Trending
WELLSBURG -- One run is seldom enough, however, it was for the Brooke softball team against high-powered Toronto.
Maleah Misch pitched seven strong innings, and the senior made the Bruins’ run in the second stand up as the Brooke shut out the Red Knights, 1-0, Thursday evening at home.
“Maleah has pitched lights out all year,” Brooke (9-1) head coach Jim DiCarlo said. “We had our prom last week, and she hasn’t pitched in more than a week. She may have gotten a little tired there at the end of the game.
“We are not hitting the ball well right now. We were fortunate to get that one run and to be able to hold on."
Misch only allowed three hits -- all singles -- while striking out 12 and walking one en route to the shutout.
“Coach D does a great job,” Toronto (15-7) head coach Steve Trifonoff said. “He does a great job putting his girls in the right position. He is a great coach.
“We just did not put the ball in play enough. We had 12 strikeouts and one walk. When you strikeout 12 times, you are not putting pressure on the defense. We only put the ball in play nine times. That is not enough.”
Angelina Lippoli doubled to start the bottom of the second inning. Lippoli stole third, and then she scored on a double steal giving Brooke a 1-0 lead.
That was all Misch needed.
Riley Kinsey pitched well for Toronto, but she took the loss for the Red Knights. The senior allowed three hits, while striking out four and walking three.
“Riley pitched outstanding,” Trifonoff said. “She only gave up one run. We have been shut out two games in a row. We have to work on our hitting.”
Misch helped her own cause with a single, while Kameryn Eckels also singled for Brooke.
“We booted the ball at short and the one in center, but other than that we made the plays we were supposed to make,” Trifonoff said. “That is all you can ask. We tell them, ‘If it is hit to you catch it and then throw it.’ We want to make the plays we are supposed to make. We some girls playing out of position, but they have been playing in those spots long enough to make the plays they are supposed to make.”
Michelle Anderson, Ashton Thomas and Callie Anderson all singled for Toronto.
“Maleah pitched a good game,” DiCarlo said. “She shut out Park. She pitched a good game against Indian Creek. She had a shut out except for one pitch.
“I am happy with the win, but we have to manufacture runs better. We did not get any timely outs. It is my fault. We have started over since our prom. We have lost three days because of the rain. I do want to make any excuses. Kinsey pitched well. She worked both sides of the plate.”
The Bruins had a golden opportunity to increase their lead in the third, but Brooke left the bases loaded.
“Steve does a great job,” DiCarlo said. “He is a really-good coach. I coached against him when I was at Catholic Central. We have played good games against each other. This was the first time we have played Toronto since I have been at Brooke. I knew it was going to be a good game.
“Riley is a good pitcher. We missed some signs. We were not sharp offensively. I’m just glad we got the chance to play.”
Maddie Anderson nearly tied the game leading off the seventh. She hit a long flyball down the line in left, however, the ball ended up going just foul keeping the score 1-0. She ended up walking, but Misch retired the next three batters -- on a strikeout, on a sacrifice bunt and a popup -- to end the game.
“Everything,” Trifonoff said asked why his team has been struggling at the plate. “It is a combination of things. We just aren’t hitting the ball. It is a real problem. Their pitcher had 12 strikeouts, and we are up there taking pitches. She was around the plate, and we were taking pitches. We have to be more aggressive. We had opportunities to move runners, and we couldn’t get the bunts down. It was a terrible night offensively.”
The two teams are tentatively scheduled to play each other at 11 a.m. Saturday inside Michael Simpson Park. Depending on the weather and the field conditions, the game may be moved back over to Brooke.
Brooke 1, Toronto 0
Toronto 0-0-0 0-0-0 0 -- 0 3 2
Brooke 0-1-0 0-0-0 0 -- 1 3 1
TORONTO (15-7): Kinsey (LP, 1R, 3H, 4K, 3BB) and Mi. Anderson. Mi. Anderson S; Thomas S; C. Anderson S
BROOKE (9-1): Misch (WP, 0R, 12K, 1BB) and Brown. Eckles S; Misch S; Lipolli D