Basketball, softball star becomes 3rd Maroon Raider recipient
Nutley’s Carly Anderson (c.) receives her 2014-2015 Observer Female Athlete of the Year award from sports writer Jim Hague in front of Nutley High School. From l., are Nutley athletic director Joe Piro, Carly’s parents, Harry and Christy Anderson, Anderson, Hague, head softball coach Luann Zullo and head girls’ basketball coach Larry Mitschow.
Carly Anderson was asked how she wanted to be remembered as a two-sport athlete at Nutley High School.
“I never tried to show myself over everyone,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t a show-off. I kept everything within myself. Everything I did was with the team in mind. Basketball and softball are team sports. It’s not just me.”
However, it was easy to see that Anderson was not like everyone else, in both sports that she played.
In fact, Anderson was able to lead both the Nutley girls’ basketball team and the softball team to respective NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group III state championships, something never before done in the history of the school.
So in that respect, Anderson is truly in a class by herself and worthy of receiving the 2014- 2015 Observer Female Athlete of the Year award.
Anderson became the third Nutley girl to receive the year-end honor from The Observer newspaper. Kelly Rauco earned the honor in 2005-2006 and Grace Montgomery was the recipient last year.
Anderson had a senior year that most high school athletes simply dream about.
In basketball, Anderson averaged six points and four assists for the Maroon Raiders, who had a miraculous run in the NJSIAA state playoffs, culminating in the first state sectional title in the school’s history.
In softball, Anderson was a standout at shortstop and on the mound. At the plate, Anderson batted .532 with 42 hits, 28 runs, eight doubles, three triples, three homers and 18 RBI. On the mound, Anderson posted a 14-4 record with a miniscule 0.82 earned run average, with 113 strikeouts in 119 innings, allowing just 72 hits and 15 earned runs.
“I worked hard in the offseason in both sports,” Anderson said. “One day, I might go play basketball and do drills and the next day, I’m on the softball field. I was hoping that my hard work would pay off.”
Anderson got frustrated with her inability to put the ball in the basket early on.
“My sophomore year, I almost quit playing basketball,” Anderson said. “I didn’t think I could do it. But I didn’t quit and just tried to get better. I practiced very hard and got more confident with my outside shot.”
Nutley head girls’ basketball coach Larry Mitschow knew how important Anderson was to the team’s success.
“She was absolutely the glue of the team,” Mitschow said. “She held us together. Offensively, defensively, she was the best athlete we had. She developed her skill in basketball and became such an offensive weapon for us. She came a long way and then kept us together.”
Mitschow said that Anderson was “one of the most unique individuals I ever coached.”
“It takes a while to understand her sense of humor,” Mitschow said. “She has a dry and sarcastic sense of humor that keeps everyone loose. But she always made me laugh. She’s definitely a character and one of the most unique kids ever.”
“When I joke, it’s hard to describe,” Anderson said. “If I crack a joke, it’s not necessarily about what I say. I just want to keep everyone loose.”
Mitschow also praised Anderson’s selfless approach.
“Carly never said anything positive about herself,” Mitschow said. “Or about the way she played. She always thought she played poorly. She never put herself first. She was never one who worried about statistics. That’s very rare in today’s day. I’m very happy with the way she developed.”
Nutley head softball coach Luann Zullo said that Anderson ranks with the best softball players in the history of the school.
“She’s absolutely right up there,” Zullo said. “She’s extremely gifted and talented as an athlete. She doesn’t play from March until June. She’s consistently working on her game all year long. She’s also a fierce competitor.”
Zullo also credited Anderson’s selflessness.
“She would always tell me that she was willing to do whatever I wanted her to do,” Zullo said. “Never once did I hear that she had to be the pitcher. It was always whatever you need me to do and whatever’s best for the team. Never once in her four years did she make it seem like she had to be somewhere. She just loved to compete and loves playing. She would play anywhere in the field.
Added Zullo, “She’s just so talented that she’s the kind of kid who makes everyone better. She doesn’t have to be the hero. I don’t even know if she’s comfortable in that role. But I’m certainly happy with the way she turned out.”
Anderson will now move on to play softball at Rowan University in the fall. Ironically, last year’s Female Athlete of the Year Grace Montgomery is on the track and field team at Rowan, throwing the javelin.
Anderson knows that her future is as an infielder.
“I like playing shortstop better,” Anderson said. “I think I’m more advanced at shortstop. I pitched because I was asked to get the job done.”
Anderson was always spotted with a smile on her face while competing. “I can’t be tense every time I’m on the court or on the field,” Anderson said. “I always smile. I brush things off sometimes. I think that just comes naturally, because I love the game. If you love the game, it comes naturally. That’s who I am. I’m always happy.”
As for Anderson’s legacy?
“It feels good to end my career on a good note,” Anderson said. “Kids always dream of winning and I hope others get the chance to experience what I did. I honestly couldn’t have dreamed all of this would happen. I just worked hard and the hard work paid off. There’s really not much more I could ask for.”
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”