by TYLER HATHAWAY
HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y– Our Lady of Mercy (13-6) overcame a three-run deficit to tie the game in the third inning, but it wasn’t enough as Depew (VI) outscored the Monarchs 5-3 over the final four innings to earn a 9-7 win in the NYS Class A Sub-Regional at Honeoye Falls-Lima High School on Wednesday night. The win secured the Wildcats a spot in the state quarterfinals.
“I think these girls played great,” said Mercy head coach Rick Sylvester of his squad. “This was a team where they all got along, they worked hard all year from the weight room to hard practices. They just kept the faith, and they just kept working.”
The season saw the Monarchs win 10 of their final 13 regular season games before winning the Section V Class A title in a come-from-behind walk-off win.
“We had a couple of great comebacks this year,” said Sylvester. “But unfortunately, this time, the clock ran out. But it’s good.”
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It was the first sectional title for Mercy since winning back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
“I’ve been at this for 10 years, and we’ve had some success,” the coach explained. “But one of our seniors said it best. Stick with the program. We’ve got a program set up here. Just stick with the program, and things seem to work.”
Leah Sperry pitched a complete game, struck out six batters, and was 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Brenna Ray tripled, singled twice, scored three times, and had an RBI. Abby Bello was 4-for-4 with a triple. Lillian Seiffert singled, scored, and knocked in two runs. Kristina Ciccariello and Kendall Schiffhauer each singled. Madeline Hand and Schiffhauer each drew a walk. Ellison Pipa, Clare Krawczyk, and Lucia Frey each scored a run.
“They put in the work,” Sylvester said of what drove the team’s success. “But at the same time, they really had fun. They knew they had to work hard, but at the same time they all liked each other, they all supported each other. I think that’s how this season happened.”
For Depew (16-6), Brady Hoffhines was 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, and two runs. Kensey Malicki struck out five batters over a complete game, went 2-for-3, doubled, had an RBI, and scored. Avery Smolarek and Zoey Zmonzynski each had two hits, an RBI, and a run. Camryn Domino singled twice, scored twice, and knocked in two runners. Ella Pagano doubled, walked, and scored. McKenna Groff had an RBI single. Giada Rzeszutek scored.
The Wildcats advance to face Maine-Endwell (IV) on Saturday.
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