‘Garnet Eve’ a real holiday for Haverford
CONCORD >> Exacting revenge on Garnet Valley was a big deal Tuesday to Haverford High’s softball players.
“We remember,” senior right fielder Danielle Nester said, referring to the 2015 season opener between the Central League rivals. “It was a high-scoring game, back and forth, and they beat us by one.”
They didn’t want to let it happen again. With a 21-4 shellacking on opening day, the Fords made it pretty clear, they were raring to go. They had spent all of Monday salivating at the idea of defeating the Jags on their turf. They were pumped.
In school, the day before a game against GV is known as “Garnet Eve.”
“It started with the football team, before their big game, and they won it,” Nester said. “So we thought that we could come back and do it, too.”
The Haverford football team’s run to a Central League title was jumpstarted with a victory at Garnet Valley last October. The win gave the Fords confidence that they could take anyone in the Central League, and so they did, winning the championship in storybook fashion on Thanksgiving morning against Upper Darby.
Maybe Haverford softball will have its so-called moment in the sun this season.
“It’s a good feeling,” junior first baseman Heather Lazer said of the Fords’ 21-run, 18-hit onslaught against the Jags, who some rival coaches consider one of the favorites in the Central League. GV was ranked No. 2 in the first Daily Times Super 7 … and Haverford was unranked to begin the season.
The Fords showed a relentless approach against the Jags, who hurt themselves with poor defense, but it hardly mattered. Haverford plated five runs in each of the first three innings.
The top five hitters in Haverford’s lineup were Lazer, center fielder Allison Murphy, third baseman Lauren Meyer, Nester and designated player Amber Moscoe. Together, they had 14 hits, 11 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
Lazer was on base all six times she batted, collecting four hits and scoring three times. Setting the table is a role she digs.
“It’s a tough position sometimes because you’re the first one to see the pitcher, but you’ve definitely got to set the tone as a leadoff hitter,” Lazer said.
Nester approved.
“She did a good job of it, too. Got on every time,” she said.
Murphy and Moscoe are freshmen who impressed in their debuts. The speedster Murphy legged out a bunt hit and an infield single and scored three times. Moscoe racked up five RBIs, including a two-run double in the second inning to blow the game open. Nester was 3-for-4 with three runs and three ribbies.
“I think we’re going to work really well together,” said Nester, a team captain along with fellow classmates Lauren Vanstone and Ashley Murphy. “This is my last year, so I want to make the most of it. We had (Moscoe) with five RBIs and (Murphy) played great out in center field. Today was a great (start).”
In her first varsity start, senior pitcher Jessica Epstein pitched around trouble early and was able to limit GV’s big bats to four runs on 11 hits.
All-Delcos Sam Tomasetti and Reva Alderman did their damage, both hitting gigantic bombs over the fence in center. Tomasetti also hit a double.
Jill Marshall (Haverford) and George White (Garnet Valley) enjoyed their first days as head coaches at the varsity level. Both realize it’s hard to determine anything after one game.
“I thought we were going to have a good scoring and I know that they (Garnet Valley) are a good squad,” Marshall said. “Was I expecting 20? No, no way.”
White chalked up the loss to first-game jitters. The Jags committed eight errors on the afternoon.
“We didn’t throw, we didn’t field and we didn’t hit enough,” White said. “Tip your cap to Haverford. They hit the ball, they found the holes. When they did hit it to us, we just didn’t make the plays. I told our girls that it’s over and done, so let’s get back at it tomorrow and focus on our next game.”
In other Central League action:
Springfield 4, Marple Newtown 1 >> The defending Central League champs won behind the pitching of All-Delco Tori DePietro, who pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts. Ashley Scarpato mashed a home run and Victoria Ciasullo singled, worked two walks and scored a run.
Hannah Sweeney singled and drove in two runs.
Penncrest 5, Harriton 0 >> Maya Hartman delivered from the mound and at the plate for the Lions. Hartman struck out 10 in a three-hit shutout and was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Victoria Geiger was 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Victoria Redd added two base knocks and scored twice.
Radnor 9, Strath Haven 8 >> Radnor second baseman Sydney Aljian threw out the tying run at home in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Sarah Rosenblum collected two hits, two runs scored and three stolen bases for the Raiders. Her sister, Audrey, scored three times and Meg McGrath roped a two-RBI double for the Raiders.
Sophie Bolinger enjoyed a big day at the plate for Strath Haven with a homer, triple and five RBIs. Brooke Bender rapped three hits.
Upper Darby 7, Ridley 2 >> Carli Benozich slugged two doubles and Sam Witmer doubled and tripled to fuel the Royals’ victory. UD broke the game open with a three-spot in the third inning.
Rachel Sorrentino was the winning pitcher.
Gabby Dinardo laced a pair of doubles for the Green Raiders.
In the Del Val League:
Interboro 15, Penn Wood 0 >> Amber Seaman collected three hits and an RBI as the Bucs cruised in three innings.
Amber Huddell and Mel Chubb each had two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Bucs. Bridget Bailey pitched an abbreviated no-hitter.
Chichester 10, Academy Park 0 >> Chi rookie pitcher Makayla Donovan twirled a no-hitter, striking out seven. Alex Maher hit a solo home run for the Eagles, who blew the game open with seven runs in the second.
In the Ches-Mont League:
Unionville 15, Sun Valley 14 >> The Vanguards scored 10 runs in the top of the first and led 11-1 going into the bottom of the third before Unionville started its comeback. Mackenzie Lewis was 4-for-5 with three runs and Amber Michael had two doubles for Sun Valley. Bridget Thomas (double) and Julia Skwirut (triple) each had three hits in the loss.
In nonleague action:
Calvary Christian 3, Christian Academy 2 >> Lindsay Haseltine swung a big bat in TCA’s season-opening defeat. The sophomore was 3-for-4 with a triple and provided outstanding glove work at third base. Madi Dutton and Carli Sitkowski, who doubled, each drove in a run for TCA.
