Softball Season Ends Early With Upset Loss

A season filled with promise and great expectations came to a sudden end on Wednesday, as the highly favored Harrison Huskies softball team lost in the Section 1 playoffs 1 - 0 to ninth seeded Hendrick Hudson at Harrison High School.

The games only run was scored with two outs in the first inning. After Harrison starting pitcher Ashley Marino struck out the first batter of the game, Kristina Pelaccio hit a pop up to the shallow part of left field. The Harrison left fielder called off the shortstop and the third baseman but dropped the ball in the fair territory. The next Sailor hitter, Rachel Buckner, singled to left field and then Marino struck out the next batter.

With runners on first and second base and two outs Marino lost the strike zone, she walked the next batter then hit Megan Jahoda forcing in the game's only run.

"I told the girls that we had to get a run early," said Hendrick Hudson Head Coach Kurt Thomas. "Marino is one of the best pitchers in the section but if we could get a run early we felt confident relying on our defense and pitching to win us the game and that's what happened."

"She looked good today," said Harrison Head Coach Dean Marino of his pitcher. "She only had one rough inning and then they didn't hit anything hard off of her."

After the first inning, Harrison's defense was nearly perfect and Marino settled in, never allowing another runner past second base. The senior gave up the one run, on four hits, one walk and one hit batter. She also had ten strikeouts in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome a lackluster night at the plate for the Huskies.

Offensively it was a night of missed opportunities for Harrison. Most notably in the bottom half of the third inning when Johnna Valentzas and Ally Brabant hit back to back singles and Jessica Magnotta grounded into a fielder's choice, giving Harrison runners on first and third with two outs.

With Jenna Webb at the plate, Hendrick Hudson pitcher Sara McKenna threw a wild pitch, but Valentzas hesitated on third base and did not score.

"In a low scoring game there are two things that need to happen, you need to play error free and you need to execute on offense," said Dean Marino. "We didn't do either, we messed up in the field and we didn't execute on offense and we lost the game."

McKenna and the Sailors were in trouble a few more times throughout the game but each Harrison threat failed. At the end of the day McKenna was the winning pitcher, going seven innings giving up only four hits and one walk. She struck out only one batter, but the senior kept the ball on the ground and had the support of a great defensive effort.

"She only walked one batter, and we tell her to throw strikes and depend on her defense," said Thomas. "We are confident with letting them put the ball in play because we know that our defense is solid."

Great defensive plays kept the game close throughout. In the fourth inning Samantha Lagana hit a ball that appeared as if it was destined for the gap in right-center field, however the Hendrick Hudson center fielder darted into the gap and made a diving catch to rob Lagana of what appeared to be a certain double.

"I thought for sure that the ball was in the gap," said Thomas. "Our center fielder hasn't made an error all year and she can get just about anything. She made a great play and it shut them down in the inning."

Harrison got an equally impressive play from their center fielder Jenna Webb. With a runner on base Rachel Buckner hit a deep fly ball to the center field wall. Webb reached up and made the catch crashing through the outfield wall. The play was so impressive that when the sophomore jogged in from the outfield the Harrison crowd gave her a standing ovation.

Kaitlyn Ross led the way for Hendrick Hudson offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double. For Harrison Johnna Valentzas went 3-for-3 with two infield singles and Ally Brabant went 2-for-3 with a walk in the losing effort.

The season ends for Harrison at 20-2 and Hendrick Hudson will continue their playoff run Thursday afternoon in the semi-finals against Beacon.