By Ken Weingartner
Nicole Capuano and Nicole Rinaldi say they have been playing softball side by side since they were babies.
It is an exaggeration, but only slightly.
The two girls, known as “Nicole Squared,” have been playing together in the middle of the infield for a decade; Rinaldi at shortstop and Capuano at second base. Now seniors at Ewing High School, Rinaldi and Capuano are hoping to make their final season a memorable one.
“It looks like we won’t be together next year and it’s hard to think about because we’ve been together for so long,” said Rinaldi, who is leaning toward attending Northeastern University in the fall while Capuano is deciding between St. Joseph’s and Villanova. “It’s going to be weird.”
Capuano and Rinaldi have formed a bond over the years, going back to their formative days with the Ewing Edge travel program, leading to a strong presence defensively up the middle and the ability to turn a high number of double plays.
“We have a chemistry that I don’t feel a lot of teams have,” Capuano said. “That’s something we really pride ourselves on. We’ve been together since we were babies. If she’s not at shortstop, I honestly feel incomplete because we’re so used to being together.”
Added Ewing head coach Dan Bernoski, “They have not only the basic fundamentals down pat, but they know each other’s strengths. It’s really something that’s enjoyable to watch, the execution between the two.”
Rinaldi, who has been honored as both a Colonial Valley Conference all-star and all-area performer in recent years, could end her career with the most hits in the program’s history. She also will finish in the top 10 for runs scored and runs batted in.
She received a scholarship from the Trenton Softball Hall of Fame in April.
Her love of softball goes beyond the game on the field.
“I really enjoy the camaraderie that we all have and the love of the game that we share,” Rinaldi said. “I just love the feeling of having these friends that you know will always have your back and are going through the same things.”
Capuano, a .300 hitter and defensive whiz, agreed.
“Doing well and winning is nice, but the friendships we have are awesome,” Capuano said. “We definitely hang out a lot; even after softball ends, we’re with each other every day in the summer whether we’re playing or hanging out. We do so many things together as a team. I feel like we’re such a family.
“Softball is really my family since we’ve been together for so long.”
The family obviously extends beyond Rinaldi and Capuano. If anything, their relationship is emblematic of the team as a whole.
In addition, the girls are not only standouts on the diamond, but in the classroom as well. Rinaldi and Capuano both rank in the top five academically in the senior class. Sam McQueen, who is going to play softball on a scholarship at UMass Lowell, and Elissa Zuczek, who is looking at playing at Arcadia University, are in the top 20.
Capuano is the president of the Student Council and McQueen is the vice president and class secretary. Capuano also is the president of the National Honor Society.
“These girls have been playing together probably since they’ve been 5 years old so they’re a tight-knit group,” Bernoski said. “They’re in classes together. They’re really intelligent. You explain something and they pick it up the first time. They encourage the younger players to emulate what they’re supposed to be doing. They’re captains, so the kids look up to them for their experience. They’re all peer leaders in school as well.”
Each season, the team travels to Florida for a week of games. The players raise all the money themselves and also participate in community service projects while in the Sunshine State.
“They give up time to help those in need,” Bernoski said. “It’s good experience for them and they can use it on their resumes. It’s not all fun and games; they have to do some work too.”
As for the work on the softball field, the Blue Devils are consistently a strong hitting squad. McQueen and Jodie Crutchley are expected to become the 14th and 15th players to join the 100-hit club and McQueen will finish among the program’s top 10 in runs scored.
“We’ve been hitting over .340 with this group here and we expect more of the same,” Bernoski said. “We have to play good defense and support our pitchers.
“Sam McQueen is really talented. Nicole Capuano, Sam McQueen, Jodie Crutchley, they all have speed. That’s something you can’t teach, it’s a God-given talent.”
Other players Ewing counts on include Sarah Bystrycki, Kelsey Basich, Ashley Wyckoff, Alexis Pope, Jenna Capuano, Maggie McGinn, and Courtney Bartkowski.
Killian Kueny has done a good job on the mound, as well as at the plate. Sara Bearden and Natalie Schwab also are pitching in on the mound.
“We have a lot of depth,” Bernoski said. “We have more depth than we’ve had in probably five or six years.”
Ewing opened the season by winning six of its first seven games.
“We’re looking really good and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings us,” Rinaldi said. “If we can keep playing like this, we’ll be set.”
Nicole Rinaldi, Sam McQueen and Nicole Capuano run off the field during a game against West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South on April 10, 2014. The Blue Devils won the game 7-1. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
