Mount Saint Dominic Academy Lions Softball Invitational Showcases Some of Areas Best

(Photo by Sunil Sunder Raj – DoubleGSports)

Notre Dame Irish (2) vs. Lodi Immaculate (0) – 10 innings

Brighid Douglas two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning broke a scoreless deadlock as the Notre Dame Irish defeated the Lodi Immaculate Wolves Blue Wolves 2-0. Notre-Dame’s starting pitcher threw a complete-game shutout, allowing 7 hits, striking out five and walking none. Despite yielding the two-run homer to Douglas, Blue Wolves Sarah Piening threw a superb game allowing six hits while fanning 19.

“We made the play when we had to and got the big hit,” said Notre Dame Irish head coach Art Kearns. “I pride my team that offense and defense wins championships” added Kearns.

Both teams had several scoring opportunities throughout the game but great pitching and defense kept runs off the scoreboard. In the top of the 7th, the Irish had runners on 1st and 2nd when Amanda Ferlisi blooped a single to left field. Maddie Schafer attempted to score but Lodi Immaculate left fielder Ashely Callahan rifled a perfect throw to home plate to get the out. Piening escaped the jam striking two out of the last 3 batters to end the inning. The Blue Wolves also had two runners on base in the bottom of the 6th, Nicolette Kupersmith line drive ricocheted off the 1st base bag. Pinch runner Erin Baker attempt to score from 2nd base was thwarted by a laser throw to home plate.

“Both pitchers were great today and it came down to what team was going to capitalize on one play,” said Lodi Immaculate head coach Jeff Horohonich. “Two really good teams and unfortunately we did not take advantage of the opportunities we had.”

Mount Saint Dominic Academy (7) vs. Notre Dame (3)

Jamie Hebert drove in four runs including a bases clearing triple in the bottom of the 4th inning leading the Mount Saint Dominic Academy Lions to a 7-3 victory over the Notre Dame Irish. Lions starting pitcher Kelsey Oh went distance allowing three runs, seven hits walking none and striking out 11. Oh struck out the side to end the game.

“That was two heavyweights and Parochial A schools going at each other,” said Mount Saint Dominic Academy co-head coach Rob Nelson. “They came out and knocked us around scoring three runs but we had to come back and swing the bats. I told Kelsey you are one of the top pitchers in the state, with a two-run lead and to shut them down. Jamie has had big hits for us all year and can run like a deer.”

The Irish jumped out ahead in the top of the 4th inning on a ground ball hit by Maddie Schafer that was misplayed in the outfield allowing Becky Livitsky to score all the way from first base. Kelly Tinseman followed with a line drive shot to the second baseman with the out being recorded at the first on a sensational diving tag of the base but Schafer scored making it 2-0. The hit parade continued as Amanda Ferlisi doubled off the left field fence and moved over to third base on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Catie Rymer hit a ground ball to the first baseman but on the ensuing attempt to tag the base the ball was dropped allowing Ferlisi to cross home plate making the score 3-0 Notre Dame.

Mount Saint Dominic Academy added insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th. Elizabeth Cowell led off with an infield bunt single. Hebert drove in her fourth run of the game ripping a line drive past the shortstop that ended up skipping all the way to the left field fence as Cowell raced all the way home from first base. With Marissa Jenkins at plate, a pick off attempt was made at third base but the ball sailed into left field allowing Hebert to jog home making the score 7-3.