BY PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — A six-run second inning proved to be the difference as the Webster Thomas softball team defeated Our Lady of Mercy, 13-5 on Thursday afternoon.
Alanna Cavicchioli brought home the first two runs with a double to center that scored Emma Bello and Mary Marrapese. The Titans sent 11 to the plate in the inning with Izzy Giorgione and Maddie Hicks also driving in two apiece.
“We’ve been pretty strong in the box,” said Thomas head coach Stephanie Zimmerman. “We come out all the way through. That has been the key for us is that we can go all the way through. I don’t feel like we have a weak part of the lineup.”
All nine players in the Thomas lineup reached base in the game with eight of those collecting at least one hit apiece.
“We just want to churn through it,” Zimmerman added. “It’s somebody different every day. That’s the most exciting thing. If the girls on the top might be struggling, the girls on the bottom bring them up. It’s all the way through. Everybody has been pulling their weight. It’s a team effort. It’s been cool to watch.”
Giorgione and Samantha Wesley highlighted a four-run sixth with a double and home run to help Thomas put the game out of reach.
“We’re always looking for more,” Zimmerman said of her team’s approach on offense. “We’re young right now. This is the first varsity season for a lot of these girls coming in after losing a season last year. We’ve got a lot more to come. I’m excited for all the things to come.”
Grace Sweeney struck out three in a complete-game effort. The sophomore right-hander retired the first six batters she faced and six of the final seven.
“This was a big game for her,” Zimmerman said of her pitcher. “She was able to turn it up. I’m really proud of her.”
Sweeney allowed two runs in the third and another in the fourth. It looked like Mercy had the Thomas starter in trouble in the fifth with runners on the corners, one out and one run already in.
“She’s just a kid who wants it,” Zimmerman stated. “You can see it. I took a timeout there. I just saw it on her face. She wanted the ball. I want to stick with the girls who want the ball. She had a moment of ‘yup, all right. Here we go. It’s time to do it.’ She just has that in herself to say it’s time. She was able to turn It around. It was awesome.”
Giorgione finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Wesley 2-for-4 with a double, stolen base and two runs scored to go with the home run. Anna Bello was 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and RBI and a run scored.
Hicks was 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base. Stella VanGee reached twice via hit by pitch and scored on both opportunities. Rose Nicastro singled, walked stole two bases and scored twice.
Amaya Crawford led Mercy going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jaidan Odorisi collected two hits for the Monarchs. Mary Grace McCann singled, stole bases and scored once. Kaitlyn Malucci singled, stole two bases and scored the first Mercy run in the third.
Mercy fell to 1-10 with the loss. The Monarchs will host Le Roy on Saturday.
Thomas improved to 10-3. All three of the Class A school’s losses have to AA teams. Thomas hosts Churchville-Chili on Friday.
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