PARSIPPANY — At age thirteen and ready to enter into High School next year, Jaclyn Carifi an eighth grader, has added to her already impressive softball resume. Predominantly a pitcher, the most noteworthy accomplishment on that resume was pitching a perfect game with striking out all 18 batters in a row against a Rockaway “All Stars” team while playing for Par-Troy West Little League in June 2012.
Now, Carifi, a three-year starter and a Captain of the Brooklawn softball team can add another perfect game, the most strikeouts in a game, the most Hits, Doubles, Triples, Homerun’s, RBI’s, Runs Scored, Stolen Bases, Wins, Shutouts and Strikeouts in a season to that resume. Also, the lowest ERA in any season. Although Carifi broke the school record as a sixth grader for the most amount of strikeouts in a game with 15 against East Hanover. Carifi was able to break her own record this year with throwing 18 strikeouts in two different games. One against Florham Park and also in the semi-finals of the County Championship against Long Valley. The previous school record for most strikeouts in a season was 101 by Ali Walek in 2011. However, Carifi far exceeded that by throwing 242 strikeouts in 2015.
Carifi, who bats lefty and throws righty has a total of seven pitches. Her favorite pitch to throw is her Screw ball because “It jumps and moves and hitters have a problem adjusting to it”. Victoria Huss, also an eighth grade Captain on the team is Brooklawn’s catcher. Huss describes Carifi’s pitching as “She makes my job easy, it’s a pleasure catching for Jaclyn but, if I’m not paying attention I pay for it in bruises. So, I have to stay focused because she throws so hard”. Ironically, Huss was the same catcher who caught Carifi’s perfect game with 18 in a row strikeouts in 2012.
Carifi, who trains at Pinnacle Athletic Development in Parsippany, and receives pitching lessons from Holy Cross alumni Erica McCrystal, attributes her success to working and training hard and the motto her father (James) instilled in her at an early age. “If you want to be good at anything in life you have to prepare relentlessly.” “I try to do just that. I’m preparing all the time.” Carifi also credits her teammates. “I wouldn’t be successful if it wasn’t for my teammates. They do an amazing job and without them we wouldn’t be good”.
Brooklawn’s head softball coach Edward Young, says “I tell anyone who will listen that Jaclyn is the best softball player I have ever coached and probably the best athlete in any sport I have coached in 20 years. She has a great competitive spirit, sportsmanship and is also a great leader.” “I will root for her in High School”.
A straight “A” student, Carifi has had offers to play softball at private schools but, wants to stay and play with her friends in Parsippany. “My goal is to play Division 1 softball in college and I believe if you’re good enough, you will be recognized no matter where you play,” said Jaclyn.
