By Sandy Seegers • Daily Record • April 8, 2008
SUMMIT -- Parsippany 8, Summit 3
Each time the possibility of Dave Zaleski getting his 300th win came up, the veteran coach went silent. Zaleski, who has guided the Parsippany High School softball program since 1985, didn't want to hear about it and certainly didn't want to discuss it. "He wouldn't talk about it," Red Hawks junior catcher Jen Nista said. "If it got mentioned, he got kind of annoyed. He seemed mad that something was said about it at our pep rally."
Monday night, a little before 6 p.m., Zaleski's attitude toward the milestone changed. It was altered because No. 300, attained with an 8-3 victory over Summit at Memorial Field, was in the book. Zaleski smiled and hugged his players. He received two plaques, one from the school and one from his team. He also received a Parsippany jersey with "300" on it, a memento for the showcase. "It's a nice accomplishment," Zaleski said. "I'm happy. Coaching has always has been a big part of my life. Since I began coaching the girls in 1985, I didn't want to do anything else." According to Zaleski, there were several reasons why he didn't want to make a big deal about his upcoming achievement. "I didn't want there to be pressure on the kids," he said. "I also didn't want Summit to find out (it was approaching)." Of course, the foremost reason was because Zaleski didn't want to draw attention to himself. "It's really about the kids," he said.
The Red Hawks (3-0) did all they could to ensure that Zaleski got the victory. There were superb catches in the outfield by Kelsey Principe and Courtney Ford. Parsippany rapped out 11 hits, including a two-run homer by Nista in the top of the sixth inning. Nista, who homered to center field, was simply pleased to help. "I'm really happy for our coach," Nista said. "He deserves it. "He's very dedicated. I know he wanted this." Parsippany gained a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Chrissy Deleasa's RBI double and an error. In the lower half of the second, Principe made a running catch of a long ball hit to right-center field by the first Summit batter. "I saw the ball go to right field," Principe said. "I reached as far as I could. I was a little surprised that I caught it. Whatever I could do to help the team win. ..." The Red Hawks widened it to 4-0 on a miscue and a Deleasa RBI single in the fourth. Ford's catch came in the bottom of the fourth. She ran into the gap in left-center field and, being left-handed, made a back-handed catch to deprive a Summit hitter of an extra base hit. With Parsippany ahead, 5-0, Summit struck for three runs in the fifth inning. Zaleski then changed pitchers, removing sophomore Brianna Rossi and replacing her with classmate Brittany Serrao . Serrao got a strikeout and groundout to get the Red Hawks (3-0) out of the inning. Rossi allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one during her 41/3-inning stint. Serrao fanned five in her 22/3 innings in the circle. Nista ended with two hits as did Deleasa, Rossi and Principe . Principe was glad to contribute and be part of Zaleski's 300th. Zaleski is the first Parsippany High School coach to have that many wins in one sport. "He's a great coach," Principe said. "I'm glad he got it. I try to take up on what he says when I make a mistake." The highlight of Zaleski's career, no doubt, was when Parsippany claimed a state title in 1986. "I went to the top of the mountain with my second team," Zaleski said. "I've also had teams that have been lower. All along, I've had good kids. They won the games." Records: Parsippany 3-0. Summit 0-3
Parsippany 020 212 1 -- 8 11 3 Summit 000 030 0 -- 3 5 3
2B- Chrissy Deleasa (P). 3B- Brianna Rossi (P), Jen Nista (P). HR- Nista (P).
WP- Rossi (1-0). LP- Dana Carbone (0-2).
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