Softball Player Kiersten Murray is the Valairco Heating & Cooling Ridge Athlete of the Week

BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- After losing its first five games of the season, the Ridge softball team has turned things around.

The Red Devils' 9-8 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan in the first round of the Section 2, Group 4 tournament on Wednesday was their 10th win in the last 16 games.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Junior catcher Kiersten Murray was 2-for-5 in the state tournament win, and she's batting .615 (8 for 13) in her last four games.

"Kiersten is having an amazing season," Ridge coach Brian McCarthy said. "She is currently batting .446, which leads the team. Behind the plate teams hardly try to run on her in fear of her strong arm. She has caught seven runners stealing this year and picked off another at first."

Murray is the catcher and her twin sister, Kari, pitches for Ridge. The tandem has had much to do with turning the fortunes of the softball program around over the last couple of years.

"Kiersten's knowledge of the game and the pitching staff has helped aid the team to the success we have had," McCarthy said. "She has done this every year over the past three years. She has 94 hits already in her career and is proving to be one of the toughest outs in the conference."

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Murray is the Valairco Heating & Cooling Ridge Athlete of the Week.

"The thing about Kiersten is her connection with her teammates," McCarthy said. "She was named a captain her sophomore year not because she was one of the better players on the team, but because she communicates and gets the most out of her teammates. She is fun-loving and someone I turn to get a feel for the team and to help relay any information to our players."

Murray answered these questions from TAPinto Basking Ridge this week.

Q: In what ways have you improved the most since last season?
A: I feel like I’ve improved a lot on the strategic aspect of the game. I call the pitches for every game, and I’ve really improved my knowledge of pitch calling. I have learned to assess both previous at bats and the swings of the girls in order to call a pitch that I know will manufacture outs. With that, I’ve improved on being able to read my pitcher. I’ve learned to know when I need to call a time out to go talk to the pitcher, whether it’s to boost her confidence or just for a breather - giving her a chance to refocus has been vital, especially in close games.

Q: What has been the best advice you have received from a coach?
A: The best advice I have ever received from a coach is to “believe in myself." I know that I have put in all the hard work and practice. I need to trust myself and my abilities in order to succeed. It is really easy to get disappointed in myself, especially playing a sport that is built on failure. But knowing that I can do it, and trusting myself really helps lifts me and gives me the confidence I need to succeed.

Q: What has been your most memorable game to date?
A: The most memorable game to date for me is our most recent game, which was our victory over Bridgewater in the first round of states. This game was high stakes as we knew if we lost our season was going to be over. Our team is a really close knit team, as many of us have been playing together since we were 10. Everyone was not ready for our journey together to be over and we knew we had to win. Although having an early lead, ultimately Bridgewater came back in the 7th, tying up the game. We scored two in the top of the eighth, once again giving us the lead. But, in the bottom of the eighth, Bridgewater scored one more and then with bases loaded, two outs, and a full count, Kari struck the girl out looking. In that moment we all knew that we would be able to continue playing together, and our season wasn’t done.

Q: What do you like most about Ridge High School?
A: My favorite thing about Ridge High School is that I am able to play the sport I love, and I am able to get an education that gives me a good foundation to be successful in the future.

Q: Do you have a favorite subject?
A: My favorite subject in school is biology.

Q: When did you start playing softball?
A: I started playing softball the summer after third grade. I attempted dance and gymnastics before that, but was not very good at either of those. But once I started softball, the rest is history.

Q: Have you always been a catcher and your sister Kari a pitcher?
A: Yes, we have both always been those positions. When I started playing, I was put in the outfield, where I would just pick grass. I told my dad I wanted to be involved in every play, and Kari said the same thing. She chose to be a pitcher and I chose to be a catcher. It’s been great being a twin and has definitely created an even more special bond between us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valairco Heating & Cooling is the proud sponsor of the Ridge Athlete of the Week.

Valairco Heating & Cooling is family owned and operated and know that keeping your HVAC systems running smoothly is important to the comfort of our customers, their families, and their guests. That is why their family is dedicated to taking care of yours, no matter what the issue may be. Using only top-quality parts to perform a higher-standard of service and all their services are backed by their 50 years of professional experience and 5-year comprehensive warranties. This means that when you call our team at Valairco, you benefit from their total commitment to your complete satisfaction. Call 855.661.3300.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net