×

Crusaders score 13 to beat Knights

TORONTO – Patience at the plate paid off big time for the Catholic Central softball team.

The Crusaders combined to score 13 runs in the sixth and seventh innings to break a scoreless tie as Catholic Central remained perfect on the season (2-0) with a 13-0 victory Tuesday at Toronto.

“I think the difference was that we were patient in the sixth inning,” Catholic Central head coach Jim DiCarlo said. “We swung at some bad pitches early in the game.

“It was a heck of a game. Coach Chic has his girls really playing well. When you are playing in the cold weather, you can have an inning like that.

“The difference was that we were patient. We were not swinging at bad pitches. Early in the game, we took good pitches and swung at bad pitches.”

The Red Knights are 2-1.

“We are a confident team when we are able to score first,” Toronto head coach Eugene Ciciarelli said. “We are really focusing on trying to do that. The girls’ confidence goes up when we are able to get ahead. We had a chance to score a run in the fourth or fifth inning, but we were unable to score.

“I thought we were ready to go. They were ready to go.

“Their pitcher did a good job of putting us in the hole the whole game. She was able to get ahead of our hitters.

“They are a very, very well-balanced team. Their coaches have been coaching for a lot of years. They were ready to play, and I thought we were ready.

“I have known their coaches for a while. We played ball together. We umped together. We coached together. They have taught me a lot, and I am appreciative of that. I consider them to be my friends.”

Alex McComb struck out eight and walked one en route to picking up the win for the Crusaders. She limited the Red Knights to three singles in recording the complete-game shutout.

“Alex pitched well,” DiCarlo said.

Offensively, Catholic Central pounded out 12 hits. McComb helped her own cause with two singles and an RBI. Kelsey Grandinetti tallied a single, a double and two RBIs, and Maddy Gulan delivered a single and two RBIs. Also, catcher Taylor Clark contributed a single, a double and an RBI; Fran Capaldi and Micca Mirabella each added a single and an RBI; and Emily Sepik also produced an RBI. Finally, Sammi Giannamore finished with a single.

“The final score was not indicative of the type of game it was,” DiCarlo said.

Shane Sears took the loss. She struck out five and walked one before being relieved in the sixth inning by Cari Horne, who recorded two strikeouts and three walks.

Becca Shaming, Carly Cooper and Horne all singled for Toronto.

The Crusaders had chances to score early in the game, but Catholic Central was unable to come up with the timely hit needed to get the job done. The visitors stranded plenty of runners throughout the game.

Catholic Central was finally able to break the game open in the top of the sixth inning. The Crusaders plated seven runs in the frame to take a 7-0 lead. Catholic Central tacked on six-insurance runs in the seventh to complete the scoring.

“We made a couple of boo-boos that hurt us,” Ciciarelli said. “We are trying to be a very consistent and accountable team this year.”

Both teams play today.

Catholic Central heads south to take on Bishop Donahue at 5 p.m. at the 1-470 Complex. Toronto will play at 5:30 p.m. at home against Conotton Valley.

“We play a lot of good teams,” DiCarlo said. “I like playing good teams just not in this weather. I like playing good competition. Toronto provided us with good competition today. I was not sure what to expect. We haven’t been able to get outside a lot.”

Central 13, Toronto 0

Central 000 007 6 – 13 12 1

Toronto 000 000 0 – 0 3 2

CENTRAL (2-0): McComb (8K, 1BB) and Clark. Mirabella S, RBI; Giannamore S; Sepik RBI; Gulan S, 2RBI; Capaldi S, RBI; McComb 2S, RBI; Clark S, D , RBI; Grandinetti S, D, 2RBI; Knight S.

TORONTO (2-1): Sears (LP, 5K, 4BB), Horne (6th, 2K, 3BB) and Brown. Horne S, Schaming S, Cooper S.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today