Spring-Ford slams Owen J Roberts
BUCKTOWN >> Spring-Ford’s softball team is being careful not to ride too much of a high this spring.
Given the Rams won their first state final in program history last year and opened 2023 with a pair of wins, they have reason for some pep in their step. Maybe even more so now after a 14-4 win over Owen J. Roberts on the road Monday, having delivered three multi-run homers to run away with their first divisional win of the season.
Overconfidence can be an achilles heel, but so far, the Rams are weathering those waters.
“We don’t want to be overconfident, but we have enough confidence in ourselves in that we’re able to keep this going, keep winning games and not get down on ourselves so much,” junior outfielder Caitlin Ashley said.
Ashley (3-for-3) blasted a pair of two-run shots to springboard Spring-Ford (30), which recorded 17 hits with no strikeouts.
Her first came in the top of the third inning after placing one just inside the leftfield pole to go up 3-0 over the Wildcats (2-2). Two innings later, the All-State hitter once again homered to dial the Rams up to a 5-1 advantage.
In later innings, Ashley was intentionally walked by Owen J. Roberts in an effort to prevent more damage from the Mercury All-Area first teamer. But the floodgates remained open, pitcher Jess Fliszar (3-for-4, 6 RBI) batting next in the order and belting a three-run double to go up 13-4 in the seventh.
“When people are going to walk Caitlin, we’re going to need someone behind and Jess came through with a bases-loaded double today to plate all those runs,” SpringFord coach Shawn Corropolese said. “We’re going to need those kids following some of our bigger bats. I think we have that on our team.”
Fliszar also had an RBI single in the first to open the scoring. She drove in two runs in the sixth inning as well.
In the circle, Fliszar struck out three with six hits allowed over six innings. Fliszar, who worked valuable innings in relief during the Rams’ run to the state title in 2022, is getting the starting nod this spring with the graduation for last year’s Mercury All-Area Player of the Year Jules Scogna (St. Joseph’s).
Three of the Wildcats’ hits came in succession during the third frame. Owen J. Roberts also worked four walks against her as well.
“With Jess walking a couple people, she has to know we all have her back on the field and in the dugout,” Ashley said. “Off the field even, having that strong bond when we’re not playing together helps to be connected as a family, not just a team.”
The Wildcats made some noise in the sixth inning. Down 7-1 with loaded bases and no outs, Liza Flavin, Hayden Streeter and Gabriella Winnick all knocked an RBI each to close the gap 7-4.
But then came SpringFord’s third home run, courtesy of Alyssa Burgess. With two runners on, Burgess matched that three-run production with one swing of the bat to pull away again 10-4.
““Our kids are coming together. We’re young, but our kids are really starting to come together,” Corropolese said. “Defensively, we didn’t make a mistake today. We have some new kids out on the field and they’re starting to jell as a team.”