Strong finish leads Lady Mikes to 12-2 win
CARMICHAELS — The Carmichaels softball team scored the final 12 runs of the game, as the Lady Mikes capped off another successful regular season with a five-inning, 12-2 Section 2-A win over Mapletown Tuesday afternoon.
The Lady Mikes (12-6, 8-4) have won eight of their final 10 games and are locked in as the third place team out of Section 2-A. The two losses in that stretch were to Monessen and West Greene by a combined three runs.
“We can’t have anymore moral victories,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “We played both Monessen and West Greene tough. We had a chance to win in both of those games. I think we are peaking at the right time and we are coming together as a team.”
Carmichaels has made the postseason 19 of the past 21 seasons, including 12 straight.
The playoff brackets will be announced on Thursday.
“We hit some shots today and I like our offensive approach these last couple of games,” Briggs said. “Our offense must be able to continue to produce in the playoffs and we have to get contributions from everyone in our lineup. We are excited for the playoffs.”
Despite the loss, the Lady Maples (7-7, 5-7) will be heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and just the second time since 1997.
“I really liked our determination this season and we never quit,” Mapletown coach Gina Perry said. “We keep on going as a team and we battled to the final out. Carmichaels is tough and sometimes when we play them we are just not there mentally. This group of seniors has really stepped up and I loved the way they lead.”
Mapletown will end the regular season at home today against non-section foe Fort Cherry.
Before the game Carmichaels recognized its one senior, Megan Walker.
“Megan has meant a lot to our team and to our program over the last four years,” Briggs said. “She is a natural leader on the field and she’s been a four-year starter for us. She’s like having another coach out there and she makes my job a lot easier.”
The switch-hitting catcher went 1-for-3 from her lead-off spot with a pair of RBI and two runs scored.
“Being the only senior is kind of fun,” Walker said. “I just want to lead the team on and off the field. I want to be a role model and teach the younger kids how to win here. It has been an exciting four years for me and I can’t believe that I’m a senior now.”
Mapletown took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Taylor Vanata drew a walk to start the inning and scored on Sara Chory’s triple. An errant relay throw on the play allowed Chory to cross home plate.
The Lady Mikes sent nine batters to the plate and responded with five runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.
Shelbee McCann reached second base on an outfield error and then would later score on an infield error to make it 2-1.
Walker slapped a RBI single down the first base line to knot things up, followed by a two-run double by Kylie Sinn and a run-producing double by Emma Holaren.
Holaren had a team-high three hits in the win, all of which were doubles.
Carmichaels pushed its lead to 7-2 over the next two innings, courtesy of McCann scoring on an infield error in the third and a RBI single by Gina Ranieri in the fourth.
The Lady Mikes invoked the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth. The big at-bats in the inning were Walker getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, a two-run single by Sinn and a run-producing hit by Madison Ewart.
Sinn recorded the win for Carmichaels, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings with five strikeouts and one walk on 59 pitches.
“Kylie has really stepped up her game this season,” Walker said of her sophomore battery mate. “The changes (in the way she pitches) from the beginning of her freshmen year to now is just crazy. She was so nervous, but now she has that confidence in herself.”
Mapletown’s Madison Blaker was issued the loss with three strikeouts and one walk.
“We just have to battle our nerves when it comes to the playoffs,” Nesser said. “We can’t overthink things on the field. We have to be aggressive at the plate, on the bases and in the field. We have to make the routine plays and play with confidence.”