Brooks pleased with AG win over Mapletown
YORK RUN – Randy Brooks likes what he sees of his Albert Gallatin softball team in the early stages of the season. The Lady Colonial coach certainly had plenty of players to watch due to his dizzying array of substitutions as AG defeated visiting Mapletown, 11-1 in six innings, in a non-section game Thursday.
“We got some playing time in for a lot of younger kids, and we got to see a lot of individuals at different positions,” Brooks said with a smile when assessing the 19 players he used in the game. “Really, this is a good time to take a look at players and get a feel for your team.”
A few players in particular who impressed Brooks against the Lady Maples were Jessica Condoluci, Jessica Lemro, Jen Tressler and Holly Williams.
Lemro and Tressler combined to throw a one-hitter, while Condoluci and the versatile Williams, the top two hitters in AG’s batting order, each had two hits and an RBI as Albert Gallatin improved to 2-0.
Condoluci also had three of the Lady Colonials’ seven stolen bases and scored two runs.
“Lemro has had two real good outings,” said Brooks, who is assisted by former star players Erin Whoolery and Amy Piper. “She’s hitting her locations and keeping the other team off balance. Tressler threw well, too.
“Condoluci is doing a good job at setting the table by getting on base with her slapping and bunting. She gets our offense started. Williams played outfield and infield today, and she’s done everything I can ask of her defensively.”
Starter Lemro pitched three innings of no-hit ball to earn the win. She struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. Tressler gave up one run on one hit, earning a save with her three effective innings. She struck out two, walked one and hit two batters.
Mapletown fell to 0-4, but two of the Class-A Lady Maples’ games have been against Class AAA teams (Laurel Highlands and AG) and one was against Class-AA McGuffey.
“We’re seeing some better teams, which is good,” Mapletown coach Fred Morecraft said. “We want to play teams that hit the ball to give us a chance to see how we do in game situations. We’re taking our lumps, and I think the girls just see a game like this as a loss, but I see it as trying to build the program. This is our third game this week, so we’re getting some valuable experience.”
“They’re starting four freshmen, so their future is ahead of them,” Brooks said of Mapletown. “The Morecrafts (Fred and assistant coach John) have been coaches for a while now. They know what they’re doing. They’ll come out of it.”
Albert Gallatin played error-less ball and put its defense on display during the first at bat of the game. The Lady Maples’ Erin Hutchinson hit a foul pop and AG third baseman Ashley Ruble made a slick, sliding catch against the fence to snag the ball.
The Lady Colonials turned in another gem in the fifth inning when left fielder Brit Morris made a tough, running catch of freshman Deanna Ganocy’s hard-hit ball.
Mapletown was hurt by seven errors, but none of those came by its outfield, which came up with several fine plays.
Freshman left fielder Tiffany Pincavitch made two nice catches, including one off the bat of Lemro with two outs in the second that saved a run. Center fielder Ashley Washko also made a sparkling play, turning a line drive by Williams into a double play with a catch and a relayed throw.
The Lady Colonials scored two runs in the first. Condoluci started the inning with a bunt single, stole second, and hustled home on Williams’ bunt single. Tressler added a run-scoring infield single.
An alert call by Fred Morecraft prevented AG from having an even bigger inning when catcher Chrissy Wamsley’s throw to third baseman Jenna Ealy caught Williams in a rundown, with pitcher Liz Novak eventually tagging her out.
Ruble and Condoluci were credited with RBIs as Albert Gallatin scored three in the third for a 5-0 lead.
Mapletown’s run came in the fourth. Ealy hit a solid single to center and was forced at second by Wamsley, who eventually scored on Washko’s RBI fielder’s choice.
The Lady Colonials’ picked up an unearned run in the fourth, and got bases-loaded walks from Tressler and Noelle Petrun in a three-run fifth. The 10-run rule was invoked with one out in the sixth when Rachel Dunham and Kayla Williams crossed the plate.
Novak gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in taking the loss. Freshman Ashley Chory allowed six runs (two earned) on three hits with six walks and one strikeout in 2 1-3 innings.