Mamaroneck Defeats White Plains 1-0 in Softball Thriller

With strong pitching and outstanding defense, the Mamaroneck Tigers celebrated Senior Night Wednesday afternoon with a thrilling 1-0, extra-inning victory over the White Plains Tigers.

The game remained a scoreless tie until the bottom of the ninth, when Mamaroneck's Danielle DeAndrea hit the winning single over first base to drive in Morgan MacDonald from third. MacDonald reached base on a throwing error, before stealing second and reaching third on a ball in the dirt.

"This was an absolutely phenomenal game," DeAndrea said. "It's one of the best feelings I've ever had playing softball."

Wednesday's game marked the first time in more than six years that Mamaroneck (12-5) beat White Plains in softball. Earlier this season, White Plains defeated Mamaroneck 9-0.

"I don't even know what to say right now," Mamaroneck coach Diane Campbell said. "I'm speechless. We played awesome defense today. Our girls just came through in the end."

Mamaroneck's Caitlin Plaut and White Plain's Lauren Sputo pitched the entire nine innings for their respective teams, and from the beginning of the game, they each  shut down the opposing lineup in what turned out to be a tantalizing pitcher's duel.

Sputo was especially dominant, striking out 14 batters in the game while only giving up three hits and two walks.

Plaut gave up seven hits while only striking out four batters, but was backed by a stellar defensive unit led by DeAndrea in center and was able to get big outs when she needed them.

For Plaut, a senior, the win over White Plains (16-3) was especially significant.

"This feels great," she said. "Our whole team just got completely into it. All the energy just kept me going. It was all thanks to our defense."

Neutralized by Sputo's pitching, Mamaroneck's offense struggled for most of the game, but just when it seemed Plaut was starting to tire, the Tigers managed to get a runner in scoring position with their best hitter, DeAndrea, up at bat.

"Basically I went up there knowing somebody needed to get a hit," DeAndrea said, who also made a couple of impressive plays in center. "I wanted to get the job done for my team and for my pitcher."