Cape softball moves to DIAA semis with win over the Spartans
The Cape softball team moved into the semifinals of the DIAA state tournament with a 14-4 win over Saint Mark’s in the quarterfinals May 25.
Cape garnered 16 hits in the game. Ava Calciano went 2-for-4 with a triple, a grand slam and five RBIs. Alivia Heers went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a homer and five RBIs.
“I knew I had my teammates on base and we needed them to score,” said Heers. “I was thinking, ‘base hit, base hit,’ to allow them to score and keep the rally going. The homer was a good outcome.”
Hayden Hudson went 2-for-4 with a single, a homer and two RBIs. Bri Windish knocked in a run while going 2-for-4.
“I was a little unsure going into the game, because we haven’t played Saint Mark’s during the three years that I’ve been at Cape,” said Windish. “But after the first inning, our bats became hot and we became more confident.”
Jay’Lyn Slater delivered with two hits while Kenna Justice and Eden Frederick each had a hit.
Junior pitcher Abby Marsh went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out six batters. She helped herself at the plate with an RBI.
Madeline Casapulla and Chloe Bedwell led the Spartans with two hits each.
Cape tops Poly in second round
The Vikings had defeated Polytech 8-2 in the May 23 second-round game. They scored in five of the six innings against the Panthers.
Junior shortstop Ava Calciano went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Kenna Justice, Alivia Heers, Jay’Lyn Slater, Hayden Hudson and Natalya Roundtree each collected an RBI.
After walking Poly’s power hitter Rachel Carey in the first, junior pitcher Abby Marsh found her range and took out the side. That’s when the excitement started for the Vikings.
Calciano, a UConn commit, took a 3-2 pitch over the right-center fence to start off the Vikings’ bats.
The third inning found Calciano on base with a walk. Slater slammed a triple to score her. Hudson then hit a sac fly to score pinch runner Alivia Longo. After Marsh singled, her runner Olivia Mekulski was brought in by a Roundtree double to make the score 4-0.
The Vikings picked up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Polytech walk, error and wild pitch. Cape scored another in the fifth when Bri Windish reached on an error and Justice doubled her in. They finalized the scoring in the sixth when Calciano singled, stole second and was brought in by a Heers single.
The defense made several highlight-reel plays at Bill Cordrey Field, including a diving catch by Justice in the top of the fourth.
“I was tracking the fly ball and knew I had to get down to it and make the play,” said the smiling senior.
The Vikings had 10 hits in the game.
“Game respects game,” said Calciano. “That’s all I’ve got to say. Polytech has a great team. Mara [Everton] is a great pitcher and Rachel [Carey] is a great hitter. All respect to them, but we’re in it to win it.”
Everton has pitched 123 innings this season, allowing just 24 earned runs; 13 of those have come against the Vikings.
Marsh had confidence in the circle, striking out five while scattering four hits.
“I felt great today,” she said. “I had to keep the momentum up. My curve was working, and I knew I had my defense behind me.”
“Polytech is a good team,” said Cape coach Mike Tkach. “Mara is one of the top pitchers in the state, but our girls always went hard against her.
“We’re tough one through nine. I’m just so proud of this group. I always tell them to play to the best of their ability and the rest will take care of itself. It’s a great moment for the program. This is a great moment for the girls. We’re going on to Saint Mark’s, who is playing good softball themselves. So on Saturday, we have to get on the highway and hopefully keep this thing rolling.”
Polytech senior shortstop Mackenzie Mitchell had two hits and garnered two RBIs. Everton struck out nine batters in the circle.
