Rhodes guides Spartans
Sophomore uses nasty riseball to edge Shaker; Benamati, Debonis and De La Fleur drive in runs
In a season featuring many more prominent moments than disappointments, the Burnt Hills-ballston Lake softball team showed once again Friday why the Spartans are a program on the rise.
Stellar pitching, solid defense and timely hitting fused together for BH-BL and that quality mixture helped generate a 3-2 nonleague victory over Shaker as the two Suburban Council squads met for a second time as a prep game for sectional play that begins next week.
Katie Rhodes, a sophomore, pitched an exceptional game for BH-BL (11-5 overall). She tossed a five-hitter and struck out 10 — including all three batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
“When she gets in the zone, it is very hard to stop her,” BH-BL coach Caitlyn Rana said. “She got ahead of several batters this game and I think that is what got her going. She got ahead 0-2 and 1-2 on a lot of them. She knows she has the defense behind her and she trusts that defense. She was throwing her pitches today and that was a big deal for her.”
“I was kind of nervous, but it was worth it,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes did not perform as if nerves were any issue, even when the Spartans fell behind 1-0 in the first inning with Shaker (9-11) producing a hit. Sarah Syden, who reached on an
error with one out, scored on a sacrifice fly from Tatum Passonno.
The Spartans, featuring a starting lineup with five sophomores and an eighth-grader, struck for three runs in the top of the third against Shaker freshman pitcher Hannah Hipwell. The rally began when slap-hitting leadoff batter Carli Ewing beat out an infield single to short. Sophomore catcher Lily Haluska walked with one out and sophomore third baseman Cianna Benamati singled to center to tie the game. The Blue Bison appeared poised to gain a second out during a rundown involving Haluska following Benamati’s hit, but an error on the throw to third proved costly for Shaker.
Danielle Debonis brought home Haluska on a groundout to second to make it 2-1 and Jess De La Fleur followed with a runscoring single to right.
“They have been taking advantage of the little things,” Rana said of her squad.
Now staked with the lead, Rhodes did an exceptional job of throwing strikes early in the count and dictating Shaker’s at-bats. Overall, she threw 81 strikes among her 110 pitches. She only walked one batter and utilized a variety of offerings, including a devastating riseball, to keep the Blue Bison off balance.
“It made it tough on us because we let her get to that riseball by not being aggressive early
in the count,” Shaker coach Scott Mcintyre said. “She got ahead and she has a good rise. It is a tough pitch to take and a tough one to hit.”
Shaker senior Liz Martuscello reduced the Blue Bison’s deficit to 3-2 in the fourth with a twoout RBI double, but Rhodes rebounded to escape further damage and retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced with six strikeouts in that span.
“Our catchers, both Lily and Danielle, call a good game,” Rana said. “I don’t call pitches for my girls unless I see something that it is not being called. They both have great softball IQS behind the plate.”
Last month, Rhodes pitched all 12 innings in a 2-1 triumph over Troy. The Flying Horses are ranked No. 5 in the latest Class A
state poll. Rhodes said she knew even though the Spartans are young, the team had the capabilities to produce a strong season. BH-BL managed to go 9-4 in Suburban Council play.
“From the first practice, there was a really good bond,” Rhodes said. “We have a lot more team energy. We’re ready.”
“The As are going to be tough,” Rana said. “Being able to stay level-headed and focused is important. They are a young team, but man, they can compete with teams stacked with juniors and seniors. The fact when they step between the lines and are all business is important. They are young and a very hard-working group of girls.”