Lady Rockets explode early, top Geibel, 14-4
JEFFERSON — The Rich Rush era of Jefferson-Morgan softball got underway with a bang on Friday afternoon.
The Lady Rockets scored 11 runs in their first at bat and went on to give Rush his first head coaching victory, 14-4 in five innings, over Geibel Catholic at Chris Dugan Memorial Field in a non-section softball opener for both teams.
Krista McCartney went 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and scored three runs to lead the way for J-M, which also got a grand varsity debut from freshman Cait Dugan who also hit a two-run shot and was the winning pitcher.
Rush was making his debut after longtime coach Tony Barbetta stepped down after last season.
“I couldn’t think of a much better way to start it,” Rush said of the big first frame. “That’s about as good as it gets for starting the season.”
Rush was pleased with Dugan’s composure on the mound also.
“Cait did well in her first game,” Rush said. “She twisted her ankle early in the week so this is actually her first day back. I think she was struggling with it a little bit but she did fine out there.”
Dugan allowed four runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
The Lady Rockets jumped on Lady Gators pitcher Gabby Yourish, making her first ever start in the circle at any level, for nine hits in the first inning, although only three of the 11 runs were earned due to a pair of infield errors.
Dugan led off with a walk, stole second and scored when Autumn Tedrow reached on an error. One out later McCartney singled to load the bases.
That was followed by four consecutive RBI singles from Autumn Gustavich, Madison Vandivner, Brynn Boyd and Sadie Fowler for a 5-0 lead. After a run-scoring ground out by Katelynn Messina, Dugan blasted her home run to make it 8-0.
Tedrow kept the inning going when she was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored as Brooke Diamond reached on an error. McCartney then delivered her second hit of the inning with her home run to make it 11-0.
Gustavich and Vandivner each followed with their second singles of the frame before Boyd’s fly ball was snagged by center fielder Lynn Hamborsky to end the marathon at bat.
To Yourish’s credit, the junior hung tough and allowed just three runs (one earned) on two hits with three walks over the final three innings.
“We’re a young team and I preach we have to make the fundamental plays,” Geibel coach Rich Carbonara said. “Unfortunately in the first inning we gave them some extra outs and against a good team like Jefferson-Morgan you can’t do that.
“I’m proud of my pitcher. She walked the lead-off batter then after that did she pretty well with her control.”
The Lady Gators settled down following the rocky start and actually out-scored J-M after the first inning, 4-3.
Geibel got on the board in the third when Yourish doubled, went to third on Hayley Riggin’s single and came home on Hamborsky’s ground out to make it 11-1.
The Lady Rockets parlayed an error, two walks and singles by Diamond and McCartney into three runs in the bottom of the inning with RBis coming from Gustavich, Boyd and Fowler for a 14-1 advantage.
The Lady Gators plated three runs in the fifth. Gillian Yourish and Riggin singled to start the rally and Hamborsky was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kara Grennell and Alexa Henckel followed with run-scoring ground outs and Sara Erhardt smacked an RBI single before Dugan got a strikeout to end the game on the 10-run rule.
Gabby Yourish and Riggin both had two hits.
“For only having one live batting practice I thought we did fairly well making contact and we had a good understanding of the strike zone,” Carbonara said. “For the young team that we are, I’m happy with that. I’m a little disappointed in our defense but I’m happy with our offense.”
One defensive player Carbonara wasn’t disappointed with was shortstop Gillian Yourish, who played a stellar game in the field.
Yourish alertly turned an inning-ending double play with a strong throw to first after grabbing a pop out in the second, alertly grabbed a grounder that deflected off Gabby Yourish and quickly spun to get a force out at third in the third and flawlessly handled a hot smash by Diamond in the fourth.
“I’ve been coaching softball for a lot of years and she is the best female athlete I’ve ever coached,” Carbonara said, “and I’ve coached at Quad-A, Triple-A and now Single-A.”
Carbonara also commended Rush after the game.
“Jefferson-Morgan’s coach is a class act, I’ll tell you that,” he said.
The home runs were career firsts and both unexpected, according to McCartney and Rush.
“When I hit it I didn’t think it was going to over so it surprised me a little bit when it did,” Dugan said of her blast. “I was pretty thrilled.”
McCartney gave credit to her coaching staff for her home run.
“We had a scrimmage yesterday and I switched bats a couple times then I got told to turn my hips so I actually listened for once,” McCartney said with a laugh. “I thought she caught it and then it was ‘Oh, it went over!’ I was excited.”
“Krista hit the ball well last year, too, but that’s her first home run,” Rush said. “She’s been wanting one so I know she was happy.”
Non-section
Geibel Catholic 001-03 — 4 8 2
Jefferson-Morgan (11)03-0x — 14 11 0
Game called in 5th inning, 10-run rule
W: Cait Dugan (5ip-8h-4r-4er-4bb/1hb-5so). L: Gabby Yourish (4ip-11h-14r-3er-4bb-0so). 2B: Gabby Yourish (GC). HR: Cait Dugan (JM), Krista McCartney (JM). RBIs: Geibel Catholic 4 (Gillian Yourish, Lynn Hamborsky, Kara Grennell, Alexa Henckel); Jefferson-Morgan 12 (Cait Dugan 2, Krista McCartney 2, Autumn Gustavich 2, Brynn Boyd 2, Sadie Fowler 2, Katelynn Messina, Madison Vandivner). Records: Geibel Catholic (0-1), Jefferson-Morgan (1-0).