Ten-Run Third Inning Powers Middletown North Past Red Bank Catholic

Photos above: Lions Kayla Gallo and Riley Kernan on the mound Tuesday

MIDDLETOWN – Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning senior Kayla Gallo gave the Lions the spark they needed drilling a solo shot into right field easily clearing the fences for her second home run of the season.

An inning later, after the Lions tied the game on a fielding error, Gallo, who’s easing her way back into the lineup after suffering an ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago, worked the count full and drew a base loaded walk to give North its first lead of the game, 3-2. That opened the flood gates as the Lions (14-1, 10-0) went on to score another eight runs in the 10-run third inning on the way to a 12-2 five-inning victory over the Caseys.

“I’m definitely very eager every time up to bat,” said Gallo, a Florida International University commit. “I was trying to swing for the fences and trying to get back up there. More importantly I just want to win for my team.

“It was very frustrating seeing my team get all these victory’s and not be part of it besides being on the sidelines cheering” Gallo said about sitting out with her ankle injury. “I was coming here today to win, that’s what I wanted to do. I got into the box and the first pitch I saw I took it; inside pitch.”

It was a statement win for Middletown North – ranked third in the Shore Conference and eighth in the state – against the fourth-ranked Caseys (10-3, 9-1) and it allowed the Lions to take over sole possession of first place in the highly competitive Class B North.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting in practice every day, this has been the talk all week,” said Gallo. "This is the game we’ve been waiting for and we finally did what we had to do. I can’t wait to play them again next week.”

The two teams will meet again next Tuesday, May 9 at Red Bank Catholic and you can be sure the Caseys will be looking for a little revenge.

Junior first baseman Gaby Cerbo delivered a two-run double in the 10-run third inning while sophomore right fielder Cara McNulty and sophomore third baseman Milena Wilton each supplied two-run singles as the Lions banged out five base hits and took advantage of two walks and two errors by the Caseys.

University of Rhode Island-bound senior Riley Kernan picked up her 11th win of the season but to her credit had to overcome some early adversity to get the win.

In the top of the first, RBC put up two runs on a RBI double by No.3 hitter Gabrielle Ciancio, who drove in leadoff hitter Taylor Lane – a Syracuse University commit – after Lane got on via a bunt single. Cleanup batter Siobahn Cottell then brought Ciancio home dropping an RBI single into short right for a quick 2-0 lead.

Then, Trailing 2-1 in the top of the third, Kernan inadvertently drilled Lane in the head with a fast ball leading off the inning and Lane stayed down for what seemed forever as the trainers attended to her. Kernan was visibly shaken by the beaning but Lane eventually got to her feet and stayed in the game before leaving in the fourth inning.

Kernan shook off the incident and regained focus retiring the next three batters in order allowing just one walk the rest of the way. Kernan permitted two runs on three hits (all in the first inning), walked one and struck out six.

“The thing I’m learning about Riley is that she gets stronger as the game goes on no matter what the circumstances,” said first-year Middletown North head coach Chris Hoffman. “I think in that third, fourth, fifth inning that might’ve been the hardest I’ve seen her throw all year. She’s one our leaders and has done everything I’ve asked her to do since I’ve been head coach – she’s a pleasure to coach.”

The Lions put the finishing touches on the rout scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth completing the mercy rule win. Senior catcher Ryan Rasmussen led off with a scorching double into the left centerfield gap before courtesy runner Angela Delahanty moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on an error by the shortstop.

“You can’t replace a Kayla Gallo,” Hoffman said. “We did what we had to do to get by and now she’s back and that makes us a more complete team. We’ve been talking about this game for a while – we were both 9-0 in the division and they’ve beat up on some teams we haven’t. It was a good game for us but I can be you it’s not going to be all us next week when we play at RBC.”

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