×

Central softball dominates Donahue

ELM GROVE — Any time you play a Jim DiCarlo coached Steubenville Central team you know you the Crusaders are going to do their best to get runners on base and make teams pay for their mistakes.

Saturday afternoon home-standing Bishop Donahue issued 12 walks and committed three errors, things you can rarely do against DiCarlo’s club and get away with.

Shayna Mirabella, Torrie Grandinetti and Alleigh Amaismeier combined for five RBIs and four of Catholic Central’s five hits as the Crusaders opened the 2017 season with an impressive 13-2, four inning, victory over the Bishops on Ben’s Field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex.

“They are a very well-coached team and if you give them anything they are going to take it,” Donahue Coach Curt Mele admitted. “I felt like we did a great job practicing and getting ready for them on Friday, but it just didn’t translate to the field.”

The Crusaders did what they do best in the first inning, getting runners on and scoring runs. The visitors pushed across a pair of tallies without the benefit of a hit to take the early lead, using three walks, two stolen bases and a fielder’s choice to grab a 2-0 upperhand.

However, if Steubenville Central sent a message in the first, they all but put the finishing touches on things in the second, pushing across seven more runs. The Crusaders sent 13 hitters to the plate, with seven of them walking and five forcing home tallies.

DiCarlo’s bunch did get their first two hits of the contest, including a run-scoring base hit from Amaismeier in the frame.

Central put themselves in position to win game number one with two more in the third, including another on Amaismeier’s second hit of the day. But with the score 11-0 going to the bottom of the third, the Bishops (1-5) finally showed a little life.

A walk, Maddie Adkins’ bunt single and three stolen bases provided the first run of the day for Donahue while Jewel Purpura’s run-scoring double kept the hosts in the contest for another inning at 11-2.

Mirabella’s two-run two-bagger in the fourth sent home the eventual game-winning runs as the Bishops could not answer and went down in order in the fourth.

“I thought we showed good discipline at the plate on some close pitches, but I would still like us to be a little more aggressive,” DiCarlo commented. “We could also be a little better on the bases.

“But we did hit the ball pretty solid and did a good job getting some bunts down. And fortunately we were able to capitalize on some of the walks.

“This is a good way to open the season on the road with the tough schedule we have, and you are always a little nervous coming out for your first game. We definitely have a lot of respect for Curt and his kids. Bishop Donahue always does a great job.”

Grandinetti picked up the win in the circle, fanning two and walking three, while Hope Ruza only lasted into the second inning and took the loss.

“Torrie did a good job mixing her speeds, but I really want to see her staying ahead in the pitch count more,” DiCarlo added.

As for Mele, he feels his team needs to get stronger in more ways than just in the field heading into a Monday afternoon game in Hannibal against River.

“We definitely have to get mentally stronger,” Mele said. “We can’t let calls affect us and we just cannot let one inning or one pitch dictate how the rest of the game is going to be played.”

Steubenville Central 13, Bishop Donahue 2

Steubenville Central 272 2 — 13 5 1

Bishop Donahue 002 0 — 2 4 3

CATHOLIC CENTRAL: Grandinetti (WP, 2K, 3W) and Mirabella; Mirabella D, 3RBI; Grandinetti S, 2RBI; Amaismeier 2S, 2EBI; Murphy S.

BISHOP DONAHUE: Ruza (LP, 1K, 7W), Adkins (2, 2K, 5W) and Heller; Purpura D, RBI; Heller 2S; Adkins S.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today