Ellwood City Softball Off To Torrid Start, Defeating New Brighton & Ambridge

Ellwood City started their season off in grand fashion as they invoked the mercy rule in both game over the weekend as the Wolverines easily dispatched New Brighton and Ambridge.

On Friday, in their 13-1 victory, the Wolverines started out quickly as lead off batter Kali Barnett reached on an error on the right fielder and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Angie Nardone. The Lions would tie the score in the home half of the first with a double and RBI single.

Ellwood City would take the lead for good in the second inning as Mollie Street laced a one out double and scored on a single by Julia Nardone. Nardone would steal third and score when Barnett’s ground ball to third was booted.

The Wolverines extended the lead to 6-1 in the third inning with some clutch two out hitting by Barnett. Ellwood City loaded the bases with back to back singles by Street and Kyla Servick and a walk to Jenna Vetica. Barnett then cleared the bases with a line drive double into left.

The score stretched to 8-1 in the fourth as Aliya Garroway led off the inning with a solo blast over the left field wall. With two outs, Servick tripled into right field and scored on Street’s single. Five more runs in the fifth inning would end the game early. Ellie Kalantzis led off the inning with a walk and stolen base. She was driven home on a double by Barnett. Barnett then scored on a double by Angie Nardone. After Garroway was hit by a pitch, Maria Ioanilli launched a three run bomb over the fence in right center field.

The Wolverines hit the ball well from top to bottom as 7 players banged out 14 hits, including 7 of the extra base variety. The defense was solid as they did not commit an error. Freshman pitcher Julia Nardone got the win in the circle as she yielded just one run on four hits. She fanned 5 and walked 3 for her first varsity win.

The bats continued to stay hot on Saturday as the Lady Wolverines defeated Ambridge 10-0 in five innings.

Kali Barnett got the scoring started in the first as she walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. She would move over to third on a fly out to right field by Angie Nardone and would score as the throw in from the outfield would airmail the third baseman.

Kyla Servick got the second inning started with a lead off triple to left center field. She would score on a fielder’s choice rbi ground ball by Julia Nardone. With Nardone on second with no outs, Jenna Vetica executed a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move Nardone over. Nardone would score on an rbi groundout by Katelyn Wehman.

The Wolverines went up 5-0 with two more runs in the third inning. With one out, Maria Ioanilli reached on an infield single and promptly stole second base. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, she would score on a line drive single by Servick. After Servick stole second base, she was driven home on a single into center field by Julia Nardone.

The fourth inning would see the Wolverines extend their lead to 7-0. Katelyn Wehman led off the inning by reaching on an error. She would advance to second on a single by Kali Barnett. Wehman scored on an rbi single to left by Angie Nardone. Nardone would reach second on the play as Barnett was thrown out at third on the throw from the outfield. Aliya Garroway moved Nardone over to third on a fly ball out to right field and Nardone scored on a two out single into right by Ioanilli.

Ellwood City ended the game early for the second straight day with a three spot in the fifth inning. Mollie Street led off the inning with a single and scored quickly on an rbi double into the right center field gap by Servick. After moving over to third on the throw in from the outfield, Servick scored on an rbi groundout by Vetica. Keira Rozanski singled with two outs, stole second, and scored the game ending run on a single into right field by Barnett.

Seven different hitters provided hits for the offense and the defense committed just one error.

Julia Nardone got the win in the circle as she limited the Bridgers to just two hits on the afternoon. She fanned 4 and walked 4 in the complete game win.

The Wolverine ladies will look to make it three straight victories as they travel to Mohawk on Tuesday afternoon for a 4:00 pm start with the Warriors.

BASEBALL: Riverside Blows Out Beaver Falls 11-1 on Friday

Riverside easily did away with Beaver Falls 11-1 on Friday.

The Panthers Vscored four runs in the fourth inning. The offensive onslaught by the Panthers Vwas led by Evan Burry, Bo Fornataro, Aaron Falk, and Mitchell Garvin, all driving in runs in the frame.

Ron Harper toed the rubber for Riverside and the southpaw allowed only one hit over five innings, striking out ten.

Zack House took the defeat for Beaver Falls. The pitcher allowed four hits and four runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two. Nick Wilder threw two and two-thirds innings in relief.

Riverside tallied 12 hits in the victory. Garvin, Kobe Andreas, Falk, and Madden Boehm all managed multiple hits for the Panthers. Garvin went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Riverside.