King Philip Reliever Sinks C-C Softball

It took Plan B to spark the King Philip Regional softball team's A game against Concord-Carlisle High School in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division I state semifinals.

Through the first three batters, King Philip pitcher Maggie Quealy was called for five illegal pitches, leading to a Concord-Carlisle run and much frustration in the Warriors' dugout. Knowing his pitcher was mentally rattled, coach Jim Leonard turned to his backup plan.

Meg Rico came on with one out in the first inning and shut down the North champion Patriots the rest of the way to lead King Philip, the South champion, to a 4-1 victory at Martin Field on Tuesday night.

Concord-Carlisle's season, the Patriots' first in Division I, finishes with a spectacular 23-2 record. Coach Lisa McGloin said the loss was a premature end to a stellar season.

"I don't think it's a bitter end at all," McGloin said. "It's an unfortunate end, but I wouldn't call it bitter. They came out and played hard. As a coach, you're going to lose games and you're going to win games. A 23-2 season, that's something to be very proud of."

The Warriors (25-1) advance to Saturday's state final at Worcester State College. Their opponent will be Central champion Milford High, which beat West champion Amherst Regional 1-0 in eight innings on Tuesday.

Each of Quealy's first three pitches, and two more with runners on base, were deemed illegal. Umpires said the pitcher was lifting her back foot.

"To be honest with you, I haven't seen that many illegal pitches called in six years," King Philip coach Jim Leonard said. "It's a point of contention, and I don't think we agree with (Quealy lifting her foot)."

The final straw for Leonard came when C-C junior Gayle Miner (2-for-3) doubled in a run and was later awarded third base on an illegal pitch. Hannah Burling, who reached on a fielder's choice, had previously been awarded third on an illegal pitch.

Leonard lifted Quealy for Rico, who warmed up while the pitcher's circle was raked. The coach knew his starter couldn't mentally recover.

"We talked to Maggie and Maggie was really not in a position to change her mechanics," Leonard said. "And Maggie recognized what was at stake."

Turning to Rico proved to be the move of the game. She struck out the first two batters she faced and pitched the final 6 2/3 innings for the victory.

The reliever struck out nine Patriots, walked one, surrendered four hits and didn't allow a run. She set down the side in order in the third and fourth innings and retired the first two batters of the fifth for eight straight outs at that point. Anna Kokos broke up the streak with an infield hit.

Concord-Carlisle threatened with back-to-back singles by Jessie Bilafer and Eri Pernice (bunt) to start the seventh, but Rico squashed the rally by getting the next three batters out. Patriots' leadoff hitter Maya Allen (1-for-4) hit a hard liner to first base to end the game.

"We didn't play badly," McGloin said. "They played well and we played well. It was a good ballgame. That's what you expect at this level and this time of year."

Miner was the only Patriot with multiple hits. She followed the first-inning double with a single in the sixth.

Miner couldn't capture the top form that resulted in three shutouts this postseason, but she still performed well in the circle for Concord-Carlisle. She went all six innings, struck out five, walked four and hit a batter. The four King Philip runs went with eight hits.

It could have been a lot worse. Miner battled out of numerous jams to strand nine Warriors. She avoided a big inning in the fourth by wiggling free of a bases-loaded jam.

King Philip had already taken the lead on Sara Hedtler's two-out, two-run bloop single when Miner hit Jenn Robillard and walked Cara Daly to load the bases. The Patriots' ace shut the door on the inning by striking out Quealy.

"(Miner) went to work with every single batter," McGloin said. "It's a tough lineup. She hit her spots and she executed."

King Philip got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Casey McCourt, who reached on a triple, scored on a bunt single by Olivia Godin (3-for-3, RBI, run). The Warriors added more cushion on Daly's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.