By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
Ainsley Evanetski finished the championship game, and her dominant sectional run, as strong as she started it. She didn’t even need her fastball, either.
Brighton’s star senior struck out 14 Webster Thomas batters on Monday. She allowed just two hits and a walk over a complete seven innings, striking out the side in the seventh to polish off the final victory of her high school career.
Brighton defeated Thomas 2-0, securing its second Class A1 title in as many opportunities on its home field. Evanetski was one of six Bruin seniors to complete the triumphant ending.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet: senior season’s over now,” Evanetski remarked. “Sectional finals champions, it’s crazy. I don’t believe it. That last inning, I didn’t even think I struck them all out, honestly… I didn’t know. I thought it was just a whole team thing; it wasn’t just me.
“It was really great to have that team thing, to have everyone be supporting me and lifting me up. That was just really great.”
Thomas starter Madison Hicks gave the Titans an opportunity to win, halting four runners in scoring position over the first three innings and striking out three. Left fielder Emma Bello kept the game scoreless by throwing out Isabella Rozzi at the plate in the second.
The pitchers’ duel did not truly conclude, as Thomas hadn’t played a game totaling fewer than 10 runs this postseason and Brighton scored 14 on Spencerport. This matchup proved to be different, decided not by a crooked inning but by one advantageous frame.
Hicks retired the first two batters on just four pitches before Sophie Zhou hit a first-pitch double, Cassidy Evanetski doubled in turn to score Zhou and Maggie Smith dropped a shallow bloop single into right field to plate Evanetski.
That two-run cushion was all Ainsley Evanetski required in the circle. Evanetski pitched all 21 innings for Brighton in sectionals, surrendering just five hits, striking out 30 batters. “Just an all-time performance,” coach Jim Purtell commented.
“Definitely using my movement pitches, like my screwball, my changeup and my curveball, for sure,” Evanetski explained of her approach. “Letting it fly off my hand and letting the movement just go naturally was the way to go.
“I didn’t even throw one fastball that game; it’s all the movement pitches. Just going into that knowing I could trust my pitches was the best thing for it.”
Purtell admitted the win struck him emotionally more than he expected. As he personally handed his players their championship shirts and hugged not only them but their family members, he began to understand the gravity of this title.
“I was a lot more emotional than I thought. These seniors, I’ve been with them for a long time,” Purtell acknowledged. “I’m just so happy for them, that they get to go out as winners… They gave it their all for years and years and years to this program. I’m very grateful for that.”
Leave a Reply