GLENSIDE, PA – Years from now, when Archbishop Ryan’s softball team reunites to marinate in the joyous recall of its Catholic League dominance, the conversation will turn to this season’s championship victory over Cardinal O’Hara.
Eye on the prize - the Catholic League Championship - PSD Photo
Picking one player most responsible for the Ragdolls’ 4-2 victory May 25 at a sun-baked Arcadia University won’t be possible. There were too many to count.
“The best wins,” said senior star catcher Sarah Ostaszewski, “are the ones when everybody contributes.”
It would be superfluous to claim that every Ragdoll contributed mightily to Ryan’s third consecutive title, but one can try.
How about Ostaszewski? The oldest sister of three starting siblings – junior Emily plays shortstop and sophomore Kate plays left field – mashed an RBI triple in the first inning and later scored. She also walked, stole second, hustled to third on a misplay, and scored again in the third.
Behind the plate, the St. Joseph’s University signee’s aggressiveness and cannon throwing arm made it nearly impossible for O’Hara to even consider trying to swipe a bag.
Senior pitcher Lex Marasheski surrendered two walks and six hits – four of them over the final two innings – and overcame understandable fatigue because she had pitched a brilliant 1-0 shutout over rival St. Hubert less than 24 hours earlier.
Reilly Kerr strokes a two-run single.
Vicki Black talks about her great catch to end the game.
Last out of Ryan's softball title.
An actual ragdoll joins the Ragdolls
PSD Photo
Junior Reilly Kerr, who two years earlier had knocked in three runs as Ryan blanked Lansdale Catholic, 5-0, in the final, drove in two pivotal runs with a ground single up the middle. She also handled 10 plays at first base flawlessly.
Senior Vicki Black, a defensive wizard in center field, provided a full-extension snare of a line drive off the bat of O’Hara’s Lexie Cervella with runners on first and third for the game’s final out.
Senior Izzy Hoch got on base three times, knocked in a run, scored a run, stole a base.
Notice the trend?
“We have played in a lot of big games over the past three years, so we are confident that if one person doesn’t make a play or get a hit, someone else will,” said Ostaszewski, her voice hoarse from barking out signals throughout the contest, followed by celebratory yawps. “In games like this, we rely on each other.”
Although she admitted that her diving catch was the most important of her career, Black downplayed her own heroics.
“It’s a team thing,” said Black. “It was just my turn this time. I'm not the only one who has made plays like that. It was just a straight line drive and I was so far back because she was the fourth hitter. She had a really nice hit and I just came in on it.”
Kerr admitted that the drama can make her anxious.
Reilly Kerr talks about her two-run single.
“It scares me to death,” she said, referring to O’Hara’s ability to inch closer over the final two innings. “I get so nervous.”
Ryan didn’t lose a league game during the first two years of it championship run. On April 25, the Ragdolls dropped a 6-4 decision to O’Hara that ended the streak at 33; they also later lost to Archbishop Wood.
Vicki Black is lifted from her feet after a diving catch ended the game -PSD Photo
Many pundits figured that Ryan’s reign was approaching the end, especially since O’Hara had won the regular season with an 11-1 record and was playing in its first-ever Catholic League championship.
The Ragdolls listened, understood why people would think that, and then fought hard to prove them wrong.
When Black caught the last out, that mission was accomplished.
“All three championships were special, but this year was different,” said Ryan coach John Kidwell. “We weren’t expected to be here. We’ve had some ups and downs, but we kept getting better and believing in ourselves.”
Next up for Ryan are the PIAA district and state tournaments. If anyone wants to count the Ragdolls out, be their guest.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)