BROCKWAY, Pa. (D9Sports) — Elk County Catholic scored five second-inning runs and never looked back en route to a 12-2, six-inning victory over Clarion in the District 9 Class 1A consolation softball game Thursday afternoon at Brockway High School.
(Photo: Alexis Constantino, Clarion)
The Lady Crusaders pounded out 14 hits, including eight for extra bases, as they ran away from the Lady Cats after facing an early deficit and locked up a state playoff berth in the process.
Clarion couldn’t have asked for a better start, as the Lady Cats struck first in the top of the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Cora Zerfoss was hit by a pitch and then proceeded to steal second. Two batters later, Alexis Constantino, who went 3-for-3, doubled her home putting Clarion in front 1-0 after a half inning.
“Alexis (Constantino) hit well for us today, we started well, and I thought our first inning was our best inning,” said Clarion Manager Dan Shofestall.
Sadie Rudesyle then had a perfect 1-2-3 bottom half keeping the lead in hand.
ECC, however, started the second inning with a bang.
Three consecutive doubles by Maggie Dinsmore, Josie Smith and Michelle Gerber got the ball rolling for the Lady Crusaders.
Gerber’s doubled scoring pinch runner Nichole Tettis, who was running for Dinsmore, tying the game at one. Two batters later Sady VanAlstine’s sacrifice fly scored Smith and Gerber with Gerber scoring when left fielder Mackenzie Ditullio’s throw home was cut off by pitcher Rudesyle who tried to then throw out Gerber at third, but instead threw the ball away and Gerber scored making it 3-1.
“We hit the ball well and played defense extremely well today,” said ECC Manager Digger O’Dell. “Once we got the first big hit, it was just like the snowball effect.”
Brianna Weisner then walked, and Jenna Weisner’s double scored Brianna making the score 4-1. Brandi Clyde’s single then put the finishing touches on the five-run outburst as Jenna Weisner scored.
“We did not play a very clean game defensively,” Shofestall said. Against a good team like Elk County have to play a clean game because they’re going to make you pay with their bats, gloves and everything else. We have to play cleaner games in the big games, but I’ll tell you what, it’s a great bunch of girls to coach.”
ECC added to its lead in the fourth.
VanAlstine kick started the inning with a one-out triple. Brianna Weisner hit then hit a fly ball that left fielder Ditullio couldn’t come up with allowing the run to score. Jenna Weisner then hit her second double of the game put runners on second and third with only one out.
Brandi Clyde followed by putting the nail in the coffin as she belted a triple into center field scoring the two Weisner girls and putting ECC in front 8-1. The Lady Crusaders then got a double from Emily Evers scoring Clyde.
Kaitlyn Constantino took over in the circle for the Lady Cats in the fifth and pitched a scoreless inning despite giving up two walks and a single thanks to an inning-ending strikeout of Clyde.
Clarion was able to get one back in the top of the sixth as Alexis Constantino hit a one-out single and Maya Thornton doubled as Clarion had runners at second and third. Rudesyle’s sacrifice brought the score 9-2 as Constantino scored. Kaitlyn Constantino, however, grounded out and the Lady Cats weren’t able to have a big inning.
Elk County Catholic then sealed the win in the bottom of the sixth as two of their first three batters walked in Evers and Smith. Back-to-back singles by Gerber and Nero scored Evers, Smith and Gerber ending the game.
“It was a tale of two seasons,” Shofestall said. “We were very slow starting at 2-7. We were embarrassed with how we were playing. The girls decided to get together and turn this season around going on a nine-game winning streak.
“We’re losing two seniors, Cora Zerfoss, who was a 4-year starter for us and made a ton of contributions to our softball team, and Leticia Negri, was an exchange student from Brazil, who played for us. We loved having her. She brought a lot to our team as well.”
ECC moves into the “Eastern” half of the PIAA bracket where it will play District 5 champion Meyersdale in the opening round Monday at a site and time to be determined.
ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC 12, CLARION 2, 6 INNINGS
Score by Innings
Clarion 100 001 — 2
Elk CC 050 403 — 12
Clarion — 2
Cora Zerfoss — C — 3100, Carly Best — 2B — 3000, Alexis Constantino — SS — 3131, Maya Thornton — 1B — 3010, Sadie Rudesyle — P — 3001, Kaitlyn Constantino — 3B — 3010, Sydney Kiser — CF — 2000, Mackenzie Ditullio — LF — 2000, Liz Saver — RF — 2010. Totals: 24-2-6-2.
Elk County Catholic — 12
Jenna Weisner — 2B — 4221, Brandi Clyde — 1B — 4223, Emily Evers — 3B — 4021, Maggie Dinsmore — DP — 3020, Josie Smith — SS — 4210, Michelle Gerber — P — 4222, Rosina Nero — C — 3011, Sady Vanalstine — LF — 3111, Brianna Weisner 3210, Jordyn Fox 1000, Emily Wolf 1000, Nichole Tettis 0100. Totals: 34-12-14-9.
LOB: Clarion — 4, ECC — 6. Errors: Clarion 3, ECC 0. 2B: Clarion, Alexis Constantino, Thornton, ECC, Jenna Weisner 2, Evers, Dinsmore, Smith, Gerber. 3B: ECC, Clyde, Vanalstine. SB: Clarion, Zerfoss, ECC, Vanalstine. CS: None. DP’s: None. HR: None.
Pitching
Clarion
Rudesyle — 4 IP — 11 Hits — 9 Runs — 7 ER — 1 BB — 1 K — 0 HBP
Kaitlyn Constantino — 1 ⅓ IP — 3 Hits — 3 Runs — 2 ER — 4 BB- 0 K — 0 HBP
TOTALS- 5 ⅓ IP, 14 Hits — 12 Run — 9 ER — 5 BB — 1 K
ECC
Gerber — 6 IP — 6 Hits — 2 Runs — 2 ER — 0 BB — 2 K — 1 HBP
Winning Pitcher — Michelle Gerber
Losing Pitcher — Sadie Rudesyle
