Nahtali Simpson is WOHS softball all-time hits leader

 

Nahtali Simpson, center, became the all-time hits leader in West Orange High School softball history. Joining her are head coach Joel Troast and assistant coach Jackie Cruz.
Photo by Steve Ellmore
West Orange High’s Nahtali Simpson runs to first base during a home victory over East Orange Campus High School this season.Na

WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange High School varsity softball team enjoyed several achievements recently.

Nahtali Simpson, a senior, broke the all-time hit record held by Lindsay Flores (Class of 2012) on May 10, with a home run against Ferris, giving her 138 hits. WOHS, however, lost the contest, 7-5.

Simpson was excited to break the school record, but is hopeful that her younger sister Nia will begin her own pursuit of an all-time record when she attends the high school in September as a freshman.

“I am very proud of Nahtali,” said WOHS head coach Joel Troast. “She has the ability to change her approach at the plate and use the whole field. She is so disciplined, and can hit a ball 250 feet for a home run, or bunt for a base hit with her outstanding speed. It’s a great individual accomplishment, especially breaking a record that an awesome player like Lindsay held for six years. But knowing ‘Tali’, she is already past that and her mind is set on winning the conference and competing in the North 1, Group 4 state playoffs.”

WOHS senior Danielle Fastiggi also set her own career 100th hit with a home run during the 11-10 win over eighth-seeded Passaic County Tech in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament on May 17 in Wayne.

The ninth-seeded Mountaineers were scheduled to visit top-seeded Fair Lawn in the quarterfinals on May 23. WOHS also defeated both Weehawken, 9-2, May 18, and Montclair Kimberley Academy, 14-6, May 21, both on the road, in regular season play to improve to a 16-11 record.