By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A two-out hit barely eluded the outstretched glove of Our Lady of Mercy shortstop Jaidan Odorisi. Two runs scored on the play, and Mercy’s lead was trimmed to one.
Monarchs starter Ava Verdi made sure that threat ended and none existed for the remainder of the contest.
Ava Verdi struck out five in a five-inning shortened game as host Mercy defeated Bishop Kearney, 18-2 in Private-Parochial League action, Tuesday.
“I just try to keep it neutral when I’m on the mound, so I don’t show any emotion to the other team,” the sophomore said of her mindset after the two runs scored. “I took a deep breath and I got some dirt on the ball so I could get a better grip and then went for it.”
Ava Verdi leaves a runner on second. Heading to the bottom of the 3rd: @OLMathletics 6 @SoftballKearney 2 pic.twitter.com/yGIhdMDGde
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 10, 2022
She allowed two-out baserunners in the third and fourth but retired the next batter in both situations.
“I was throwing fastball and screwball and used my changeup occasionally,” the lef-hander explained. “My screwball is more of a right-handed curve, so it breaks to the outside for a righty.”
Verdi’s defense made the plays behind her when she needed it. Odorisi threw out a runner at the plate and Kirsten Crowley turned a double play from third base.
Tailor-made 5-3 GDP: Kirsten Crowley makes the back-handed stab at third and fires across the Diamond in time to end the top of the fifth. @OLMathletics 12-. pic.twitter.com/2gOLT8AunF
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 10, 2022
“When she hits her spots, she’s difficult to beat,” Mercy head coach Richard Sylvester said. “She gets the other team to put the ball in play and her defense makes the plays behind her.”
Routine 1-9-6-2. pic.twitter.com/pA9YNZi2Ni
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 10, 2022
And Mercy’s offense made good on the effort.
Five players finished with multi-hit efforts as the Monarchs connected for 16 base raps and accounted for their highest run total since a 20-0 win over Women’s Prep on April 25th.
“We get up for Bishop Kearney,” Sylvester said. “That’s a Private-Parochial rival. They come out to play all the time, and it’s a great battle with them.”
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Odorisi doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored three times while Riley Stuver finished 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Natalie Casale plated a pair with a triple in the second when Mercy scored three times for a 6-2 lead. Lucy Cotrupe went 3-for-3 on the day including an RBI single in the third when the Monarchs took a commanding 11-2 lead.
Riley Stuver goes opposite for an RBI single. Jaiden Odorisi scores on the play. @OLMathletics 3-0 over @SoftballKearney after 1. pic.twitter.com/OiYEa66EHF
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 10, 2022
“I wish we could play them every game or at least have the other teams wear Kearney jerseys,” Sylvester joked. “That would make my job easier.”
Mercy had dropped three of four entering Tuesday’s game. With the win, the Monarchs improved their record to 6 wins and 9 losses on the season.
“Our team has been up and down,” Sylvester noted. “We’ll be ready for sectionals. That’s when we will play our best softball.”
Leah Sperry singled, drove in two runs and scored another in the win. Maddie Oleksyn went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Amaya Crawford singled and scored twice. Kate Abbamonte was 2-for-3 with with two runs scored. Verdi singled, drove in two runs and scored another. Emma Duprey singled and scored.
Michaela Hesova lifts a 2-out single over the infield to drive in two runs. @SoftballKearney pic.twitter.com/Ysd5Ng67i4
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 10, 2022
Michael Hesova drove in both Kearney (7-5) runs with the two-out single in the second inning. Alaina Ruffino and Dyanni Rivera scored on the play. BK’s Angelina Fullone finished 2-for-3 in the game.
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