Tough start for young Ramettes
The Johnsonburg/ Ridgway softball girls dropped to 0-3 with a 17-4 loss at Kane on Thursday.
Head coach Gary Gerber's squad returns just three starters, senior Shelby Sorg and juniors Natalie Dunworth and Zoey Grunthaner, from last year's team, which finished 11-10 after winning the District 9 Class 2A championship in 2022. Sophomore Gionna Dellaquila, who saw time last year in the playoffs, is the only other returner among the team of 11.
On Wednesday, the Ramettes lost 13-0 at Elk County Catholic after falling at home to Otto-Eldred 12-1 on Tuesday.
Sorg and Dellaquila are in the outfield. Dunworth pitches or plays short, and Grunthaner catches. First-timers are filling every other position.
The mix includes freshmen Dana Beimel, who plays short and pitches; Icy Aiello, who's been at second base; and Izzi Lawrie, who has been covering first base. Sophomore Gianna Zimmerman has been at third base, as has tenth-grader
Josie Gerber, who played left field in the opener. Sophomore Ella Halquist played right field in Kane, and senior Emma Cheisa is on the team.
The Paper City girls are off until Friday, Apr. 5, when they travel to Redbank Valley.
After the first loss, Gerber acknowledged the team was learning on the fly.
“We're young, and most of them are facing high school pitching for the first time. We just haven't had time to work on things other than pulling them off to the side during a game, so being off will give us some time to focus on things. Overall, though, I like the attitude we're seeing.”
Dunworth (2 Runs) and Grunthaner (Run, RBI) have three hits thus far, and Sorg (2 RBI) has two, including a double. Lawrie hit a single and double, and Beimel (2 runs) had a triple in the opener.
Dunworth has recorded 13 strikeouts, and Beimel, who threw against ECC, has five.
New this year is a Junior High team that will help keep the pipeline filled. The young Ramettes play their first game on Apr. 9 at Brockway.