Lady Mikes’ Grimes ‘strikes’ out J-M in 3-0 win
Holly Tonini
Jefferson-Morgan’s Kirsten Stoneking can’t get the tag on Carmichaels’ Erica Burns during their game at Jefferson-Morgan.
Holly Tonini
Jefferson-Morgan’s Mariah Hildebrand (11) gets Carmichaels’ Morgan Berardi out at second during the Section 2-A game at Jefferson-Morgan.
Holly Tonini
Carmichaels’ Erica Burns (11) slides safely into third before Jefferson-Morgan’s Morgan Kendall can catch the ball.
Carmichaels’ Mia Virgili (4) slides into third base ahead of the tag by Jefferson-Morgan’s Morgan Kendall (13) during their game on May 2. The Section 2-A champion Lady Mikes and second-place Lady Rockets both qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. (Photo by Holly Tonini)
JEFFERSON TWP. — Carmichaels pitcher Cameron Grimes seems to enjoy living dangerously. On Tuesday, she scattered five hits and got six of her nine strikeouts with runners in scoring position to lead the Lady Mikes to a 3-0 win over Jefferson-Morgan that clinched a program-record sixth-straight Section 2-A softball championship.
Grimes got a pair of strikeouts with runners on second and third in the first inning, a strikeout to end the second inning with a runner on second, two strikeouts with a runner on second in the fourth and a strikeout to help escape a bases-loaded situation in the sixth.
Jefferson-Morgan pitcher Kaitlyn Coles was almost as effective, giving up just one earned run while striking out six batters.
The Lady Rockets had a golden opportunity to break the ice in the bottom of the first when Kirsten Stoneking reached base on an error and was sacrificed to second by Reagan Rush. After Coles singled Stoneking to third, courtesy runner Christian Agnew stole second. But Grimes struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Carmichaels scored an unearned run in the second when catcher Lindsey Osborne reached base on an infield error and scored on a one-out double by Megan Bayles.
It was 2-0 in the second after Erica Burns singled with one out and came around to score on Morgan Berardi’s single to deep left-center field.
The Lady Mikes added another unearned run in the fifth when Burns reached base on an error, stole second and moved to third when the throw bounced into the outfield. She scored two batters later on Grimes’ infield ground out.
Jefferson Morgan had Morgan Kendall at second with two outs in the second, Heidi Dains on second with a fourth inning double and loaded the bases in the sixth with one out. Each time, Grimes and her defense came up big to keep the Lady Rockets off the scoreboard.
“Our defense was awesome today, and (Grimes) kept them off balance,” said Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs. “We knew Jefferson-Morgan would be tougher than the first time we played them and we were able to scratch out some runs.”
In praising the team for winning six straight section titles, he said, “These girls are close and care about each other. We want to keep grinding and make a nice run in the playoffs.”
Grimes gave credit to Osborne for helping with her pitching success. “(Osborne) is a great catcher and sets me up nicely. We play some very good teams so we’re used to the pressure,” she said.
Jefferson-Morgan coach Tony Barbetta said Coles “has always done a good job and she keeps us in games. We’re not as offensive as they are and couldn’t get the key hit. It would have been great if we had scored in the first. We can play with them, but we weren’t as good as they were today. We’ve got to get ready for the playoffs and get better.”