Ellwood City Varisity And Junior High Softball Sweeps New Castle

Ellwood City Varsity Softball Mercies New Castle 11-0; Record improves to 11-5

In a game that featured two playoff-bound teams, The Lady Wolverines came away with a convincing win on Tuesday afternoon at Stiefel Park. Ellwood City walked it off via mercy rule in the fifth inning with an 11-0 victory.

Winning pitcher Angelina Nardone twirled a gem in the circle with an efficient 5 innings of work. It took the fabulous freshman just 53 pitches to toss a one-hitter. She fanned 3 and walked 1 in raising her record to 8-2 on the year.

Ellwood City started fast as they plated 3 runs in the first inning. Anna Ferrucci singled with 1 out and moved to second on a walk to Maria Ioanilli. Natalia Greco promptly cleared the bases with a missile off of the fence in right-center field. Nardone helped her cause as she singled in Greco from second base.

The Wolverines added a 5 run cushion in the 4th inning with some two-out lightning. Kali Barnett bunted for a single with two outs. Ariana Garroway laced a double into the left-center field gap to plate Barnett. Garroway scored on Ferrucci’s second single of the afternoon. Ferrucci advanced to second as the second baseman mishandled Ioanilli’s ground ball. Both runners would move up on a double steal. Ferrucci scored on an infield single by Greco and Ioanilli scored on a wild pitch. Nardone finished the inning as she singled in Greco for an 8-0 lead.

Ellwood City ended it in the fifth as Kyla Servick led off with a walk and moved to second as Mollie Street was hit by a pitch. Servick would score as Barnett’s second bunt base hit of the afternoon was thrown into right field by the third baseman. With Barnett on second and Street on third, Garroway sent the Ellwood faithful home on a high note with a base hit to right field.

The Wolverines hit the ball well from top to bottom as 5 starters contributed 11 hits on the afternoon.

Ellwood City’s defense was solid once again as they committed just 1 error. The infield of Barnett, Makinley Magill, Servick and Ioanilli was airtight as usual. Catcher Garroway showed off her cannon as she caught a baserunner napping at first base and delivered a strike to Ioanilli. Greco was flawless in center while right fielder Madi Krugh also held down the fort. Ferrucci in left field made the play of the day as she ran down a potential extra-base hit for an out in left-center field.

The Lady Wolverines will finish regular season play on Wednesday as Neshannock visits Stiefel Park for Senior Night. The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the first pitch set for 6:30.

 

Junior High Softball Team Defeats New Castle; Record Improves To 10-2

The Lady Wolverines put together another solid team effort and defeated New Castle on Monday afternoon at New Castle by a score of 16-0. The game was shortened to 5 innings due to the mercy rule.

Julia Nardone was one baserunner away from a perfect game as she tossed a one-hit shutout. New Castle was only able to muster a bunt single in the fourth inning. The righty was dominant as she struck out 10 in five innings of work. She is now 10-2 on the season with a sparkling 2.57 ERA. In 46 innings of work, she has fanned 72 and walked just 15.

The Wolverines got started quickly in the first as Nardone led off with a single. She moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by Keira Rozanski. Aliya Garroway then deposited a 3-0 fastball into the seats in left field for a 2 run homer. 3 consecutive singles by Katelyn Wehman, Maddie Hicks, and Kaylani Leos would bring home the third and final run.

The second inning was much like the first as the Lady Wolverines scored 4 runs to take a 7-0 lead. Nardone was hit by a pitch and Garroway walked to put runners on first and second. Wehman one bounced the wall in center field with a two-run double. Hicks reached on an error to score Wehman and then swiped second base. Leos plated Hicks with another single.

Ellwood City added two more runs in the 4th inning to go up 9-0. Cassidy Crepp singled to left and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Asia Irving moved Crepp to third on a single up the middle. A two-out walk to Aaliyah Kinney loaded the bases. Nardone brought in Crepp and Irving with a single into centerfield.

The Wolverines scored the final 7 runs in the fifth inning. Liz Mihalko was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She scored as Crepp launched a double deep into left field. Back to back walks loaded the bases for Chloe Duncan and she delivered with a two-run single up the middle to score Crepp and Irving. Paige Wearing reached on a fielder’s choice and Nardone walked to load the bases. Kinney scored on a walk to Ellie Kalantzis. Lizzy Mihalko chased home Wearing and Nardone with a line shot into left field. Mihalko scored the game’s final run on a walk to Irving.

Defensively, this marked the third consecutive game of error-free ball. Duncan made the play of the day as she ranged to her left on a groundball and threw onto first for the out.

The young ladies will look for win number 11 on Tuesday as they return home for a clash with the Mohawk Warriors. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Stiefel park.