By: John Knebels

Photos by: James Williamson and Mark Zimmaro

PHILADELPHIA - If John W. Hallahan could bottle the many positive elements from their past two games, future foes should expect some headaches.

After losing their first three, the Mighty Mice used timely hitting and strong pitching to defeat visiting Lansdale Catholic, 12-5, on April 27. Two days later, they employed an epic comeback to shock visiting Bonner-Prendergast, 10-9.

Freshman pitcher Ava Lawrence notched a complete-game victory. She surrendered five hits, one walk, and one earned run while striking out six. Along with Balilonis, sophomore Faith Scally (2-2, 2 RBI) and junior Amanda Armstrong (two-run single in first) aided the offense.

Two days later, Hallahan found itself trailing Bonner-Prendergast, 7-1, in the fifth.

Cue the comeback.

Junior nine-hole hitter Abby Nicholas fought off a two-strike pitch and singled. A triple by Balilonis was part of a six-run inning that tied the game, 7-7.

Hallahan tallied twice in the sixth to take a 9-7 lead, but the Pandas rebounded with two in their half of the seventh to tie the game at 9-9.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hallahan loaded the bases. Balilonis was called out on strikes on a pitch that had appeared to be clearly out of the strike zone. Brynne Tomaszewski, however, responded by patiently worked a game-winning walk, setting off a boisterous celebration that had appeared highly unlikely an hour earlier.

“All nine girls that were in our lineup contributed to our win, and it was such a great feeling getting to watch the bat get passed right down the lineup and keep us alive,” said Balilonis. “My last at bat was frustrating because I had it all laid out in front of me, runners on, right there to win the game, and when the umpire called a high strike on me, I didn’t know how to react. I felt like I was letting my team down, but Brynne got the run in. 

“The dugout was loud and everyone was screaming and cheering her on. When she walked, everyone was so excited, and it was such a good feeling knowing that we could come back from being down the whole game and knowing that we all had each other’s backs.”

Lawrence was able to keep the game within reach.

“As a pitcher, when the team is down by that much, I try to bear down and do what I know how to do,” said Lawrence. “I try to get out of innings as fast of possible so we can then bat and try to get runs.

“It was so much fun and such a great time. The build up and anticipation leading up to the win was so nerve-racking, but worth every minute.”

As a multiple-sport athlete, Scally has seen pretty much everything when it comes to crazy contests.

Or so she thought.

“I have been a part of a comeback, but I haven’t really been a part of anything like this,” said Scally.

“In the beginning of the game, we didn’t know what we were going into. Prendie definitely put up a fight.

“On a normal softball team, being down six is a little discouraging . . . but not Hallahan. We fought back because we knew we could come back.

“When it was the last inning, you could tell we were hyped. When Abby Nicholas got on base to start the inning, we knew it was going to end in our favor. And then Halle Mawhinney slap hits and we are even more hype. I come up and I surprise bunt. All we need is one more run.

“Brynne Tomaszewski comes up to bat and is patient and walks the run in. It was awesome. I was really proud to say I was on Hallahan’s softball after these last games.”

As a senior, wins like this mean that much more to players such as Halle Mawhinney.

“When you’re down that many runs you do start to lose hope, but the feeling of a comeback overpowers that lost hope,” she said. “When one person in the lineup gets a hit and the next follows, it paves the way for the start of a chain reaction. A comeback is a great feeling and it reminds me why I play and love the game.”

Up next (May 4) is visiting Archbishop Ryan, which is also undefeated at 6-0.

Junior leadoff hitter Cheyenne Niehoff reached base four times, scored one run, and stole three bases.

Knowing her role as a table setter, Niehoff takes great pride on finding any way to reach base.

“It can be really stressful because I know I have to get on base,” said Niehoff. “If I don’t start it, I trust Maya to start it. It’s very, very serious for me.

“I read the defense. I will swing away when everyone’s in or I will power slap. I pull their defense in and I’ll either slap it, hit it, or maybe I’ll just bunt it again. It’s really mental in that moment.”

Niehoff said that if there had not been a pandemic, the Lady Patriots might be the defending champions.

“Last year we didn’t get a season and it was so frustrating because we thought that we had it,” said Niehoff. “We were so good. We practiced nonstop. This year we want it for our seniors.”

Carroll coach Mike Lorine said the Lady Patriots should benefit from the tight league battle against Wood after dominating three of their previous four opponents by a margin of 44 to 6. 

“We need games like that,” said Lorine. “Wood is really strong and a young team. They really challenged us today. The great thing was that it gave our players and the whole team an opportunity to learn from it and push forward. I think we grew some through this.”

For Wood, sophomore pitcher Dakota Fanelli whiffed seven in five-plus innings. Junior Kiersten Reeser and sophomore Paige Ross knocked in runs for the Vikings, who left seven runners on base.

In their final games, Wood will play Hallahan, O’Hara, Little Flower, and St. Hubert. Carroll faces Ryan, Bonner-Prendergast, Lansdale, and St. Hubert.

Though not yet etched in stone, it is probable that each of the PCL’s 10 teams will make the playoffs, with the top six receiving byes while the seventh seed hosts the 10th, and the eighth hosts the ninth.

The good news, she said, is that after a year of being under complete quarantine and literally not allowed to pick up a bat or a glove, the players are finally becoming accustomed to some normalcy.

“The younger players are starting to realize what the Catholic League is all about,” said Hart. “The sophomores are like freshmen because they didn’t have a freshman year. The juniors didn’t have a sophomore year. Now that they’ve played some games, they’re starting to understand.

“It’s exciting. On any given day, anyone could beat anybody. A team gets hot, who knows? You just have to keep getting better every day and see what happens.”

Walking Wounded Wood Keeps Chugging

Archbishop Wood has been dealing with major injuries since the beginning of the season, but the mood remains upbeat.

Losing a heartbreaker against Conwell-Egan and almost knocking off Carroll provided a testament to the Lady Vikings’ fortitude and strong coaching.

“It’s tough when you see your players work so hard and all of a sudden get sidelined with injury,” said Wood coach Jackie Ecker. “With three returning varsity players and the rest essentially freshmen, we needed to dig deep as it was. Now with the injuries, our injured players will be additional coaches to their teammates, as the ones on the field may have to learn new positions and adjust.

“I have faith in this team. They communicate well. They play with heart. And no matter if they are on the field or not, they will play together.”

(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)