Long Time Coming—Coatesville clinches first Ches-Mont title since 1985

CALN—What a difference a week makes. Last week when Coatesville traveled to Shanahan, the two teams combined for a mere three hits. Friday night at Coatesville, there were four home runs in the first inning. But Coatesville pitcher Bri White dug in and quieted the Eagles’ bats, and the Red Raiders clinched the Ches-Mont National division title with a 6-2 victory. It is Coatesville’s first league title in softball since 1985.

“This is a great feeling to be a part of the first (league) win for Coatesville in over 30 years,” said Red Raiders Coach Bill Mendenhall. “It was our first goal and our main goal coming into the season. It was especially nice to see the major adjustments we made since the last time we saw them in the way we hit the ball tonight.”

Shanahan kicked off the home run Derby with a pair on the first inning when, with two outs, Devon Miller and Anne Weyand went back-to-back for a 2-0 Eagles’ lead.

Then it was Coatesville’s turn. Ashley Mendenhall got things going with a one out single, and Bri White followed with a home run to left to tie it at 2-2. Then came Peyton Landis, who hit an absolute bomb to straight away center to give her team as much of a lead as they would ever need.

“I just thought about going up to the plate and seeing the ball,” said Landis. “I just wanted to hit the ball where it was pitched, and I was lucky enough that it was over the fence. This is my first year on varsity, so it’s a really cool that we got to win a championship my first season here.”

Pitching with a lead, White settled in and kept Shanahan off the board the rest of the way. She picked up the win in the circle with a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits. White struck out seven, and walked just one.

“Coach always tells me that when pitching with the lead you just have to pitch smart and not make any dumb mistakes,” said White. “So I just tried to throw strikes and get the outs. It was great to see our offense come through the way we did. It’s a nice feeling to win the Ches-Mont.”

The Raiders tacked on another run with a solo shot from Dominique Ricevuto in the second. Then in the third, Ashley Mendenhall hit a solo homer to lead off, and then the Raiders executed a squeeze bunt, with Maddie Fleming dropping the bunt that scored Melina Minitti, who was running for White.

For Shanahan, it’s time to shake off the loss and prepare for the post season. Despite the loss, Shanahan still has a shot at the top seed in Class 5A. They entered the week holding the number one spot in the power rankings.

“I told the girls even before the game started that this game didn’t matter all that much, so just go out, play hard and have fun,” said Eagles’ Coach Ron Savastio. “I’m not sure what this will do to us in the power rankings, but we’ll come back Monday and do our best to beat Henderson and maybe get that one seed.”

If not, the Eagles know better than anyone that seeding matter little once you get there. Last season, Shanahan squeaked in as the last seed in its bracket, and found itself playing for a District title.

“We’re all excited for the playoffs,” said Savastio. “The kind of competition we get in this league, playing teams that can hit and pitch like Coatesville and we’re well prepared what comes next.”

Coatesville 6 Bishop Shanahan 2

Shanahan ab r h bi Coatesville ab r h bi
Newton—C 3 1 1 0 Kane—SS 3 0 0 0
Bedics—RF 3 0 0 0 Traband—2B 3 0 0 0
Miller–P 2 1 1 1 Mendenhall—C 3 2 2 1
Weyand—CF 3 1 2 1 White—P 2 2 1 2
McAllister—1B 2 0 0 0   Minitti—CR 0 1 0 0
Keiper–DP 3 0 0 0    Landis—1B 3 1 1 1
Peterson—LF 3 0 0 0  Vetter—LF 3 0 0 0
Weston—3B 3 0 1 0  Fleming—3B 2 0 0 1
Sano–SS 3 0 0 0  Ricevuto—CF 3 1 1 1
Croccetti—FX/2B 0 0 0 0 Florshulz–DP–1 0 0 0
Totals 27 2 5 2    Donalteary—FX/RF 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 6 5 6

Shanahan 2 0 0 0 0 0 0—2
Coatesville 3 1 2 0 0 0 X –6

Extra Base Hits: HR—Miller, Weyand, White, Landis, Mendenhall

IP H R BB SO
Shanahan
Miller (L) 6 5 6 1 8
Coatesville
White (W) 7 5 2 1 7