JHS Softball Squad In The 'Pink'

One game was played, but multiple victories and achievements were recognized and
celebrated on May 14 at Mazzulla Field inside .

Even the 3-2 ninth-inning comeback victory for (8-3) over West Warwick — the Lady Panthers' seventh straight fastpitch softball victory— took a back seat to the cause of battling breast cancer at the team's first Pink Out Night.

The closely-contested, extra-inning game was finally decided when a throw by West Warwick pitcher Amanda Kiers hit the dirt in front of the plate and rolled to the backstop.

Johnston third-base runner Amanda Colombo didn’t hesitate, scurrying to home plate and sliding in for the game-clinching run as the home crowd erupted in cheers.

But the crowd was also there on a cool and spotty-rain May evening to celebrate and
support the efforts of Team Pink Wolfpack, which raised over $400 for the Susan G.
Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. Money was also raised from a 50-50 raffle and other donations, and will go to sponsor the group’s three-day, 60-mile walk for breast cancer from July 23 to 25 starting in Boston.

Robin Marsland of Johnston, a breast cancer survivor of three years, set an appropriate tone for an evening in which players and coaches from both sides wore pink. Marsland, winding up and delivering a vigorous pitch to Panthers catcher Victoria St. Angelo, officially began the program, a precursor of mound superiority to come by both pitchers in a thrilling Division II Central contest.

Johnston pitching ace Alaina DeNoncour had to escape the first inning after two errors on the same play followed by a swinging strikeout on a ball that got away, sending the Wizards runner to third. The Panthers left the runner stratnded when a fly ball was caught in short center field.

DeNoncour and her fielders mostly settled down afterward, recording double plays in the fifth and sixth innings. The senior struck out 12 batters and yielded four hits.

Wizards ace Kiers fell in step with her dominant pitching, too, mowing down most of the Panthers hitters early on with her variety of pitches, including a hard-to-detect changeup. She scattered eight hits and struck out 14.

Johnston managed a hit apiece in innings two through five, but left each runner stranded.

West Warwick finally broke through in the fourth on a stinging double by Kayla Rutter. After an outfield error, a double steal produced the first run.

St. Angelo singled to start the sixth and then stole second. Danielle Gaulie executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move St. Angelo to third, followed by an excellent squeeze bunt by Colombo to tie the score. A long left-field double by DeNoncour went for naught as Kiers whiffed another Panthers batter.

Both pitchers then struck out two of three batters to send the game to extra innings.

In a unique format in extra inning Rhode Island Intersholastic League games, both teams start each at-bat with designated runners at second. The visitors were poised to strike for much more than one extra run in the eighth by loading the bases with one out and a 3-0 count to Mikaela Grosso.

DeNoncour bore down to get the Wizards batter to foul off the next two pitches before striking her out. A pop-up ended the inning without any damage.

In the ninth, the Wizards took advantage of the second-base start by designated runner Taylor Levesque by recording no hits, but still edging ahead, 2-1. DeNoncour shut down two successive sacrifice bunts with throws to first, but West Warwick succeeded in pushing Levesque across the plate.

With the hosts facing a two-run deficit in the ninth, Colombo delivered a single and Bianca Rossi walked to load the bases. Kiers recorded her 13th ‘K’ before Ariana Caffeso stroked her second hit, an RBI single. After Kiers’ 14th and final ‘K’, her next pitch to Megan Macera hit the dirt and skidded under the catcher’s mitt as Colombo joyously raced in and slid for the deciding run.

“That was the game,” said Johnston head coach Dave Iannuccilli afterwards of
DeNoncour’s clutch pitching in the eight inning. “No one else could have got out of that jam with a 3-0 count on a batter and the bases loaded.”

“We just did not get any timely hits,” said Wizards co-head coach Brian Palazzo, whose squad is now 5-7 and looking to squeak into the postseason. “Now we will have to beat Exeter-West Greenwich to make the playoffs.”

Johnston next travels to face division leader East Greenwich (10-2) on May 17.

Persistence on and off the field

“We never give up — we never die,” said Iannuccilli of a Panthers team that has now
won four of its seven games in the streak by a mere run. That same statement could be applied to the young women from Team Pink Wolfpack.

“I agreed right away to have our team sponsor the Pink Out Night after one of my former players, who started Pink Wolfpack, asked me,” said Iannuccilli.

Aimee Marsland, daughter of Robin Marsland, formed the Wolfpack team after learning her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Last year, Pink Wolfpack raised $9,500 in their first year of the walk, which takes place in 15 cities nationwide. This year, they have already raised $13,800 — more than the minimum needed already to have its six-woman lineup participate in their second walk, having added Christina Herbert and Laura McNamara this year.

“We have been doing all kinds of fundraisers,” said Aimee, mentioning car washes,
donations at Stop & Shop, a charity pool, selling pink ribbons, and other efforts throughout the year.

For more information on how to donate more money for the battle by Team Pink Wolfpack to conquer breast cancer, go to www.the3day.org and search for the team name.

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