2013 FASTPITCH DREAMS SPRING SOFTBALL CLASSIC INFORMATION AND WEBSITE
Thursday, March 14, 2013 (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) - In the final day of four in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina competing in the 2013 Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, the Mount Ida College softball program closed out Thursday's action going 1-1 with a tight 4-3 victory over Baptist Bible College (Pa.) in the early game and a 12-4 mercy rule loss to Blackburn College in the afternoon's contest closing out the week going 3-4 heading back to Newton, Massachusetts.
Mount Ida was led offensively by junior shortstop Kirsten Guerrero (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Ludlowe) with a clutch two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Mustangs a momentum building 3-2 lead. Guerrero added five hits for the week including her first home run of the 2013 season in day one of action adding a team-leading seven runs batted in tournament play. Freshman hurler Allie Norris (Plymouth, MA/Plymouth South) was dazzling on the mound collecting her second victory in as many starts pitching all seven frames with five strikeouts surrendering eight hits that led to three earned runs. Seven other Mustangs recorded hits led by an RBI double from sophomore third baseman Gina Onorevole (Lafayette, NJ/High Point Regional). Senior utility player and Captain Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT/Litchfield) smacked two hits scoring one run in three at-bats. Freshman first baseman Kaitlyn Berube (Fall River, MA/Diamond Regional) set the Mustangs up in the bottom of the sixth with a big double to right field that eventually aligned the go-ahead run.
The Defenders got two hits from junior infielder Corin Landry (Lebanon, CT/Windham Tech) including a two run home run to deep left field tie the game (3-3) late in the action. Senior outfield Kim Caines (Springville, PA/Elk Lake HS) drove in the first two runs of the game for BBC (Pa.) adding two hits while fellow senior Heidi Howell (Jersey Shore, PA/Walnut St. Christian) added two base knocks respectively. Freshman pitcher Amber Kachelries (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore High) saw the entire contest in the middle circle taking the loss giving up eight hits and three earned runs with seven whiffs.
Baptist Bible (Pa.) got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second inning that started with two singles by Landry and Kachelries. The runners would move up following a fielder's choice and a base hit putting two on with the number nine hitter coming to the plate. Caines answered any doubters with a two-RBI single to right center field to give the Defenders the opening 2-0 lead.
After a stalemate in the third with neither team plating runs, the Mustangs came through with their first run of the contest on a double to right field by Onorevole. Sophomore first baseman Nikole Soto (Marlboro, MA/Assabet Valley Regional) got the ball rolling with a crushed double to right center to get in scoring position. Onorevole was next in line hammering a lined double to right field scoring Soto to pull within one run (2-1) to finish the fourth frame.
After stymieing BBC (Pa.) in the top of the fifth, Mount Ida took their first lead of the contest. Meeker and senior second baseman Tiffany Hamann (captain) (Newton, MA/Newton South) led off the inning with two singles putting two on with zero out. Following a groundout, Guerrero stepped up cranking a two-RBI double over the right fielder's head for a commanding 3-2 advantage.
Baptist Bible (Pa.) didn't let up tying the score in the top of the next inning on a round tripper from Landry knotting action at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
After an inning opening ground out, Mount Ida's Berube came in to pinch hit for senior outfielder Meghan Moriarty (Holbrook, MA/Holbrook). Sixth year Head Coach Katie Zuman's substitution would pay off with Berube hammering a double to right field to get into scoring position for a possible re-take of the lead. The speedy Moriarty would be re-inserted to pinch run for Berube in another very crucial coaching move that would eventually pay off again on the next batter. Freshman Yaritza Otero (Boston, MA/South Boston) hit a grounder to third and would be thrown out at first base, but an attempt to get Moriarty heading to third base was errant ultimately sending her home to score the go-ahead run off an error by the Defenders giving the Mustangs the 4-3 lead.
Baptist Bible (Pa.) could not recover and was blanked by the Mustangs in the final inning of play giving Mount Ida their third win (4-3) for the week.
In the final game of the tournament, Mount Ida started strong leading a very talented Blackburn College squad 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth. But a four-run fifth inning, followed by another seven runs in the sixth mercy ruled the Mustangs in a 12-4 loss to the Beavers to close out the 2013 Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this spring break wee. Mount Ida would leave with an overall record of 3-4 while BC improves to 6-1 for the year thus far heading back home.
Three Mustangs added two hits each led by Guerrero and Onorevole who both would chip in an RBI each. Berube notched the other two runs batted in with a single to left field that gave Mount Ida a 4-2 advantage at the time in the top of the fifth inning. Hamann added two stolen bases, one hit and a run scored while freshman catcher Cassie Durand (Dracut, MA/Dracut) notched two hits including a double to left field. Meeker saw the mound for the Mustangs going 5.1 innings surrendering 11 hits and seven runs, only four of which were earned, and two homers.
For the visitors, three players blasted round trippers through the final two frames of the game led by junior Katelin Tickner (Godfrey, IL/Alton) crushing a grand slam that finalized an 11 run two-inning stretch to haul play in the sixth through mercy rule. Senior outfield Brianna Markel (East Alton, IL/Roxanna) and freshman Lauren Rhodes (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville) gave the visitors their first lead of the game adding home runs to lead off the fifth with a base hit mixed in between them. Markel notched three RBI's on a 2-4 day at the dish scoring two runs while Rhodes notched one hit with two runs scored. Rhodes got the start on the mound going five frames giving up four earned runs and nine hits along with two K's. Junior hurler Amber Byrley (Palestine, IL/Palestine) closed out the final inning of play for the 12-4 Blackburn win.
Mount Ida softball will face an already familiar foe in non-conference Bay Path College next Tuesday in Newton, Massachusetts for twin bill action with game one opening pitch thrown at 3:00 p.m.
