she was left stranded at first.

"That’s been part of our story this year," said Landeck. "We need to learn to capitalize on opportunities and when we do we’ll be a very dangerous team."

"We need to string them together and get timely hits to bring runners in," said Kral. "Lately we haven’t been putting enough together.

"And we have to keep on it. We can’t just score in the beginning and let the game go. We have to keep pounding on the other teams."

Capazzi kept Bergenfield off the base paths for most of the game. She retired the first 11 batters, six on strikeouts, before Cain’s double. Then Capazzi walked Jackie Schultz but got Ekiert on a grounder to second.

"Our main goal is to have her hit spots at the right time, mix up her speed and put the ball where it needs to go," said catcher Jamie Giacomelli, who calls the pitches for Old Tappan.

"We were struggling in the beginning," Lapi said of the team’s hitting. "In all our scrimmages we were hitting. Once the season started we got into a little slump. We turned it around midseason and now it just seems were are back in a slump."

D’Esposito walked in the Bergenfield sixth but Giacomelli threw the Lady Bear out attempting to steal. Giacomelli is catching for the first time this year and is doing a great job.

"I love it," she said. "I think it’s so much fun. I used to play first base. I don’t think I could pick any position I would rather play than catcher.

"Jen and I work pretty well together. We play summer and fall ball together on another team. I think the chemistry between us is good and I love catching. It’s the greatest position ever. You are in on every play, every call."

As the season winds down, the Golden Knights look forward to the state tournament.

"We’re looking to hit our peak," said Kral. "I’m hoping we hit our stride at the right time and keep going through states to see how far we can get."