Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Coatesville claims first division title since 1985
Coatesville powers way to first division title 1985
CALN >> What a difference a week makes.
Last week when Coatesville traveled to Shanahan, the two teams combined for a mere three hits. Friday night at Coatesville, there were four home runs in the first inning. But Coatesville pitcher Bri White dug in and quieted the Eagles’ bats, and the Red Raiders clinched the Ches-Mont League National Division title with a 6-2 victory at Caln Park.
It is Coatesville’s first ChesMont title in softball since 1985.
“This is a great feeling to be a part of the first (league) win for Coatesville in over 30 years,” said Coatesville coach Bill Mendenhall. “It was our first goal and our main goal coming into the season. It was especially nice to see the major adjustments we made since the last time we saw them in the way we hit the ball tonight.”
The Red Raiders improved to 15-2, two games better than Avon Grove, which they hold the tiebreaker over.
Shanahan kicked off the home run derby in the first. Devon Miller and Anne Weyand went back-to-back with two outs, and Miller went to the circle with an early 2-0 lead.
Then it was Coatesville’s turn. Ashley Mendenhall got things go-
ing with a one-out single. Pitcher Bri White followed with a home run to left to tie it at 2-2. Peyton Landis followed with a bomb to straight-away center to give her team the lead for good.
“I just thought about going up to the plate and seeing the ball,” said Landis. “I just wanted to hit the ball where it was pitched, and I was lucky enough that it was over the fence. This is my first year on varsity, so it’s a really cool that we got to win a championship my first season here.”
Pitching with a lead, White settled in and kept Shanahan off the board the rest of the way. She allowed two runs on five hits. White struck out seven, and walked just one.
“Coach (Mendenhall) always tells me that when pitching with the lead you just have to pitch smart and not make any dumb mistakes,” said White. “So I just tried to throw strikes and get the outs. It was great to see our offense come through the way we did. It’s a nice feeling to win the Ches-Mont.”
The Red Raiders tacked on another run with a solo shot from Dominique Ricevuto in the second. Then in the third, Ashley Mendenhall hit a solo homer to lead off. Later, they executed a squeeze bunt, with Maddie Fleming scoring courtesy runner Melina Minitti.
For Shanahan, they still has a shot at the top seed in Class 5A. They entered the week holding the number one spot in the power rankings.
“I told the girls even before the game started that this game didn’t matter all that much, so just go out, play hard and have fun,” said coach Ron Savastio. “I’m not sure what this will do to us in the power rankings, but we’ll come back Monday and do our best to beat Henderson and maybe get that one seed.”
If not, the Eagles know better than anyone that seeding matters little once you get there. Last season, Shanahan squeaked in as the last seed in its bracket, and found itself playing for a district title.
“We’re all excited for the playoffs,” said Savastio. “The kind of competition we get in this league, playing teams that can hit and pitch like Coatesville and we’re well prepared for what comes next.”