Keystone’s power dominates N.Y. team

Cendrosky homers twice, Stefan adds a blast in nonconference tuneup

Heading into its biggest week of the season, Keystone knew it was time to approach every game like it was for a state championship.

Sammie Stefan and Madi Cendrosky hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning, while Sydney Campbell

and Cendrosky combined to shut down visiting Pittsford Sutherland (N.Y.) en route to a 10-0 six-inning nonconference win April 22.

“The girls were pretty excited afterward … that’s the mindset we need to make sure we are

approaching every game with,” Keystone coach Jim Piazza said. “They responded well.

“When they come up big, get ready to play and score early, that usually gets our momentum going for the rest of the game. That was the story of last year …. (and) they kind of carried that over.”

Things started quietly as Sutherland pitcher Grace Fanset got the lead-off batter, but it changed rapidly.

Autumn Acord singled to right and scored on Stefan’s two-run blast over the centerfield fence to give the Wildcats a quick 2-0 lead. Before the ball was retrieved from Stefan’s homer, Cendrosky hit a solo shot

to make it 3-0.

With the lead, Campbell kept the Knights off the board and allowed Keystone’s (13-3) offense to get back to work.

In the bottom of the third, Cendrosky’s tworun blast made it 5-0. It was Cendrosky’s first twohomer game of the season and she finished with three RBI.

“My job as the DP (designated player) is to hit,” Cendrosky said. “Knowing we have a good defense behind us, I felt that much more confident going into the batter’s box.

“It (the first home run) didn’t feel like a home run at all. Usually when you hit a home run, you can tell how it feels, but it didn’t. But the second one felt like it was going to be a home run.”

Though Campbell gave up a pair of hits, Sutherland was unable to build any momentum as Campbell and Keystone’s defense shut them down.

The Wildcats tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning with Angel Minisall and McKenah Peters each having an RBI. Shelby Fortune plated a run in the fifth inning with

a groundout to make it 8-0.

Campbell, who went five innings to improve to 8-2, ended her outing on a high note by striking out the side. Coming out to a lead in the second inning gave her all the confidence she needed.

“I know if I do my job on the mound, I’m going to come into the dugout knowing our offense will get hits,” Campbell said. “(Having the lead) took a lot of pressure off of me. I know if I just throw we’re going to be OK.”

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats rattled off three straight hits. Stefan’s single to right scored Marlie McNulty and Acord to reach the 10-run limit. Stefan finished the game with three RBI, while Keystone’s offense recorded 12 hits.

With tough Patriot Athletic Conference games on the docket and the Prebis Memorial Tournament a week away, the Wildcats’ performance was exactly what Piazza was hoping for.

“It helps a lot,” he said. “Coming out and performing (like this). It helps our confidence and helps buy some time. We have some kids that are stepping up big … (which) is really huge and makes us even deeper for the playoffs.”

RANDY MEYERS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Madi Cendrosky of Keystone is mobbed by her teamates at home plate after hitting a home run against Pittsford Sutherland. She hit two homers.