The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Rain leaves teams in suspense
Rocky River and Elyria Catholic had battled to a 5-5 tie when the rains came. The teams will have to wait until Monday to see how the game pans out.
It was a race against the clock as Elyria Catholic hosted Rocky River, with both teams hoping to get their mid-day Great Lakes Conference matchup in before a line of heavy rain came through the area on April 20.
It was a race that the teams lost as the game was suspended with the scored tied, 5-5, in the sixth inning because of deteriorating field conditions.
The game had been a thrilling back-and-forth affair that eventually saw a short rain delay after the Pirates (9-3, 3-2 GLC) had evened up the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The umpires decided to let the girls play in a steady rain.
The game was stopped with the Pirates threatening with a runner on third and one out.
“It’s always interesting when you get rain factored in and balls are wet and slipping around,” Pirates coach Jeffrey Hammond said. “I don’t want to win a game just because of the rain and I’m glad were going to pick this up on Monday.”
Panthers coach Megan Bashak felt her girls played well.
“They are playing hard, the rain is just not our friend right now. We thought we were going to take it and get that fifth inning in but the weather is just not in our favor at the moment. So, they have got until Monday to pick it back up,” Bashak said.
The Panthers wasted no time getting their offense
going as leadoff hitter Samantha Filiaggi walked and stole second shortly after. Her gamble paid off she scored on Kaylie Griffin’s grounder.
Filiaggiracked up four stolen bases, including stealing home in the fourth, giving the Panthers (2-5, 1-3 GLC) a 5-3 lead.
“Yeah, I have always been fast and my coaches, coach Meg said every time I get on base it’s my opportunity to watch the catcher and see what she is doing. I used my speed efficiently today. As long as we keep getting on base, I’m just going to keep stealing,” Filiaggi said.
Filiaggi finished 2-for-3, with a pair of singles and walk.
The Pirates, riding a sixgame winning streak, answered in the second as Maureen Cain crushed a solo homer to right center.
After allowing the home run, Panthers pitcher Ashley Cascio went 5 1/3 innings, while allowing five runs off nine hits and striking out three.
Her counterpart, Marissa Smiley, had a tough performance on the mound, allowing five runs off nine hits, while walking three and striking out three. But she made up for it with her continued dominance in the batter’s box. In the third, Smiley doubled in two runs as Rocky River took a 3-1 lead.
Her recent offense has caught the attention of just about everyone in the GLC, including her coach.
“She has been on a tear for us lately. I think in the last six games she has hit about five home runs and had at least 20 RBIs. She’s really hot right now and I know when she is coming to the plate that good things are going to happen,” Hammond said.
Smiley finished 2-for-3, with two doubles and three RBI.
In the third Elyria Catholic scored three runs on Bridgette Pronesta’s RBI double, Meghan Allegretto’s RBI single and Olivia Madera’s RBI single. The Panthers led, 4-3.
Filiaggi reached base on a single, and quickly motored her way around the bases, eventually stealing home in the top of the fourth.
The Pirates were in business in the top of the fifth as they needed to rally before the rain came sweeping through. With the clouds growing darker and faint lightning in the distance the Pirates put together a solid inning with multiple singles. Smiley’s RBI double helped Rocky River to cut the lead to 5-4. With strong gusts coming in, Maura McIntyre delivered the gametying sacrifice RBI.
Coach Hammond felt the ending was thrilling but overall just an exciting softball game to be a part of.
“Yeah, you know it has always been a battle when we play EC. Being able to go back and forth and it’s a fun and interesting game. It’s one of those games that you want to see so that the girls are prepared for tournament time,” Hammond said.
Rocky River’s Smiley is eager to finish the game as her team continues to grow in confidence.
“I just want to get back out here and play. I want to finish the game and hopefully come out with a W,” Smiley said.
Rocky River and Elyria Catholic will resume their game on April 24 at Rocky River. They will also play an already scheduled game.