By John Knebels
(Photos & Video by Archbishop Carroll Senior Gabriel Petrecz )
RADNOR – Lauren Martin was feeling a tad impatient.
After having already gained two free passes along with a single and run scored, the Archbishop Carroll senior came to bat in a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the sixth. After taking the first-pitch for a ball, Martin prepared to get aggressive.
She made the most of it.
Martin’s line drive home run proved to be the difference in the Patriots’ 6-5 Philadelphia Catholic League victory over visiting Archbishop Ryan on a picture-perfect April 11 afternoon.
“I was looking to get on base any way possible to remain competitive,” said Martin, “but even though I was anticipating a walk, t I knew if a pitch was in the zone, I was swinging.”
Adding celebration to the occasion was that no one on the Carroll roster had ever defeated Ryan. Dating back to at least 2017, Ryan has beaten Carroll every year. That includes a 6-5 result last spring that ended up giving Ryan the top seed in the playoffs.
Having received first-round byes, both teams eventually lost in the semifinals.
Archbishop Carroll's Lauren Martin secures the final run to win game vs. Archbishop Ryan. (Photo/ Gabriel Petrecz)
“Ryan is typically our biggest rival, especially in recent years, so it definitely felt like a playoff situation,” said Martin. “It was our first time beating Ryan, so I think winning that game made us more confident, but also gave us new things to work on to prepare for the playoffs.”
Ryan took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single by senior Sabrina Pastino. Despite playing shorthanded at several positions, the Patriots battled back to take a 3-2 lead after four innings.
In the fifth, a two-run homer by Ryan sophomore pitcher Moira Maw gave the Ragdolls a 4-3 lead and a “here we go again” pall among the startled Patriots. However, in the bottom half, junior Allison Armstrong knocked in two runs, and Carroll led, 5-4.
Undaunted, the Ragdolls tied the game in the sixth, only to have Martin’s blast untie it. Sophomore pitcher Keara Fish finished up in the seventh for her first career PCL win. Carroll freshman Annette Engle went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Archbishop Ryan (game highlights by Gabriel Petrecz)
“The kids fought hard,” said Carroll coach Mike Lorine. “It was a dose of leadership that we needed. We were playing the game with some players that never played a varsity game before. They stepped up.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
