By TIM IRVING
Every softball season, Class AA has come down to one of three teams; Fairport, Victor or Webster Schroeder.
This season seems destined for a similar fate with the Warriors taking the lead as favorites after a 4-3 win over the three-time defending champion Blue Devils.
“We’ve been battling for years. A lot of respect both ways, it’s just fun, good softball, “ said Schroeder coach Meaghan Keil after the game.
Junior starting pitcher Molly Broccolo scattered nine hits, striking out eight and getting some big defensive plays at key times.
Victor got on the board first as eight-grade lead off hitter Audrey Steinorth lined a ball off Broccolo, stole second, moved up to third on a fly ball by Emily Power and scored on a grounder to first by Maya Thompson in the bottom of the first but the rally ended when centerfielder Haley Kucewicz threw out a runner at third.
The Warriors answered as Bizzie Baglieri reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second.
In the top of the third, the Warriors broke through with three straight hits. Mikayla Bengsch doubled to left, Amelia Arena laid down a bunt single and then Krislyn Clement one-hopped the rightfield wall for a two-run triple. Baglieri followed with a sacrifice fly to center and a 4-1 lead.
Keil says of Clement, “She’s consistent, she hits it hard and when we have runners on, she’s who we hope to have up.”
From there, Victor’s pitchers, freshman Olivia Steinorth and sophomore Kylie Bickert allowed just four hits.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Devils closed the gap as Power drew the only walk of the game issued by Broccolo and scored on a triple to right center by Joelle Jay. Rachel Gill followed with an RBI single to make it 4-3. Jay and Gill combined for six of Victor’s nine hits.
But on the next pitch, Bengsch and Hannah Secor turned a double play to end the inning.
Broccolo nailed it down, striking out three of the final six batters.
“She’s very stoic, doesn’t show a lot of emotion, she just goes out and hits her spots and goes out there and pitches outs, “ said Keil.
The Warriors improve to 7-1 on the year, with their only loss coming to Maine-Endwell in the Binghamton area. They host a strong Brighton team under the lights on Saturday.
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