By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Carmella Phelan struck out 12 and finished 2-for-3 at the plate to lead host Bishop Kearney/Chesterton past C.G. Finney, 15-0 in Private-Parochial League action on Wednesday.
Phelan retired the first six batters she faced before an error put a runner at first. The junior right-hander closed out the game setting down seven of the last eight batters that stepped to the plate.
“I focused on getting ahead in the count and moving the ball around,” she said after the win. “I was looking to throw out of the zone with two strikes.”
A one-out single in the fourth and a two-out walk in the third were her only blemishes on the day. Neither were able to pose a real threat as she did not allow a runner past second.
“I just let it go, focus on getting the next out and not worry too much about the runners on base. It’s just the batter that’s up there.”
Leading 3-0, BK/Chesterton scored six runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth to put the game out of reach.
Phelan delivered a one-out RBI single in the fourth when the Lady Kings sent 10 the plate.
Alaina Ruffino, Allison Decker and Leah Jacobs connected on consecutive RBI hits to cap the outburst.
Carmella Phelan leaves bases loaded with her … fourth strike out … of the frame (dropped third). Heading to the bottom of the third: @SoftballKearney 2 Finney 0 pic.twitter.com/GO2IfGYnqK
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 23, 2024
Allison Decker beats out an infield single. Coral Enscoe scores on the play. pic.twitter.com/geTDtV0vbs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 23, 2024
Carmella Phelan gives @SoftballKearney a 10-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/2kVd8MR84O
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 23, 2024
“It took a few innings,” said head coach Dave Herbst. “Once we saw their pitcher the second and third time, we made adjustments. They finally got relaxed. They looked tight. It had been a while since we last played. Our mantra is swing the bat hard in case you hit it, and they did.”
Danielle Miller led the fifth with a base hit and scored on a triple from Phelan. Decker drove in another run with a single, and Claire Spears brought home two with a single to center field.
“We had to stay patient at the plate,” Phelan said. “We were swinging at a lot of first pitches and not looking to get our pitch. We came together before the fourth inning and coach told us to stay patient.”
Kearney/Chesterton improved to 3-1 on the season. Wednesday’s win came after a loss to Bloomfield (5-2) last week.
“We worked hard in practice the last week to come back play some D, fix up the little things,” Phelan said. “We did that today.”
Finney fell to 3-2.
“Finney is not as weak as the score showed,” Herbst said. “The score is misleading. Joe (Finney head coach, Marchand) and I have a good rivalry. It’s been a good rivalry for a long time.”
Spears finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Phelan walked, had three RBI and scored two runs. Decker was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ruffino singled, walked, drove in two runs and scored three.
Coral Enscoe doubled and scored twice. Leah Jacobs singled, walked twice, had an RBI and a run scored. Miami Jones singled and scored.
Kearney/Chesterton hosts Aquinas on Thursday for a 4:30 PM first pitch. Finney travels to East Rochester on Thursday for a 4:15 PM start.
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