Source: MI Prep Zone

Author: Dan Fenner

Marlins senior Abby Krzywiecki broke the MHSAA single-season record for home runs Saturday.

LIVONIA — Saturday was a good day for the Farmington Hills Mercy softball team and a truly great one for one player in particular.

The Marlins picked up another district title with a 7-0 victory over North Farmington, with an exclamation point tacked on to the end when senior Abby Krzywiecki smacked her 19th home run to establish a new state record in a single season.

“She just works hard. It’s always the same swing, it doesn’t matter if it’s off a tee or in soft-toss. Abby looks to drive the ball. She doesn’t look to hit home runs, but they happen because she works so hard to square the ball up and make things happen,” Marlins coach Alec Lesko said. “We’re used to it. It’s a lot of pressure on a kid to seemingly always have to produce, but she loves that position and has worked hard for it. We’re happy she’s on our side.”

Krzywiecki entered play Saturday in a tie with a couple other players for the most homers in a season. After narrowly missing her record-breaking swing in the district semifinal, she finally put one over the fence in the top of the seventh against the Raiders.

“It just showed that my hard work paid off,” Krzywiecki said of her achievement. “I’ve been saying that since Day 1. I know I can produce good numbers if I put a good swing on it, which is what I’ve been working on. My mentality is my number one thing. I’ve been working on my mechanics since I was really young and I’ve mastered some things.”

The Marlins’ offense produced good swings and a steady stream of baserunners throughout the day, but did not truly pull away from North Farmington until the late innings.

The Raiders’ senior pitcher, Alexa Cherney, kept her squad in the game as she has for her entire career. Missed opportunities to score cost North Farmington a chance to keep pace in the early innings, however.

A bases loaded chance was squandered by the Raiders in the second inning when they trailed just 1-0. Marlins pitcher Andrea Elmore worked her way out of the jam, recording a swinging strikeout to end the threat.

“Early on, I think a big difference in the game was when they had the bases loaded and a really good hitter up,” Lesko said. “Andrea dug in like she can and got us out of it. Then we manufactured some runs and we got fortunate to have a few balls drop in. As the game went on, Andrea really settled in and then Abby sealed the deal at the end.”

Cari Padula and Nicole Belans each had a pair of RBI for the Marlins, who improved to 37-2 on the season heading into next weekend’s regional round.

Mercy will face the winner of the Hartland district at Novi High School next Saturday morning.

“I’m nervous for the season to end because I know we have so much potential to make it very far,” Krzywiecki said.

Farmington Hills Mercy 19, Farmington Hills Harrison 0 (3 innings) - district semifinal

In the first semifinal, Mercy quickly dispatched Harrison, needing just three innings to induce the mercy rule.

The Marlins scored three runs in the first inning and followed up with 11 innings in the second.

Krzywiecki very nearly set a new MHSAA record for home runs in a season, but her second-inning swing sent the ball to the outfield wall, bouncing off the yellow line, but dropping back into the field of play for a triple.