The team traveled to historic Dean Park in New Castle on Thursday evening to capture the championship hardware. They started fast as they plated the first 10 runs of the game in the opening 3 innings to cruise home with an 11-5 victory over the Union Scotties.
Kali Barnett led off the home half of the first with a single into left field and advanced to second on an errant throw by the left fielder. Angie Nardone moved her to third on an infield groundout and she scored on a sacrifice fly into center field by Aliya Garroway.
Mollie Street reached base on a walk with one out in the second and promptly stole second base. Angie Nardone reached base on a two out walk and both her and Street moved up on a wild pitch. Garroway then provided a 2 run single up the middle. Maria Ioanilli ended the scoring in the second inning when she launched a triple into the right center field gap to plate Garroway.
The locals broke the game open with 6 runs in the third inning. Grace Balin, led off with a walk, Taylor Covert reached on a bunt single, and Katelyn Wehman walked to load the bases. Street brought Balin and Covert in with a single to right field. Barnett followed with a single up the middle to score Wehman and Street. After a line out by Nardone and walk to Garroway, Ioanilli hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Barnett. Makinley Magill brought Garroway around for the 6th run of the inning when she tripled off of the wall in left center.
After the Scotties scored 5 runs in the top of the 4th to make things interesting, the Lady Wolverines scored the game’s final run in the 6th as Ioanilli cracked a 220 foot triple off of the middle of the centerfield wall. She would score on a sacrifice fly by Magill into left field.
Nardone got the win as she went the first 3 innings. She shut out Union as she scattered two hits around 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Madi Krugh pitched one third of an inning. She gave up 5 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Garroway went the final 3 and two thirds to secure the win. She struck out 3 while issuing two hits and two walks.
The defense was solid as they committed just 2 errors. Ioanilli was incredible behind the plate. She threw two girls out at first attempting to bunt and also handled three popups. She handled the running game deftly as no one attempted to steal and ended the game by picking off a runner at first base. Shortstop Magill flawlessly handled an infield pop up and two ground balls. Wehman threw two batters out from second base while second baseman Covert ran down a popup in shallow right field. Nardone handled two ground balls from the circle and made the play of the game as she, Magill and Garroway turned 1-6-3 double play to end the first inning.
Be the first to comment on "Ellwood City 15u Softball Team Brings Home 2018 Lawrence County Championship"