King, Big Red softball open new field in style
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STEUBENVILLE -- Gus DiMarzio has coached in a lot of big games during his tenure guiding the Big Red softball team -- Saturday's debut of the brand-new Crimson Complex felt as big as any to the veteran coach in the lead up.
Once the game started, his team performed as if it were a big game, too.
Jules King started her senior campaign with a dominant performance in the circle, firing a no-hitter, while some big, timely hits propelled the offense and Steubenville cristened the new turf diamond with an 11-0 win over Cambridge.
"It's awesome," DiMarzio said of opening the new field. "It;s beautiful and our administration and board of education … they just worked their butts off to get this place up and running, and it's beautiful. The scenery is great, it's a great surface, it's a great place and the kids opened it up great.
"We've played in district finals, OVAC championship games, a lot of big games since I've been the coach -- and for me to say I was more nervous (Saturday) than any of those games wouldn't be a lie. To get a place like this, to be awarded a place like this, you want to open it the right way. I'm real happy with our kids, they played well."
The benefits of the new turf surface were on display as a rain storm halted about a half hour before the scheduled first pitch, which happened on schedule as the sun shined.
"On the way down (Cambridge's bus) was stopped by trees down, it was raining and their coach was texting me asking if we were still going to play," DiMarzio said. "I told him 'we got turf. Come on down and we'll play in between the rain drops. There was a ridiculous storm when we were warming up. My assistant coach Joe Gary joked the best part is we don't have to use diamond dry."
King fanned 14 of 16 batters faced, the only out not coming by the punchout being a groundout to first, while being one hit batter away from an opening day perfecto.
"It was a great start for Jules," DiMarzio said. "She played well, she didn't throw many balls. Jules was Jules and we're going to need her to be Jules every day if we want to do something special. She laid a bunt down, too, and stole bases. She did a fantastic job."
Sena Smith had a big day with the bat, finishing with a two-run single and a three-run triple for a five RBI performance.
Freshman Bailee Beall knocked a two-run double and Sadie Edwards provided an RBI double, while Paige Matteson singled in a run.
HOMECOMING OF SORTS
Another aspect of the debut of the new facility were the crowds. Not only were both games well-attended, DiMarzio noticed a lot of alumni in the stands.
"I looked around while (coaching third base) and there were 10-15 of my old players," DiMarzio said. "That's really special to me, our kids coming back as adults to watch the game and see this place get opened. It shows they're still interested in the program and it means a lot to me."
UP NEXT
Big Red heads across the river today to test Weir High on its new turf diamond.
Big Red 11, Cambridge 0
Cambridge 0-0-0 0-0 – 0 0 1
Big Red 4-6-1 0-x – 11 6 0
CAMBRIDGE (0-1): Bell (LP, 3IP, 11R, 11ER, 6H, 1K, 6BB, 3HBP), Hickman (1IP, 0R, 0H, 0K, 1BB) and Cole, and Ruiz.
BIG RED (1-0): King (WP, CG, 0R, 0H, 14K, 0BB, 1HBP) and Smarrella. Smith S, T, 5RBI; Edwards D, RBI; King S; Matteson S, RBI; Beall D, 2RBI; Rauch RBI.