SOFTBALL: Skillful & Bold, Fresh & Aspiring – This Week’s Inter-Ac Round-Up Introduces Teams that Vary in Experience, Yet Yearn for a Championship (4/23)

Inter-Ac Softball – A common thread among the favorites to challenge for Inter-Academic League softball supremacy is respect for their opponents. Never badmouthing a struggling program; recognizing that several different teams have legitimate championship aspirations. It’s all about smarts and sportsmanship.

Three-time defending PAISAA tournament champion Penn Charter leads the seven-team Inter-Ac with a 5-0 record. The Quakers have defeated everyone except Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy. Unless the fickle weather wreaks typical havoc, they will face the Blue Devils Thursday on the road.

“Even though we lost a lot of good players to graduation, we still have that ‘team’ mindset,” said senior pitcher/outfielder Ava Nicolucci, a four-year varsity member. “We did get some good freshmen, so we are confident with both our returning players and our new ones.”

Two key victories over Notre Dame (4-2) and Episcopal (6-4) included solid pitching by sophomores Anastasia Lewis and Maddie Solow, and clutch hitting by senior Grace Stansfield (home run vs. Notre Dame).

In Nicolucci’s 18-0, five-strikeout shutout over Agnes Irwin, Solow had three hits and three runs scored while junior teammate Abbey Quinn knocked in four runs behind a double, triple, and homerun.

“We have a deep lineup,” said Nicolucci. “The whole team is strong.”

William Penn Charter senior Ava Nicolucci #12 - Photo by Zamani Feelings

Notre Dame Academy is 4-1, its only loss to Penn Charter. In a 3-1 win over Episcopal last week, sophomore phenom Grace Jackson tossed a three-hitter. Jackson also fired notable complete-game wins over Springside-Chestnut Hill (2-1 on a four-hitter) and Baldwin (4-1, with 11 strikeouts and no earned runs). In the latter, junior Sophia Haub contributed three hits, a homerun, and three RBI.

NDA's Grace Jackson hits a single to get on base for the Irish in game vs. SCHA - Video by Kevin Murray

NDA vs. SCHA - Photos by Kevin Murray

In the win over SCH, senior Marissa Mycek turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead with a two-RBI single in the sixth inning.

“Our team has been playing great so far,” said sophomore Caroline Adams. “Not losing any seniors from last year has been beneficial to us. We are a really close team and that has allowed us to pick up some key wins.”

Senior Sophia Marlino was bothered by the poor weather in the loss to Penn Charter, as it was only the third time playing outside on actual dirt.

That said, she and the Fighting Irish are excited about the possibilities.

“We are very strong across the board,” said Marlino. “Grace Jackson already has 48 strikeouts in 30 innings over five games and behind her we have a rock-solid defense with only three errors in five games. Overall, we need to get our bats going a little more, but that should be no problem as the weather warms up.

“The win over Chestnut Hill set the tone for our season as they are the defending Inter Ac champions. It really showed us what we are capable of this year.”

Defending champion Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy is 3-1 and has allowed a miserly three runs in four games. Senior Kayla McTamney has been outstanding on the mound.

The home run slugging of junior Mo’ne Davis, junior Colebea Oliver, senior Lucy Lamb, and McTamney doesn’t include multiple extra-base hits up and down the lineup.

“Our attitude has been great so far,” said McTamney. “Our loss to Notre Dame was a disappointment, but we all realized that there are still a lot games left to play. We are even more fired up to beat Penn Charter and Notre Dame now this week to still have a shot at the Inter-Ac title.”

McTamney said having most of the team back from last year has been helpful.

“The upperclassmen really set the bar extra high to win the league and tournament this year, and the underclassmen on the team agreed and are striving to reach that same goal,” she said. “I think the Inter-Ac got more competitive this year. Every team has gained more experienced players this year.”

Lamb said the Blue Devils “need to stay humble.”

(L to R) Springside Chestnut Hill seniors Rachel Kazlauskas, Lucy Lamb and Kayla McTamney – photo by Zamani Feelings

“Everyone is very focused and hard working, but we have to keep our energy and intensity up for games which have been hard because of the cold weather and lack of practice time on our field,” said Lamb. “Everyone wants to do their best every game and do what’s best for the team. We’re a family and we all put the team first.”

Episcopal Academy is the youngest team in the league. The Churchwomen scored 23 runs in their two wins but only five in their three losses. That said, led by freshman pitcher Emma Tamsky, they have surrendered 17 runs in five games.

In other words, there is certainly no shame in losing 3-1 to Notre Dame, 5-0 to Springside-Chestnut Hill, and 6-4 to Penn Charter, three squads with a collective record of 12-2.

EA vs. PC - Photos by Episcopal Academy Jr. Reporter Alexandra Conroy

EA vs. PC - Photos by Alexandra Conroy

“Our team is working really well together,” said Sandy Warchol, the only senior on the team. “At first I was a bit nervous since I am the only senior on the team and most of our players are new to the team, but over time we have become such good friends which has helped our playing so much. Even when we lose a game, it doesn't feel like a loss. We just learn more and more about the game and each other every day.”

Junior co-captain Grace Smith chose an interesting moment as the “highlight” of the Inter-Ac season. In the loss to Penn Charter on April 20, freshman Riley Hurda nailed a two-run hit as part of a four-run rally that tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning. Even though the Churchwomen would eventually lose, thanks in part of a brilliant double play started by aforementioned Penn Charter junior third baseman Abbey Quinn with a runner on second that ended the game, Smith appreciated Episcopal’s determination.

“We did not end up winning, but it was a close game against a formidable opponent,” said Smith. “The goal this year is to re- establish our place in the Inter-Ac and show that we are not a team to be written off. We definitely want to win the Inter-Ac, which is always our goal.

“I think it is possible to win the league with just one senior. Our underclassmen prove everyday that they can play on an elevated level and go beyond what is expected of them.”

Agnes Irwin has yet to win a league game, but the 0-5 Owls remain steadfast.

“I’d say we are rebuilding this season,” said senior Lily Zelov, who plays catcher, shortstop, and centerfield. “We lost an amazing senior to graduation and another current senior (third baseman Mary Naylor) to an ACL tear in the winter.

“We have a lot of new players who are inexperienced, but they’re willing to learn and work hard. We also have a wonderful, experienced, knowledgeable new coach this season, Dave Scott. He’s taught us all so much about the game, and in the coming years, we are going to improve greatly.”

(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)