Jun 5, 2007 By Jim Downey 4 min read

KENNEDY TWP. – Commencement is a beginning, a starting-off point to the future.

Four starters took the walk for the final time at Belle Vernon Area High School Monday night, but before the Lady Leopard quartet graduated their journey in the PIAA softball playoffs commenced earlier in the day with an impressive 8-0 victory over City League runner-up Perry Traditional Academy. “Graduation was on their minds,” said Belle Vernon coach Tom Rodriguez, as the team anxiously looked to depart after the game.

Ashley Nichols gave the Commodores fits, tossing a no-hitter while stranding three runners. The closest Perry came to a hit led to its only scoring threat of the game.

The Commodores’ Kelsey Squelch grounded the first pitch of the game to third baseman Apryl Patterson. Patterson’s throw just nipped Squelch, much to the chagrin of coach Amy Gavran and the Perry bench and faithful.

Cara Krepp walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Losing pitcher Danielle Ufolla laced a one-bouncer back to Nichols, who turned and stared down Krepp. Neither moved, but with Ufolla safely racing down to first, Krepp eventually crept back into second. Nichols’ throw came after Krepp had already safely slid back to give Perry a scoring opportunity.

Nichols ended the threat with a ground out and the first of her nine strikeouts.

“We needed to get that first one across for the mental edge. They’re going to hit the ball,” said Gavran, whose squad finished with a 12-7 mark. “We needed to keep the game under four runs.”

The Lady Leopards did hit the ball, and unfortunately for Gavran, her defense had trouble catching some of them. Belle Vernon scored two runs in the first inning with a little help.

Nuccetelli, one of the seniors, opened with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Megan Chadwell, another senior. The throw to get Alana Lacey at first base skipped by Krepp at first base, allowing Nuccetelli to score. Heather Sellew followed with a single to right, and Patterson singled to load the bases.

Nichols grounded to short, but shortstop Leah Vereb opted to go to third for the second out, allowing Lacey to score the second run.

Rodgriguez feels two runs are all his Leopards need.

“As soon as we get two runs and the way Ashley’s been pitching, I feel comfortable,” said Rodriguez, who believes the win was the first in the state playoffs for Belle Vernon. “The girls are relaxed. They’ve been comfortable the last four games.”

Things got worse for the Perry defense in the bottom of the second, with errant throws on infield ground balls hit by Ashley Dawson and Dena Mornak to start the inning. Nuccetelli singled home Dawson.

The defense faltered for a third time in the inning when Chadwell’s pop fly behind third base was called on the infield fly rule, but was ultimately dropped to allow Mornak to scamper home with the fourth run.

Given the way Nichols was pitching, Belle Vernon put the game out of reach in the fourth inning after stranding two runners in the third.

Nuccetelli beat out a ground ball to open the fourth, and Chadwell followed with a single. Lacey’s hustle turned a sacrifice bunt attempt into a single to load the bases. Sellew belted a 1-2 pitch into left field for a two-run single.

Lacey and Sellew moved up a base on a wild pitch. Patterson’s fly ball to deep left turned around Cyndi Horvath and fell in for a two-run double.

“It’s Murphy’s Law. We couldn’t get a break,” said Gavran. “It was execution, simple execution.”

Nichols (18-4) allowed only four baserunners in the final six innings – three walks and an infield error – but three were caught stealing to kill any chance of a big inning. Despite the no-hitter, Rodriguez was concerned with the four walks.

“It’s unlike Ashley to walk four batters,” said Rodriguez. “I’m a little concerned. Walks are like hits. There is a lot less margin for error (as Belle Vernon moves along in the playoffs.)”

Nuccetelli, Sellew and Patterson did most of the damage, going a combined 7-for-11 with three runs scored and five RBIs. Emily Scapes and Ashley Fioravanti are the other starting seniors. Both played solid defense and contributed a single each to the 12-hit attack.

Belle Vernon, the winners of 14 in a row, won’t know until later today, weather permitting, which team will be its quarterfinal opponent.

The Lady Leopards (20-5) will play the Bellefonte-Susquehannock winner, and Rodriguez might be in the stands when the two teams play at Hess Field in Boalsburg at 5 p.m.

“I try not to look ahead, but I gave the girls the day off so I might go there,” said Rodriguez.