Sun Valley breaks through for first win

ASTON >> Sun Valley’s winless start to 2016 was not indicative of the team’s overall talent.

The record didn’t tell the whole story.

“We’ve had a tough four games where we’re in every game, and one inning has done us in every game,” coach Pat Rafferty said.

The Vanguards believed Wednesday was the day they pieced everything together and finally got in the win column.

Behind the power hitting of Amber Michael and Claudia Davis, and the speed and contact of Mackenzie Lewis at the top of the order, Sun Valley claimed an 11-7 victory.

“We deserve it,” said Lewis, a junior shortstop.

They did it in come-from-behind style, too.

Michael, a senior catcher, belted the go-ahead RBI double to highlight a five-run sixth inning … and she was totally robbed of a dinger. The ball rolled

to a patch of gravel near the tennis courts in left field and out of play for a ground-rule double.

The non-homer was sort of a bummer, but all that mattered was Michael gave the Vanguards a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“I’ve hit them out there before,” said Michael, the Vanguards’ lone upperclassman, who scored two runs. “It just feels really nice and I’m glad we won today.”

Sun Valley (1-4) pounded out 11 hits and played error-free defense.

“We were just being more aggressive at the plate, working the long at-bats,” Lewis said. “It was a good (all-around) team win.”

The slick-fielding Lewis gobbled up every grounder that came her way and was a perfect 4 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. She is the table setter, and the rest of the Vanguards follow her lead.

Lewis is a dirtball type player who likes to dare catchers and infielders to throw her way.

“That’s the fun part about softball,” she said. “You have to have fun.”

“She can do that,” Michael said, “because she’s fast.”

Rafferty noted that Lewis has been incredibly difficult for opposing pitchers to solve.

“Nobody is getting her out this year,” he said. “She might  have only gotten out five times this year. When she gets on, good things happen. She’s aggressive on the bases, she’s a smart player, she has free rein to delay steal whenever she wants. Mackenzie and Amber are my two that, when they get on base and see that (the other team) is being lazy, they can delay. I like to be aggressive, especially with those two.”

Sun Valley scored four runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead. Claudia Davis hit a bomb to the gap in left-center for a two-run homer. The Cougars answered in the third by batting around and scoring five times to take a 6-4 lead off sophomore pitcher Carly Williams, who settled in with two shutout frames in the fourth and fifth before giving way to classmate Madison Gutowiecz, who tossed two innings for the save.

Sun Valley sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth. Devlin O’Conner and Lewis started things off with back-to-back singles. A throwing error by D-East third baseman Hannah Lehman allowed the tying run to score before Michael’s clutch two-base knock drove in Lewis with the go-ahead run. Gutowiecz followed with an RBI single and the Vanguards tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth.

“We needed that one,” Rafferty said. “We had that one (bad) inning, the third inning, but give the girls credit because they really battled back. Downingtown is good, they were 3-1, and they can hit the ball. This is a big win for our confidence.”

Stephanie Jacoby was 3 for 4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Cougars.

In the Central League:

Penncrest 3, Strath Haven 1 >> Maya Hartman struck out 12 and scattered four hits to pitch the Lions (3-0) to another win. Olivia Rigby had two hits, a run and a stolen base. Sam Crann was 2 for 2 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

Sophie Bolinger (3 for 3) tripled and scored Strath Haven’s lone run.

Haverford 5, Conestoga 3 >> Amber Moscoe and Lauren Myer both collected two RBIs and winning pitcher Gabby Gentile helped her cause with two hits and a run scored for the Fords (3-1, 2-1). Lindsay Moran added a triple.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Agnes Irwin 7, Episcopal Academy 6 >> Michala Maciolek’s home run in the top of the seventh inning propelled the visiting Owls past the Churchwomen. The junior catcher was 3 for 4 with a triple, homer and three RBIs.

Freshman Paige DiLullo was the winning pitcher.

In nonleague action:

Christian Academy 22, Westtown 2 >> Carli Sitkowski blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, and had five RBIs to lead the Crusaders (2-1). Winning pitcher Carly Ryle also had a grand slam and Grace Gormley showed off her power stroke with a three-run homer.

Friends Select 18, Delco Christian 1 >> Ronnie Marie Falasco launched a solo homer for the Knights (0-4).