Kalil confounds Phoenixville in 9-0 Boyertown win
PHOENIXVILLE >> Both Boyertown and Phoenixville find themselves in the middle of the pack in terms of the Pioneer Athletic Conference softball standings. That status is the result of inconsistency by both teams throughout the season, which is winding down to the stretch run.
So while Boyertown coach Brandi Hankins’ Bears and Phoenixville coach Jennie Anderson’s Phantoms have had their share of bright spots and moments this spring, they have also been up and down as performance is viewed on the diamond.
On Monday afternoon, it was Boyertown’s turn to be placed more on the positive side of the ledger. The Bears blanked Phoenixville, 9-0, on a five-hit shutout pitched by senior left-hander Mandy Kalil, who struck out four batters and walked one.
The Bears backed Kalil with plenty of offensive and defensive support as Boyertown improved its PAC-10 record to 7-6. Phoenixvllle slipped to 5-9 on the year. Boyertown has five games remaining in the regular season league schedule while Phoenixville has four games left on its league slate.
“It was good all-around,” said Kalil. “We had good defense, and especially the offense did a really good job. We were able to get a lot of girls on base. I know I can always depend on the girls to back me up.”
The Bears pounded out 19 hits, including eight extra-base hits. Boyertown posted six doubles and two triples en route to posting the victory. The Bears scored three runs in the first inning, five in the second and added one more in the fifth.
Alyssa Acker ripped a double and triple for the Bears. Kodi Streeter, Lauren Gabel, Maddie Cotellese, Lauren Ferguson, Grace Evan and Veronica Maryanski also recorded doubles. Lauren Waller also tripled for the visitors.
Phoenixville second baseman/leadoff batter Jami Deni finished 3-for-4 with a third-inning double to center field. Phantom starting pitcher Jess Eldridge and left fielder Mel Cappelli had the other hits for Phoenixville.
Eldridge pitched the first inning plus five batters in the second for the Phantoms before giving way to Susan Duncan, who hurled the final six frames. Duncan started the game at third base and is also the Phantoms’ No. 3 batter in the order.
Boyertown leadoff batter/center fielder Sarah Reinert finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored with a walk and stolen base.
Kalil helped herself as the lefty stroked a first-inning RBI single and added a second RBI on a second-inning groundout. Deni also snagged a line drive by Kalil in the fifth inning to take another possible hit away from her.
Kalil and the rest of the senior Boyertown players are closing out fine careers in the PAC-10. Kalil will continue her academic career at Division I Delaware, where she will play club softball and study physical therapy.
“I am going to play club softball,” said Kalil. “I am excited to do that. I am going to have to focus on books to become a physical therapist, but I definitely don’t want to give up the game. It has been part of my life since I was 4 years old.”
Anderson has been pleased with some of the work by her club, which is led by captains Lainey Michaud, the senior shortstop, and Deni. The Phantoms have also received a lot of solid contributions from some of the younger, more inexperienced players as well.
“We played so well on Friday,” said Anderson. “Then we come out today and are totally flat. Our problem is inconsistency. Sometimes we come out fired up and sometimes we don’t. We have four games left to come out solid so we don’t get down by such a big lead.
“We do have some big wins this season. But we also have some close losses. Today was our biggest loss. We have the capabilities, but we have to get the team consistency. Incosistency is our biggest enemy right now. We have to figure it out the last four games.”
NOTES >> Kalil is the daughter of Joe Kalil, who was a first team All-Ches-Mont League center on Spring-Ford High School’s co-championship football team back in 1980 with Owen J. Roberts. Two more top linemen on that squad were the Evan brothers, Andy, who was the league Most Valuable Player as a two-way lineman for the Rams that fall; and Rich. … Phoenixville turned a double play in the third inning as Deni snared a line drive and flipped to first baseman Ainsley McQuiston to complete the inning. … Phoenixville No. 2 batter/center fielder Jess Anthony reached base twice on a fielder’s choice and was hit by a pitch and also had a stolen base.
