Source: Hometown Life
Author: Dan O'Meara
double play to end the first half inning Wednesday provided an early spark of inspiration for Farmington Hills Mercy in its sweep of Birmingham Marian in a softball doubleheader.
After holding the visiting Mustangs scoreless in their opening at-bat, the Marlins went on to invoke the mercy rule in both games, winning 16-0 in four innings and 11-0 in five.
Marian’s Ary Daddabo started the first game with a double and moved to third base on a sacrifice by Kelli Conway.
Mercy senior first baseman Abby Krzywiecki chased down a fly ball off the bat of Lauren Ogurek in foul territory and made the putout.
When Daddabo tried to score on the play, Krzywiecki made a perfect throw to sophomore catcher Anna Dixon for the inning-ending double play.
“Abby made an over-the-shoulder catch and threw a strike to the plate,” Mercy coach Alec Lesko said. “It was a big turnaround right in the first inning of the doubleheader and set the tone for us.”
The first six Mercy batters reached base and scored before the Mustangs could get an out.
The undefeated Marlins, who are ranked No. 2 in Division 1, were on their way to winning their first Catholic League Central Division games and pushing their record to 8-0 overall.
“Before our first games, we were kind of messed up with the weather and our own spring break,” Lesko said. “It was tough to get any kind of rhythm to our practices and the things we were doing.
“Getting outside to play a few games finally was really nice. I think we still have a ways to go, but we’re pleased with the outcome so far.”
The Marlins are working to settle their lineup and work new varsity players into starting roles, he added.
“We’re still trying to find the right mix that will make us the best in the future,” Lesko said.
Vets perform well
But the older, veteran players like Krzywiecki, junior outfielder Sophia VanAcker and senior pitcher Andrea Elmore are doing exactly what is expected of them.
VanAcker leads the team with a .731 batting average and 19 runs scored. Krzywiecki has a team-high five home runs and 23 RBIs. She’s batting .654 and has scored 16 runs.
“They picked up where they left off, basically,” Lesko said. “They’ve played really well, and Andrea is getting better every game.”
Elmore is 6-0 with a 1.01 earned run average. She has 36 strikeouts as opposed to seven walks in 272/3 innings. Krzywiecki has the other two wins.
“When she had some control issues, I was most pleased to see her work herself out of that,” Lesko said of Elmore. “Her maturity is showing.
“It doesn’t affect her to where she continues to slide. She rebounds; she goes back to her basics and her mechanics.”
New catcher shines
The biggest and most pleasant surprise has been the play of Dixon behind the plate, according to Lesko.
The Marlins had to find a replacement for Miss Softball Alex Sobczak at that position. Dixon has adapted well defensively and is hitting .444 with nine runs and nine RBIs.
“She has really embraced the role of catcher,” Lesko said. “On top of that, we moved her to the leadoff spot in the lineup, and it doesn’t phase her. She just loves to play the game.”
Lesko said he’s pleased with the way second baseman Nicole Belans and shortstop Shannon Gibbons are playing, adding the two juniors have elevated their games.
Belans has a .478 average and Gibbons .450. Belans has driven in 15 runs; Gibbons has scored nine and Belans seven.
Padula to WMU
Senior third baseman Cari Padula signed last week to play at Western Michigan University. She and Megan Satawa are batting .417. Padula also had 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
“Cari is our cleanup hitter and is doing very well behind (No. 3 batter) Abby,” Lesko said. “She works very hard and is deserving. She had a couple other offers, but this one seems like the best fit.
“This was her first game (Wednesday) after committing, and she just seemed to be relaxed. Now she’ll be able to enjoy her senior year and keep it going.”
Mercy’s big hitters
In the first game with Marian, Belans went 3-for-3 and had six RBIs. VanAcker was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. She and Krzywiecki, who was 2-for-3 and knocked in four runs, also scored four runs each.
Padula, who scored three times, Satawa, Sarah Cassidy and Mary Reeber contributed one RBI apiece.
Belans hit a two-run single in the first inning, an RBI double in the third and a three-run single in the fourth to invoke the mercy rule. Krzywiecki hit a two-run homer and an RBI double.
“I thought our approach to our at-bats improved in the last two games as opposed to the first six,” Lesko said. “We seemed to be more focused on what we’re really trying to accomplish up there.”
Second-game stars
In the nightcap, Krzywiecki went 3-for-3 and had five RBIs. Dixon had one hit and three RBIs. VanAcker, who was 2-for-3, and Padula drove in one run each.
Krzywiecki hit a grand slam and a run-scoring single. Dixon had a two-run single and another RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Elmore was the winning pitcher in both games, allowing just two hits in each one. She struck out six and didn’t walk anybody in the opener. She walked three in the second and upped her strikeout count to nine.