By Andy Loigu

With senior pitcher Jaelyn Miller leading the way, with both her arm and bat, the Warren Hills varsity softball team is closing in on clinching the Skyland Conference Valley Division championship with a 7-0 conference record as of Sunday.

Miller, who announced she will stay in state and enroll at William Paterson University this fall, has a 13-1 record as a pitcher this spring, with 161 strikeouts and just 29 bases on balls. At bat, she has been equally amazing, batting .500 (21 for 42) with 16 runs scored and 13 runs batted in. Talk about helping your own cause.

Her only loss came in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament as fifth seeded Warren Hills lost a 2-1 contest at fourth seeded South Hunterdon in the quarterfinals.

Along with centerfielder Ashley Golden, the Blue Streaks only lose two seniors to graduation this spring. Four juniors, outfielders Ellie Kachala and Julia Podobed, infielder Taryn Faccenda and utility player Carly Roth are expected to return to lead next year’s team.

Among Miller’s wins is an 8-1 triumph over local rival Hackettstown. The Tigers are coached by former Warren County Female Athlete of the Year Christina Sykora, who shined for the Blue Streaks in 2007, before going on to play softball in Division One with Temple University.

The Tigers, with a 5-2 divisional record, are in contention in Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division play. They lost 10-0 to Hunterdon Central in the second round of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament.

In baseball, Hackettstown is 5-3 in the Freedom Division and lost 8-3 to Hunterdon Central in the H/W/S quarterfinal. The Streaks of Warren Hills defeated Hackettstown 3-1 in a regular season rivalry game. The Blue Streaks (4-9) were eliminated from H/W/S play 11-1 at High Point, one of the state’s top teams.

Tribute to Rev. Dr. Frank Fowler

Having learned of Dr. Fowler’s recent untimely passing, I write this column with a heavy heart. He will always be remembered for his service to the community, which included the local sports scene.

I first met him on a ceremonial occasion, when the Hackettstown girls basketball program retired the number of Dr. Fowler’s daughter Christina, a two-time Warren County Female Athlete of the Year award winner who graduated as the county’s top scorer in girls basketball. Ironically, one of the visiting players with North Warren that evening, was a junior named Desire Almind, who went on to break Christina’s record the following season.

Being such a good sport, I recall that Dr. Fowler simply accepted that news with the comment, “records were made to be broken.”

During the summer of 2013, Dr. Fowler celebrated the sport of baseball by showing a movie about the great national pastime each Saturday evening at his church. No admission was charged. Only a voluntary contribution was requested. I went to see 42, the film about Jackie Robinson, and The Natural, and got to meet some great baseball fans.

In February of 2016 I attended a speaking event at his church which featured former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who spoke about the strength of the human spirit which enabled him to carry on and continue enjoying life, even after being paralyzed while making a tackle. The inspirational message has stayed with me and the other 600 persons who attended.

Dr. Fowler’s recent induction into the Warren County Hall of Fame was well deserved. It was based on his lifetime of service and meeting many needs, day after day and year after year, devoted to the Warren County community. I will remember him and miss him.