Lyndhurst junior pitcher Jenn Tellefsen.
By Jim Hague
Observer Sports Writer
When Emily Ringen took over the Lyndhurst High School softball program earlier this year, she wondered who would become the Golden Bears’ top pitcher, ever since Casey Zdanek graduated and took her immense talents to Drew University.
However, Ringen had a good idea which way she would lean to give the ball to, namely junior Jenn Tellefsen.
“I knew Jenn’s travel (team) coaches and I spoke with (former Lyndhurst coach) Elaine (Catanese),” Ringen said. “I had 100%confidence that Jenn would be our No. 1. I knew that she was predominately an infielder, but that she was a pitcher first. I knew that she was capable of stepping right in and doing well for us.”
Tellefsen was already preparing to take over the key position.
“Since freshman year, I was placed at shortstop, but I’m not really an infielder,” Tellefsen said. “I just had to wait until Casey graduated. She was older, better and more experienced. I just had to wait my turn. But since I was young, I was always a pitcher. I was just hoping that I could do as well as well as what Casey did. She was amazing over her four years.”
Ringen knew that Tellefsen was the real deal.
“She has a lot of power and speed in her pitches,” Ringen said. “She has the mindset of a softball player. She’s a very powerful force out there and takes care of business.”
Tellefsen said that she worked hard during the offseason to prepare for the challenge.
“I practiced my pitches every day,” Tellefsen said. “I don’t play another sport, so I can concentrate on softball.”
Tellefsen has been honing her craft since she was younger.
“I’ve been going to pitching lessons since I was in fifth grade,” Tellefsen said. “I work with Jen Barnes in Closter.”
Over the off-season, Tellefsen said she learned a few new pitches.
“I learned a rise and a drop,” Tellefsen said.
However, before the Golden Bears’ season opener, Tellefsen was suffering from a bit of the jitters.
“I was really nervous before my first game,” Tellefsen said. “I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone that I could pitch, but it was a little nerve wracking.”
Those jitters are a part of ancient history, because Tellefsen has been downright dominant since she entered the circle for the first time.
Tellefsen has pitched to a 7-2 record, with an astounding 95 strikeouts compared to just five walks. That is impeccable control.
After striking out 16 batters in a win over Kearny earlier this season, Tellefsen enjoyed a great week last week.
She struck out 15 in a win over Leonia, a game that Tellefsen won on her own with a late three-run homer. She had 10 strikeouts in four innings in a win over Queen of Peace, a game where she slugged another round tripper.
She had 10 strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to Kittatinny, but rebounded with nine strikeouts in four innings in a blowout win of Collingswood Saturday.
For the season, Tellefsen is batting .400 with three homers and 14 RBI.
For her efforts, Tellefsen has been selected as The Observer Athlete of the Week for the past week.
“She really has been great,” Ringen said. “She has tremendous speed in her pitches. Batters are simply not getting around on her. The momentum she has had has been great. She keeps the ball inside and outside. She has a good pace of the game. She gets the ball and fires it in.”
“Ever since I was younger, I was taught to control my speeds,” Tellefsen said. “I don’t even begin to learn a new pitch until I can control it. I think that throwing hard doesn’t matter unless you have control. I concentrate on throwing strikes more than anything else. I concentrate on finishing my pitches and that’s helped with my control.”
But 95 punch outs compared to just five walks? That’s impeccable control.
“I’m very surprised I have that,” Tellefsen said. “I’ve worked on all my pitches, but I never expected this.”
While it’s easy to focus on what Tellefsen does on the mound, she’s also a ferocious hitter as well, evidenced by the clutch homer against Leonia.
“She bailed us out in the Leonia game big time,” Ringen said. “She hit an absolute shot and like that, we were up three.”
Tellefsen said that she was just trying to make solid contact.
“Alyssa Pipon got hit by a pitch right before I got up,” Tellefsen said. “She said, ‘It’s your turn to hit the ball.’ I just hit the ball and ran. I was so relieved it was a home run, because I was able to drive my teammates in.”
Ringen said that Tellefsen is a dangerous hitter as well.
“She’s up there to hit,” Ringen said. “Her power is unbelievable. She’s an elite softball player, both as a pitcher and a hitter. You don’t get to see a lot of girls who play softball all year. But that’s what Jenny does. She plays 10 months a year. She’s taken a good control of this team and helping out the other pitchers and catchers. I’m very impressed.”
“I like to think of myself as being a pitcher who can hit,” Tellefsen said.
Ringen can’t sing Tellefsen’s praises enough.
“She’s doing all the right things right now, on the mound, in the batter’s box,” Ringen said. “She’s also a very good student.”
It means that Tellefsen would be someone that the colleges would want to look at.
“I’d love to play softball in college,” Tellefsen said. “I am trying to go either Division II or possibly Division I. I have a lot of confidence in myself right now. I also think we can go pretty far this season.”
When the season ends at Lyndhurst, Tellefsen will play for the New Jersey Pride, a quality travel program based in Fairfield.
“But I love playing with my Lyndhurst teammates,” Tellefsen said. “We all get along great.”
“She’s a funny kid,” Ringen said. “She has a lot of one-liners that make everyone laugh. She jumps right in with everyone. She’s very friendly and very respectful. She’s matured nicely on the field and in the classroom.”
As long as Tellefsen keeps pitching and hitting the way she has been thus far, the Lyndhurst softball team can go a long way.
