Maziarz sets the tone, Spring-Ford pounds out 18 hits in 16-1 rout of Saint Hubert

GLENSIDE >> Spring-Ford center fielder Morgan Maziarz wasted no time.

Her team, likewise, didn’t waste any either.

Maziarz’s leadoff home run kickstarted a Rams’ offense that pounded out 18 hits as the team utilized a nine-run sixth inning to run away with a 16-1 victory over District 12 champion Saint Hubert in the PIAA Class 6A opening round Monday at Arcadia University. 

“I was looking for something I could drive and I was looking to set the tone for the game,” Maziarz said. “My team followed me, so it was great.”

Maziarz’s leadoff blast jumpstarted a Rams offense which came in hot after scoring 10 runs in their District 1 third-place playback game against Coatesville last week. Six players finished with multi-hit games for the Rams, which used a three-run second inning to build a 4-0 lead before running away with it late.

“We had a good attitude today,” Maziarz said. “Once you get a hold of them, you just keep going. The hits kept coming for us today.”

Maziarz finished with three hits, three runs and three RBI. Shortstop Megan Kern (two runs, RBI) and first baseman Ashley Della Guardia also contributed three-hit games with Bridget Sharkey (double, triple, two RBI, three runs) and Maggie McConney (double, RBI) producing a pair of two-hit games apiece. Della Guardia finished a home run short of the cycle.
Spring-Ford will face District 11 Champion Liberty (2-0 winner over Penn Manor) Thursday at a site and location to be determined.

“It feels really good to get out with a good win,” Maziarz said. “We just need to keep the same approach (going into Thursday).

Sam Lindsay picked up the win in the circle, allowing one earned on five hits while striking out three. The sophomore right-hander ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases via a single and two walks. A run scored on an Avery Hibbs’ RBI single but Lindsay got out of the jam by inducing a popup to first baseman Della Guardia before getting help from an offensive interference call (grounder struck runner heading to second) to end the inning. Lindsay walked seven, but that could be contributed to the constant drizzle that fell throughout.

While it rained on the field, the Rams’ bats started to bring the thunder.

Maziarz’s single up the middle made it 2-0 in the second before she came home on a McConney single and an error by the left fielder. Della Guardia followed with a single to bring in McConney to make it 4-0 after two.

Adding a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, the Rams broke it open in the top of the sixth. Batting around in the lineup in the inning, Della Guardia got the inning off to a good start when she reached third on a flyball that popped out of the right fielder’s glove (she was then replaced by courtesy runner Ashley Vanella). A flyout for the first out was followed by a walk to Maddie Little before Sophia Cinti cranked a deep shot to left-center field to plate both Vanella and Little to make it 9-2. Sharkey then doubled to make it 10-1 before pinch hitter Jules Hughes blooped a single to center to make it 11-1. Five more runs were plated with two outs, two coming on doubles from Della Guardia and McConney, the last on a Little single to shallow left.